Our Patrons

Lorraine Kelly – Presenter of ITV Daybreak’s Lorraine

Well known to millions of viewers of ITV’s breakfast time Daybreak programme, Lorraine kindly agreed to offer her support to our worthy cause as soon as she heard of Speakeasier and the work we do.

"MS is a terribly cruel illness. It can mean losing things we take for granted - the ability to walk, to feed yourself and even the ability to talk. Losing the ability to communicate is a devastating blow. Please help me in supporting the work of Speakeasier. They can make such a difference and be a real light in a time of darkness." Lorraine Kelly

Derek Wilkinson, MBE

Derek is a paraplegic/wheelchair user having a natural empathy with disabled people. With a career spent as an aerospace design engineer, Derek was awarded the MBE for Services to Aircraft Engineering. He has been a valued member of the Speakeasier Board of Trustees but has recently announced his retirement as a Trustee. He will continue to offer his patronage and support for the work the charity undertakes.

Air Vice Marshall R A Mason CB CBE MA DSc Hon FRAeS DL

Air Vice-Marshal Tony Mason is an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Cheltenham and a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Gloucestershire. His last RAF appointment was Air Secretary and Director General of Personnel Management. He held an Honorary Chair in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Birmingham until September 2010. For many years he has spoken and published books, articles and papers internationally on the interaction of warfare and diplomacy with particular reference to air power.

He holds Degrees from St Andrews, London and Birmingham Universities, is a graduate of the Royal Air Force Staff College and of the United States Air Warfare College. He is a former Director of the Centre for Studies in Security and Diplomacy at the University of Birmingham and specialist Air Force adviser to the UK House of Commons Defence Committee. He is a frequent commentator on defence issues to the media. He was awarded the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham’s Gold Medal in 2001. In 2007 he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

AVM Mason is a Trustee of Glenfall House, a life Vice-President of the Cheltenham Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association and former Chair of the Gloucestershire Prostate Cancer Trust. His interests include rugby, cricket and travel. He is married to Margaret (nee Stewart) and has a daughter and a grandson.