Coachlines - January 2025

31.01.25 Liveryman Adrian Smith

Livery welcomes new Freemen

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The Coachmakers has welcomed a number of elected members sworn as Freemen at the recent Aerospace Industry Dinner in November and Masters‘ and Clerks‘ Lunch in January. This means we have now exceeded our Aiming Points’ 500-member target for our 350th anniversary in 2027.

 

Freeman Adrian Baguley

Adrian and his wife Rachael live in Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire. He has a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degree and is a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Adrian has recently retired having spent 40 years working with the Ministry of Defence in a range of roles from international policy to Science & Technology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. He was involved in the procurement and support of military equipment including several multinational programmes and at the end of his executive career, he was the Ministry of Defence’s most senior civilian engineer. Adrian is deeply passionate about the role that engineering plays in the security and prosperity of the UK and he feels that the Coachmakers Livery Company very much covers these aims and offers him the chance to give back.

Freeman Alan Rivers

Alan lives in London and is an entrepreneur. He is chairman of Body Works West and Astor Hostels Ltd. He founded the Rivers Foundation in 1999 with the aim of providing support for children and young adults, both in the UK and internationally. The Foundation assists smaller charities with specific projects involving the education, social development and medical well-being of young people.

Freeman Ben Hedley

Ben lives in London and his partner is Stephanie Campbell. He achieved a BA (MA) in Engineering and a MEng Manufacturing Engineering both at Cambridge University (Queens’ College). He is CEO of Hedley Studios (previously The Little Car Company) based at Bicester Heritage, and is also co-founder of the online learning business, The Expert Academy. Ben was a speed skier with the British ski team and is still a keen skier despite a 115mph crash at the World Championships in 2017 resulting in a broken neck. He instructs in sailing, windsurfing, water skiing and snowboarding. He admits to being a petrolhead and races a Caterham in the 270R class. Hedley Studios makes officially sanctioned junior cars for the world’s greatest automotive brands. Ben says he has the best job in the world, reconditioning and evolving automotive icons of the past such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley and Bugatti. He recognises that he has come into the automotive industry as an outsider and is keen to meet likeminded people in the Livery to help develop the next generation of engineers.

Freeman Christopher Smith KC

Christopher lives in Manningtree, Essex with his wife Natalie. He attended Southampton University and qualified as a Barrister. Christopher was appointed QC in 2009 and is a member of the London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association. He is also a member of the Worship Company of Blacksmiths. Christopher is a former chairman of British Carriage Driving which is the governing body for the sport of Horse Driving Trials. He has represented Great Britain at two world championships and he is chair of the Council of the British Equestrian Federation. Christopher joined the Livery because he has been interested in coachmaking for 22 years.

Freeman Gary Hunt

Gary lives with his wife Sarah in Findhorn, Morayshire. During a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and the RAF a variety of appointments included supervisor, safety management, instruction, teaching and examining in aviation subjects. Among his professional qualifications, Gary was a RN Fleet Air Arm Observer subsequently gaining his RN Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate and Ocean Navigation and was also Ships Diving Officer. He also was an RAF Aircrew Navigator who became Flying Supervisor and Authoriser. Gary has also been an aircraft captain, and a navigator, in a multi-crew environment for several types of aircraft. Following a varied military aviation career, he qualified as a boatbuilder and is now a part-time boatbuilder and repairer with sailing interests ranging from dinghies to tall ships. Gary is also a competitive rower for Inverness Rowing Club. Gary shares the Coachmakers’ interest in aviation and the UK Armed Forces, and providing development opportunities for young people.

Freeman Harry Kelly

Harry lives in Ware, Hertfordshire and is a Director at GSK Medicinal Chemistry Recruitment and Talent Development. He was educated in Scotland and attended the University of Glasgow achieving a 1st Class BSc Hons and a PhD. Harry is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC). He was Programme Director for the GSK/University of Strathclyde Collaborative PhD programme which is a unique programme for the pharmaceutical industry. Harry was also awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Inspiration and Industry Award in 2017. He has been Visiting Professor at The University of Strathclyde since 2014 and has help the post of Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow since 2022. Harry is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Society of Chemical Industry and is also a Burgess of the City of Glasgow. He believes in the values of the Coachmakers and is keen to contribute to our mentoring activities.

Freeman Haydn Webb

Haydn lives in Swallowfield, Berkshire and his partner is Lisa Flather. He is a horse master in the film/TV industry and has worked for Disney, Warner Bros, Netflix and the BBC. Haydn is a founder member of The London Coachmen, which is an association for coachmen who work carriages in central London. His leisure activities include carriage driving and restoration, and horse racing, and his charitable activities include the Injured Jockeys’ Fund. Haydn enjoys most equestrian sports such as coaching, hunting, horse racing and was previously a national hunt jockey. He can now commit the time to being a member of the Livery, and given his background and the fact that he has supplied carriages to the Lord Mayor’s Show for 34 years, the Coachmakers seems the appropriate choice.

Freeman John Henke

John lives in Watford with his wife Rita and is now retired. He qualified with a BSc in Civil Engineering from Imperial College of Civil Engineering. He was previously a Director at Keir and then MD of a regional company in the East Midlands. He helped to grow the regional business from £28m to £120m and developed a relationship with Cambridge University. John is a Chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and also a member of the Chartered Institute of Building. His charitable activities include being Chair of the CF Lunoe Trust, a committee member of Management of Meditation Hertfordshire and also a trustee of the Friends of Meldreth Manor and Orchard Manor. John lists his interests as swimming, cycling and actively involved with the church in reducing energy consumption. The CF Lunoe Trust provides QUEST scholarships to civil engineering undergraduates which is in line with the Coachmakers’ aims and activities.

Freeman Eleanor Stevens

Eleanor lives in Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire and her partner is Jake Watts. She has a Masters in Chemical Engineering and an MEng in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. Eleanor is a Head of Process Engineer and Sustainability for the Malone Group and has previously been Process Engineering Manager and Process Projects Engineer at Murco Petroleum. She is a STEM ambassador at Malone Group and also a Member of IChemE. Among her interests and leisure activities, Eleanor lists carriage driving, carriage painting and restoration, coaching four-in-hand and of course engineering. She won the Coachmakers’ Coaching Bursary and was fortunate to attend a weekend at Junior Warden Mark Broadbent’s Fenix Carriages, learning about all things coaching. She says she is hooked on coaching, and regularly attends a number of coaching meets in the UK, and the Private Driving Club Coaching meet in Brussels. With all these related activities, Eleanor sees membership of the Livery as being in keeping with her interests and looks forward to promoting and preserving her own passions with like-minded people.

Freeman Captain Peter Skinner

Peter lives in London with his wife Emily. He is currently engaged in SO2 Modernise, Army Strategic Engagement and Plans, Army Staff in London. Peter attended Durham University, achieving BA (Hons) in History followed by a period at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and then Cranfield University, achieving PG Dip, Battlespace Technology. He was previously Regimental Signals Officer, and Regimental Operations Officer, Royal Dragoon Guards and also Desk Lead for Current Operations, Black Sea Region, Land Operations Command. Peter was deployed to Ukraine in 2017 to lead a training mission for a company of Ukrainian personnel and was also involved in the planning of UK and NATO responses to the escalation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He describes himself as a sportsman of any variety including rugby, golf, and game shooting. Peter says that being based in London is an excellent opportunity to join a unique and historic organisation that offers the prospect for personal and professional development whilst contributing to the charitable work of the Livery and furthering the links between the Armed Forces and the Coachmakers.

Freeman Group Captain Shaun Harris CBE

Shaun lives in Shifnal, Shropshire with his wife Marie. He attended the Royal Military College of Science (Cranfield) and also the USAF Air University. He is Director Support and Chief Engineer Royal Air Force and has held various previous RAF appointments including Officer Commanding Eng and Logs at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. Shaun has a distinguished list of achievements including leading the delivery of the world’s first military wide body aircraft 100% sustainable aviation fuel flight. Also he led engineering and logistics aspects of transition from Tornado to Typhoon (Eurofighter) aircraft fleets at RAF Lossiemouth. As far as charitable activities are concerned, Shaun is about to take over as a Governor at Wrekin College. He is a long-standing RAF aerosystems engineer, with a passion for military history. He is keen to join the Coachmakers to support young people seeking careers in STEM related areas, and to create and maintain new friendships.

Freeman William Hunt

William lives in Chelsea with his wife Natasha. He attended Ashbourne College in Kensington and also holds an MBA. He is currently Sales Director at Graeme Hunt Ltd and Managing Director of The On-Line Classic Car Auction Ltd, and is a Sales Consultant, Attica Automotive Hong Kong. Previous appointments include Silverstone Auctions, Classic Car Auctions and Motor Sport Magazine. His interests include classic cars, golf, and politics. By becoming a member of the Livery, William is keen to connect with other people in his industry that could broaden his horizons. He has attended several Livery social events and looks forward to attending more in the future.