Our Board & Team
Meet the people behind WABC.
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John Jenkins MBE
Director & Trustee
Chair
John was born and grew up in & around Wallingford, joining the family business when he left college in 1964. He is a full time wheelchair user, having contracted polio in Wallingford swimming pool back in 1953. Importantly, as a youngster he spent a lot of time on the family boat, whatever shape it was in the time, on our lovely river Thames. John left Wallingford back in 1970 to work in IT (amongst other things) then retired back here in 2015, determined to get back on the river.
"I have been involved in the participation and development of disability sport for more than 45 years, becoming a Paralympian in 1984 and representing GB in swimming and table tennis, travelling all over the world. I am very proud to say that in 2015 I was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen with an MBE for "services to disability sport". I am a passionate believer in the rights of disabled people to get out and about in the countryside and that includes the river. The Wallingford Accessible Boat Club will enable this vision to become a reality."
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Andy Stevens BSc
Director & Trustee
Secretary
Andy Stevens has lived in & near Wallingford all of his life, attending local schools and enjoyed rowing and playing football for the town clubs. Like many, Andy has made full use of our unique and beautiful stretch of the River Thames over the years, including manning the British Red Cross First Aid Post as a member of the very first cadet force. He began employment at AERE Harwell and before his recent retirement, was employed as an Electrical Engineer and Project & Team Leader for Fusion Research facilities at the Culham Laboratory. Andy is delighted to be a Trustee for Wallingford Accessible Boat Club and looks forward to launching and operating our own Wheelyboat on the River Thames at Wallingford.
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Deborah Whelan BA Hons
Director & Trustee
Operations
Deborah is a retired Disability Equality Adviser & Assessor, and Wallingford resident, Town Councillor and now WABC Trustee. She is currently the Chair of Oxfordshire Transport & Access Group (www.oxtrag.org) & contributor to multiple customer representative groups with an interest in addressing equality of opportunity.
“I have an interest in the well-being of town residents & visitors and especially improving inclusion in its broadest sense in our historic Thames-side town. I am an active resident of Wallingford contributing my personal and professional skills to many interest areas (for example, as a fundraiser to Rowing Club, Volunteer Centre, Carnival, Theatre, Sue Ryder, Food Bank etc). I am a volunteer driver, usher, baker & own a small boat to get pleasure from water pursuits which should be available to all. I hope WABC will make river access inclusive and I can't wait for our first session on the river!"