Meet the Team
Directors
Our Directors are unpaid volunteers
Kate Amor
Kate is a Director of The Theatre Shop in Clevedon, a unique 86-seat theatre in a disused shop unit. Based in the heart of Clevedon, they bring the best of professional touring theatre to our town.
Andrew Caddy
Andrew is the Chief Executive of Curzon Cinema and Arts. He moved to Clevedon recently with his young family and is excited to help the BID deliver placemaking plans with the support of the town’s vibrant business community. In particular, he is interested in the continued development of a ‘Cultural Quarter’ in the Town Centre as part of a wider Cultural Strategy. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, holds a Master’s degree in History of Art from the University of London, and was previously Director of Finance at Brighton Dome and Festival.
Julie Blake
With over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Jule runs the Royal Oak pub, creating a welcoming space for locals and visitors alike. After moving from Bristol to Clevedon last year, she quickly fell in love with the area and its vibrant community spirit. Her passion lies in delivering exceptional service and fostering connections that make every guest feel at home. Julie is looking forward to being part of the wonderful community.
Martin Webster
Having lived in Clevedon since a child and raising his own family here, Martin is passionate to continue to see Clevedon thrive as a beautiful coastal town to both live and work in. Having worked in the IT sector for nearly 30 years Martin and his wife Laura turned their focus to support the vibrant independent businesses in the town. In 2019 they opened ‘A Better Weigh’ a zero-waste shop encouraging customers to buy products without the need for packaging. A few years later they opened a café, deli and bakery called ‘Mustard’.
Anne Robinson
A resident of North Somerset since 1990 and relatively recently of Clevedon (2018), Annie was until 2024 a core member and trustee of the Clevedon LitFest and was closely involved with much of the programming. Having recently retired from running her own therapy practice she is now involved in volunteer capacity with a few other Clevedon organisations and has a particular interest in community building and in issues connected with the intertwined climate and ecological crisis. Annie has a background in the arts, higher education and social welfare. Starting out as an archaeologist, she moved to wider roles in museums and other public sector organisations, managed a local authority museum service and then worked as an independent consultant for arts and the not for profit sector. She then moved into the psychotherapeutic field, running her own practice and working part-time as a lecturer in counselling. She enjoys walking, tennis, gardening, and both the visual and performing arts.
Susannah Shaw: Company Secretary
With a degree in Fine Art, Susannah went on to work in Film and Animation. She worked for many years as a freelance camera assistant/operator, on documentaries, travelling the world. When in England Susannah frequently worked at Aardman Animations. In the 1990s she set up the Bristol Animation Course in partnership with Aardman Animations, then went on to write Stop Motion, Craft Skills for Model Animation, which became a student staple and was translated into Chinese and Portuguese. After 14 years running an animation festival based in Exeter, she was fortunate to be able to work in her home town as CEO of the Curzon Cinema. Susannah is now retired and works as a trustee at the Community Centre.
Tom Vaughan
Tom has a specialist background in marketing and communication having worked for large FTSE 100 companies and smaller local organisations. Tom also sits on the Board of the Clevedon Pier.
David Harris
David is the Director of the Spinning Weal, a textile, craft and supply store offering products, workshops, classes and courses for the community.
Peter Grocock
Peter is the Branch Manager for Brown & Brown, an international firm of insurance brokers based in Beach Avenue, Clevedon. A graduate and Chartered Insurance Broker Peter has spent his entire career working in the insurance industry . He relocated to Clevedon in 2001 with a job promotion and has lived happily in the town with his wife and two sons ever since.
Peter is looking forward to making a positive contribution to the many exciting new projects being considered by the board.
Outside of work Peter is a keen sportsman enjoying football, skiing and the gym. He has previously completed the London Marathon twice raising over £3,000 for charity and was a volunteer youth football coach with Clevedon United for many years when his sons were younger. He also enjoys the cinema, live music and a pint on a regular basis!
Management Team
Discover Clevedon employ two managers.
Kate Cowdy
Discover Clevedon Manager
Kate brings over 16 years of experience in project and operational management in the UK and internationally. With an ability to build partnerships and a passion for community development, Kate works with local businesses, the Board and stakeholder groups implement projects and initiatives that will enhance Clevedon’s appeal and strengthen the local business community.
Laura Durrant
Discover Clevedon Manager
Laura, a former journalist who started her career with the Clevedon Mercury, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in marketing, PR and media law to the table. She has worked with charities such as The Great Western Air Ambulance and Secret World Wildlife Rescue and many community events. Laura is responsible for the Discover Clevedon marketing and social media channels.