Trustees and Staff
The trustees from right to left, back row: James Leedam, Rupert Callender, Brett Walwyn, Judith Pidgeon, and Susan Morris (Company Secretary)
and front row: John Mallatratt (Chair).
Also pictured is Centre Manager, Rosie Inman-Cook.
Natural Death Centre Manager
Rosie Inman-Cook
Rosie has many years experience in the Natural Death Movement. Winner of the NDCs award for 'Best Natural Burial Ground in the UK'. Rosie values liasing with the public to inform them of all options available, including pragmatic advice on DIY funerals. She is experienced at cultivating relationships with Funeral Directors, encouraging the choices offered to all families and enjoys working with landowners looking to establish new burial sites.
Rosie has many years practice with the media in multiple formats. Has been a Director of several successful and leading companies.
Rosie is a mum of four and now a Grandmother and is a keen knowledgeable amateur naturalist.
Contact Rosie on 0871 288 2098, rosie@naturaldeath.org.uk
Trustees
John Mallatratt (chair)
John is a funeral director and winner of the NDC's award for Best Funeral Directors in the UK. He founded two of the earliest natural burial grounds to be established in the UK and has over 12 years experience of managing them. He believes passionately in supporting families to create funerals that are personal, individual and significant to both them and their loved ones.
Prior to working in the funerals sector, John worked in the secondary and tertiary stages of education in the UK and provided education and development consultancy in Jordan and Palestine.
In 2008, he established the first funeral planning company committed to investing exclusively in ethical investments.
Rupert Callender
At 38 years old, Rupert is the youngest of the trustee board, and one of the new generation of undertakers to emerge directly inspired by the NDC. He and his wife Claire are funeral directors in Devon, and were amongst the first to merge undertaking with holding the ceremony. Rupert considers himself 'radicalised' partly by a childhood spent running around St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh, but also by damaging, unimaginative funerals.
James Leedam
Formerly a Chartered Building Surveyor with experience in historic buildings, design and development, James founded a specialist company 2003, to provide new natural burial grounds across the UK. Working in partnership with landowners, its sixth burial ground opens in 2010. He was a member of the Ministry of Justice advisory panel for the production of Guidance for Natural Burial Ground Managers, and winner of Cemetery of the Year Award 2008.
Susan Morris
An experienced nurse in caring for the dying. Susan deeply believes in support and advocacy for the dying and for funeral advice. Previous charities Susan has been a trustee of include the Befriending Network and the Nicholas Albery Foundation.
Judith Pidgeon
Co-founder of The Martinsey Isle Trust and Transitus and teacher, Judith Pidgeon is passionate about bringing a greater awareness and informed choice to every aspect of death and dying - emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual and ecological. Producer of the play Colder Than Here - working alongside healthcare professionals and the public to open dialogue safely and ensure a good death for all -she sees her primary role as interfacing with the public.
Brett Walwyn
Brett is a Body Psychotherapist specialising in death and bereavement. He has a special interest in burial history for many years and has worked with funeral directors, hospices and bereavement groups. He is working with the Martinsey Isle Trust on the Art of Dying project, taking the natural burial message here and abroad.
Contact trustee board at: susan@naturaldeath.org.uk
Company Secretary:
Susan Morris
Contact Susan on: susan@naturaldeath.org.uk
Founders of the Natural Death Centre:
Nicholas Albery, Josefine Speyer, and Christianne Heal.
Nicholas Albery died in a car accident on June 3rd 2001. Obituaries of Nicholas can be read at The Guardian.
