Our trustees

Dave Garness
Chair of Trustees

Dave runs a group of property consultancies based in Hull and York and has worked in the property industry all his career. He became involved with St Paul’s Boxing Academy in 2017 when John Rutherford asked for some help with the property as he had begun supporting the club. It quickly became clear that the club needed more than a bit of help on the lease and building.

After a chance discussion with Andrew Horncastle, the Horncastle family became involved. The passion and commitment of Mike and Kerry Bromby to have kept the club going over many years and seal it’s long-term future, also became clear in Dave’s initial period of involvement. All these factors along with the great feel from the culture of St Paul’s and its members motivated Dave to continue and increase his commitment.

Dave says he is proud to be a joint founding member of the trust that will safeguard and support the running of the boxing academy. He feels it’s an honour to be Chair of Trustees and see members become champions in and out of ring and provide a rock-solid foundation to safeguard the club for many years to come.

Tracy Cawthorn
Club Secretary

Tracy has been involved with amateur boxing for more than 20yrs, first as a parent of a young boxer and then as club secretary for local clubs. Over the years, she has volunteered within the Yorkshire region in various roles.  Tracy qualified as a grade C judge about 10 yrs ago and has officiated at regional events as a judge and match recorder.

She has assisted England Boxing as a female chaperone and match recorder at National Championships & events. And she became Yorkshire regional secretary in the 2019/2020 season, a role she carried out over three seasons before standing down in July 2023. Tracy says: “While volunteering at England Boxing national events, representing the region was a privilege. My enthusiasm for the sport has always been at the grass roots level.”

Tracy worked in the Early Years sector for 28 years and is now retired. She says: “Joining St Paul’s as club secretary allows me to continue to be part of the sport I enjoy and to help the club grow and members develop as a boxer, coach & volunteer.”

Richard Cawthorn
Trustee (Boxing Representative)

The first time Richard stepped inside St Paul’s was over 25 years ago, when he attended a regional championship as a spectator. Not long after, he I qualified as a Grade C judge and Level 1 coach, working under the late Ray Black, the secretary of the Old Humberside region, who became Richard’s mentor.

He then moved  through the ranks to become an England Boxing A Grade Judge, officiating at national and international events, as well as regional club shows. Richard then qualified as an ‘Official In Charge’ (now known as ‘supervisor’) and has supervised many local clubs show including many of St Paul’s.

Richard was Yorkshire Regional Secretary for 3 years and stood down in 2018 to build up my own business following my retirement from work.

He joined St Paul’s in January 2024 as the Boxing Trustee, to help behind the scenes with the continued development of the club, boxers and coaching team.

Clare Lewis
Club Treasurer

Clare was properly introduced to St Paul’s in 2022 when her nine year old son attended as a member. Clare had attended some women’s fitness classes in the past and her husband had attended St Paul’s as a teenager, so they both were aware of the club and believed this would be right for their son. After several evenings sat watching her son at the club, Clare realised that the club was not just about boxing and fitness but was an inclusive, motivational and very inspiring club. Clare often came away from the club feeling a sense of community and overwhelmed by the education being given to the children attending, not just about fitness and boxing but about general life.

There has been a noticed improvement in behaviour and positive impact on Clare’s son which she believes is 100% down to the club and the trainers. Clare, who is a director at a local accounting firm, could see what impact and change she could have on the financial side of the club and charity and offered her help. Clare has been involved in modernising and computerising the records and the general finances of the club. Clare was offered the role as Club Treasurer in spring 2024 and proudly accepted.

Andrew Horncastle MBE
Trustee

Andrew is chair of Horncastle Group Plc based in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Today his company opens up strategic land and develops commercial property. Qualified to BSc in Building Construction and a member of the Chartered Institute of Building, he has spent a career spanning four decades in manufacturing, construction and development and specialising in large projects.

Andrew has also served on the boards of several community and charitable bodies involved in projects growing local economies, helping people to start, adapt and grow businesses, youth support, amateur boxing and medical research. He also mentors leaders of growth businesses. He was awarded MBE in 2019 for services to business and charity. In the same year he was awarded a life time achievement award for services to regional business. He was High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2020/21 and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant in 2022, working for the local lieutenancy on Kings Awards for Enterprise.

Andrew is a keen sportsman, having competed in amateur cycling, and has a deep recognition of the important benefits competition and participation in sport brings to young people – in particular, the fantastic benefits boxing brings, such as hard work, discipline and respect for others.

Shelagh Devereux
Trustee

Shelagh is a founder Trustee of St Paul’s and first became involved when it was clear the club needed rescuing from almost certain closure due to the disrepair and physical neglect of the premises. In spite of its unpromising surroundings, St Paul’s was still a remarkable success story.

Through the dedication and commitment of its coaches, the club continued to transform young lives and produce champions under a leaking roof and with barely any facilities. It was this culture of positivity that attracted Shelagh and her partner, John Rutherford, to commit to try to rescue this legendary boxing gym.

A concerted fundraising effort involving a small, dedicated team garnered huge local support and by 2021 St Paul’s was able to welcome new and old members to the newly refurbished gym you see today.

Shelagh is retired after a long and distinguished career in secondary education, chiefly in Hull schools, and – amongst other responsibilities – is the safeguarding lead on the Trustee board helping to ensure St Paul’s is a safe, healthy and inspiring place for all our members.

Darren Peacock
Trustee

Darren became involved with St Paul’s Boxing Academy firstly as a boxing fan and as a kit sponsor for T-Shirts and Tracksuits. On fully understanding how the club changes and improves the lives of all its members, it wasn’t too long until his involvement moved to joining the board of trustees.

Currently Darren is working on building a friendship program “Friends of St Paul’s” where individuals and businesses alike can make monthly contributions to help maintain the status of the club and continue improving lives.

Darren owns and runs a finance company the funds property developments and businesses that require funding to achieve their goals.

Nick Glaves
Trustee

Nick became a Trustee of St Paul’s in the spring of 2023, after helping to raise awareness of the great work the club does in a bid to help secure funding for the extensive refurbishment of the gym.

During this process, he came to understand the positive impact St Paul’s has on the lives of so many people, both past and present, and that prompted him to want to be more involved with the club.

Nick is a journalist by trade and used to work at the Hull Daily Mail before going on to run PR and marketing businesses in East Yorkshire, working with a host of local businesses. In his role as trustee, he is responsible for overseeing communications at the club to ensure key stakeholders are kept up to date with the great work that takes place there, both in and out of the ring.