Andrew Williams And Rachael Hill Join Paignton Zoo Board

By Philip Knowling

Paignton, UK - A major local conservation charity has appointed two new trustees to help guide it into the future.

Andrew Williams and Rachael Hill have joined the board of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust. The trustees oversee the work of Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Living Coasts in Torquay, Newquay Zoo in Cornwall and a number of local nature reserves, as well as the Trust’s conservation and research work in Africa, South America, South East Asia and the UK.

They were both appointed before the recent death of long-serving trustee Harold Knight.

 Rachael Hill was educated in Torbay and at Sheffield University. She worked in accountancy with Ernst & Young and Ertl Europe Ltd before joining a Torquay based retail chain as Chief Accountant. She now divides her time between her husband’s business and a local hotel, both in an accounting capacity.

Executive Director Simon Tonge said: “It was decided to appoint additional trustees to bring in fresh blood, new skills and new perspectives. Rachael brings to the Trust an enthusiasm for our zoos and for conservation. Her strengths are her knowledge of accountancy, business and family life.”

Andrew Williams is of Cornish stock. He studied agriculture and worked in commercial property in London before returning to Cornwall to manage the Lanhydrock Estate.

Simon Tonge: “Andrew is a keen outdoors person and takes an active role in the life of the county. I believe his varied commercial and land management experience will be a great asset to the Trust.”

They join the nine current trustees: Devon naturalist, writer and wildlife film-maker Andrew Cooper, David Bailey, who works in the NHS, internationally known ecologist Paul Chanin, local businessman Richard Ford, Sylvia Greinig, Principal of Abbey School in Torquay, solicitor Keith Mitchell, botanist Michael Proctor, entomologist David Stradling and Hugh Whitley, who is the great nephew of the charity’s late founder, Herbert Whitley.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring (01803) 697500.
Paignton Zoo is a member of the British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (BIAZA). BIAZA represents its member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.