Our patrons share our missions and values through their work and their continued support of what we do.
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
After studying history and law at Trinity College, Cambridge, Justin Welby worked for 11 years in the oil industry, becoming group treasurer of a large British exploration and production company.
In 1989, after sensing a call from God, he stood down from industry to train for ordination. He took a theology degree at St John’s College, Durham, in which he focused on ethics – particularly in business. He has since published articles on ethics, international finance and reconciliation.
After being ordained Deacon in 1992, he spent 15 years serving Coventry Diocese, where he helped revive two churches, growing their congregations and launching bereavement and baptism teams, among other things.
In 2002, he was made a Canon of Coventry Cathedral, where he ran the reconciliation work based there. He left Coventry five years later, being installed Dean of Liverpool on 8 December 2007, the largest cathedral in England. Over his four years, during which he also continued to work on reconciliation and mediation projects overseas, the Cathedral’s congregation increased significantly. In June 2011, he was announced as the new Bishop of Durham.
In the summer of 2012, he was asked to join the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards. He became the Archbishop of Canterbury on 4th February 2013, and his public ministry was inaugurated at his enthronement in Canterbury Cathedral on 21st March 2013.
Rt Hon John McFall, Lord McFall of Alcluith
Having spent 23 years as an MP for Dumbarton and West Dumbartonshire, Lord McFall has sat in the House of Lords since 2010. A member of the House of Lords Economic committee, Lord McFall was previously a Chairman of the House of Commons Treasury Committee in addition to holding the role of the Northern Ireland Office Minister and Opposition Spokesman for Scottish Affairs.More recently however, Lord McFall has sat on the Parliamentary Commission for Banking Standards, the Report of which was published in the summer of 2013.
In 2007, Lord McFall received the Citizens’ Advice Parliamentarian of the Year award for his work on financial inclusion and championing the consumer.
In the House of Lords, Lord McFall continues to focus on the issues of the economy and financial services. He is a member of the House of Lords Economic Affairs committee and contributes to the debate on the future of the UK economy, and the need for new investment in jobs and growth; the future of banking after the crisis; the future of pensions and retirement saving; and making banks work for ordinary people. He also contributes on issues affecting Scotland and on international aid and development.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
Vincent Nichols studied for the priesthood in Rome, gaining licences in philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University. He was ordained priest in Rome on 21 December 1969 for the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
He studied for an MA degree in theology at Manchester University and later was awarded an M.Ed at Loyola University in Chicago.
His earlier appointments have included to St Anne’s parish in Toxteth, Liverpool with particular responsibility for education, director of the Upholland Northern Institute and a member of Archbishop’s Council with responsibility for pastoral formation and development in the diocese.
In January 1984, he was appointed General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference in England & Wales. Since then he has held many senior positions in the Bishops’ Conference, including in areas of finance and education. He has been moderator of the Steering Committee of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland and has served extensively in significant roles in Europe, including as a member of the board of the Christian Academy for European Development at Louvain.
In 1992 Mgr Vincent Nichols was appointed auxiliary bishop to Westminster, with responsibility for North London and in 2000 Bishop Nichols was appointed Archbishop of Birmingham.
In 2009 he was Installed as the 11th Archbishop of Westminster in Westminster Cathedral and appointed President of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales thereafter.
He has written three books to date: 'Promise of Future Glory', and ‘Missioners’ and 'St John Fisher, Bishop and Theologian in Reformation and Controversy 'published in the United Kingdom.
The Most Rev Vincent Nichols was named a cardinal in February 2014.
Sir Anthony Seldon
Anthony Seldon is an authority on contemporary British history and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Buckingham. He is also author or editor of over 25 books.
He has worked at five schools: Whitgift School, Tonbridge School, St Dunstan’s College, Brighton College and Wellington College. He has two honorary doctorates and is Professor at the College of Teachers. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Arts.
He founded, with Professor Peter Hennessy, the Institute of Contemporary British History, and the Action For Happiness with Lord Layard and Geoff Mulgan.
Anthony’s books and lectures include Public and Private Education: The Divide Must End (2001); Partnership not Paternalism (2002); An End to Factory Schools (2009); Why Schools? Why Universities? (Cass Lecture, 2010); and Why the Development of Good Character Matters More Than the Passing of Exams (Priestley Lecture, 2013)
Sir Anthony appears regularly on television and radio and in the press, and writes for several national newspapers. His views are regularly sought by the government and political parties.
He is a passionate exponent of co-education, the International Baccalaureate, independent education, and the teaching of happiness/well-being.
Anthony Seldon’s knighthood was announced in the June 2014 Queen’s birthday honours list.
Trevor Newey
Trevor was a Trustee of the Fairbanking Foundation for most of the first 10 years of its existence and played a key role in assisting and enabling the charity to start up. Throughout the majority of his working life he has worked as a Solicitor in London. For 20 years until 2011 he was Senior Partner of Howard Kennedy where he undertook a wide variety of litigation disputes. On leaving he joined Burlingtons as Chairman principally to assist in the development of the firm and its business including generating leads from his many clients and contacts. Trevor undertakes advisory roles to a number of listed companies and charities and he is also a school Governor
