• Jane Jackson

    The Bristol Grandparents Support Group Trustee - Jane Jackson

    Jane is founder of Bristol Grandparents Support Group she set up the support group in 2007, when she lost contact with her granddaughter after family breakdown.

    Jane was a full time carer to her Mum for many years and a Mum herself to two sons. When she returned to work she became a Teaching Assistant for 15 years and supported Special Needs Children, and children with low self-esteem, she qualified to teach PHSE (Personal, Health, Social Education) she was a Union Learning Rep where she signposted staff to further their professional development. Prior to that Jane was chair of governors at her sons Primary school for 4 years.

  • Marc Jackson

    The Bristol Grandparents Support Group Trustee - Mark Jackson

    Marc is current treasurer of Bristol Grandparents Support Group. He worked for Waitrose for 38 years becoming a manager and he was involved in a large number of store openings around the country, he also spoke to community groups ect about the history and ethos behind the John Lewis Partnership. He was seconded for a 6 months period to work with The Soil Association as part of their events team, and was involved in the organisation of The Bristol Organic Food Festival in 2005.

    He is now retired and maintains gardens with Jane for people who can no longer manage them.

  • Sue Allen

  • The Bristol Grandparents Support Group Trustee - Sue AllenSue Allen was the Chair of  Trustees for Families and Friends of a Lesbians and Gays ( FFLAG ) a national organisation which supports parents, family members and LGBT people during the coming out period. She was the founder of the Bristol FFLAG group, set up 21 years ago and now she is a volunteer.Sue is also the founder member of Bristol Families and Friends which was set up in 1997, a local organisation giving the same support to families.Sue is also a grandparent who was denied contact with her grandchild.
  • Bob Allen

    The Bristol Grandparents Support Group Trustee - Bob Allen

    Bob Allen is also a  former Trustee for Families and Friends of a Lesbians and Gays ( FFLAG ) a national organisation which supports parents, family members and LGBT people during the coming out period, and a founder member of the Bristol group. He now volunteers.

    Bob’s hobby is breeding and exhibiting budgerigars and he holds a number of positions in various budgerigar clubs around the south of England and organises a number of exhibition budgerigar shows with up to 800 birds being exhibited.

    Bob is also a grandparent who was denied contact with his grandchild.

  • Miriam Robinson

    The Bristol Grandparents Support Group Trustee - Miriam Robinson

    Miriam joined the BGSG following a family breakdown and estrangement from her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. After raising her family she studied History at Bath Spa University and became a researcher/editor. Having been denied access to her own grandmother as a child, Miriam has a particular interest in hereditary family estrangement. She has retired to France with husband Peter and enjoys history, reading and walking. She is a volunteer for a British Society helping the elderly in SW France.

  • Ashley Palminteri

    The Bristol Grandparents Support Group Trustee - Ashley Palminteri

    The Family Law Practice was founded by Ashley Palminteri. After qualifying in 1994, he worked in London for 10 years and has specialised in family law for most of his career. He was a Partner in a well-known London law firm, before returning to Bristol to join Burges Salmon in July 2005. A qualified solicitor, mediator and collaborative lawyer. Ashley is a member of Resolution and is an accredited specialist in resolving “Complex and high net worth financial disputes” and “Private law children work”. In March 2019, Ashley was appointed as a Deputy District Judge of the Western Circuit. Ashley is a former Editor of Resolution’s Guide to Cohabitation Claims and a former member of Resolution’s National Cohabitation Committee. He has also written for Legal Week and contributed to The Solicitor’s Journal. Identified as a leader in his field and recommended by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 professional directories. He has considerable experience across a range of finance and children matters. Ashley was elected President of Bristol Law Society in November 2012.

  • Stella Berkeley

    The Bristol Grandparents Support Group Trustee - Stella Berkeley

    Stella joined BGSG whilst estranged from her son, his wife and their three young children. She studied French and History at Nottingham University, and has had a lifelong love of France. She spent many years sailing with her late husband in the Channel Islands, France and Scandinavia. After a long career in teaching and in school management she also spent several years as an inspector of schools. Now retired, she travels to visit her daughter’s family in the USA, and is very close to her granddaughter there who she taught daily on FaceTime throughout the pandemic. Her main hobby is landscape painting.