Our Trustees
James Abdool
Chair of Trustees
1. Who are you and what did you do before you joined us at Crawley Open House as a trustee?
James Abdool, married to Nickee for almost 30 years with 2 sons, Neal and Joe. I’ve been involved with a number of charities in the past 35 years stemming from my Father who was involved in charity work in and around Crawley for as long as I can remember.
2. How will you help our clients with the job experience in your current position?
Not sure this is the role of a Trustee but my work as Chair is to help steer the strategy at COH to ensure we always meet the needs of our clients.
3. Are you originally from Crawley? How did you hear about COH?
I was born in Crawley and have lived all of my life here with the exception of my university years. I heard about COH from my Father who had supported the charity personally and through the church before I got involved. He was very fond of Charlie.
4. Why choose to be a trustee at COH?
I was voluntold by my Father after he met with Charlie at his church. He told me to go along and meet her but had told her he would send me to become a Trustee. That was over 10 years ago!
5. What were some of your expectations before joining COH?
I had none but knew I wanted to give back to the local community with the skills I had with management and marketing. I thought I could help raise funds and manage the finances. I think I’ve done that and a bit more.
6. What are some of the goals you would like to achieve at COH?
I’ve achieved most of the goals I had planned and would like to ensure the continued financial stability and growth of the charity in new, sustainable and secure ways. Building our property portfolio is my key objective for the future.
7. Like at any job, being a trustee at COH can become stressful sometimes, so what do you do for fun?
Golf, travel and family time is my way of winding down. That said, the work life integration I achieve affords me the luxury of working with charities, for which I get different pleasures.
Meet Paul
Paul Roe
Trustee
1. Who are you and what did you do before you joined us at Crawley Open House as a trustee?
Paul Roe. Old Fashioned general practice accountant, a partner since 1997, at the local office of Kreston Reeves since 2007.
2. How will you help our clients with the job experience in your current position?
Accountancy is not really about numbers, but rather people and words. Every number has both behind it! I built up an extensive network of professional contacts, I hope to leverage that network for the benefit of our clients and service users.
3. Are you originally from Crawley? How did you hear about COH?
Nearly, grew up in Horley, and have always been local except three years at Lancaster Uni ..... given part of the answer to the final question, readers will not be surprised honours degree was History and Politics!!
First became aware of COH through the work of Ian Wilkins at various networking events. It’s rewarding joining Ian for COH at some such events now.
4. Why choose to be a trustee at COH?
I’ve volunteered for about 18 months, since retiring from counting beans. I felt I have enthusiasm and commitment to offer, and might enhance each role from seeing both perspectives.
5. What were some of your expectations before joining COH?
An opportunity to learn from the Trustees, (hopefully, every day is a school day)! Having seen a little of COH operations as a volunteer, it would be good to contribute a little more.
6. Like at any job, being a trustee at COH can become stressful sometimes, so what do you do for fun?
- Lurve travel, largely to cities or large towns that have plenty of museums and lots to do.
- I do feel the need for speed ..... quad biking, UTV driving, and even electric scooters where it is legal.
- Cooking
- Banging a drum in a local Samba Band is a great stress reliever!
- Reading, always history, mainly military, never fiction.
- I’ve been a Crawley Town FC season ticket holder for some years ... although often that can be a stress inducer!!!
Meet Daryl
Daryl Gayler
Trustee
1. Who are you and what did you do before you joined us at Crawley Open House as a trustee?
I was the Regional Director for the South East for RBS. I am also a trustee of Phoenix Stroke Club in Horsham and help to run the St Catherine’s Hospice Golf Society.
2. How will you help our clients with the job experience in your current position?
Yes, I would like to think that people skills and finance knowledge are very relevant to my role as a trustee.
3. Are you originally from Crawley? How did you hear about COH?
I was born in London but lived in Crawley all my life in Three Bridges. I knew about COH from living and working in Crawley. I have also known James for many years from when our kids were at the same school. I also knew Charlie through football.
4. Why choose to be a trustee at COH?
I knew I wanted to give back to the local community with the skills I had in management and marketing. I thought I could help raise funds and manage the finances. I think I’ve done that and a bit more.
5. What were some of your expectations before joining COH?
I had none but I volunteered in the kitchen before becoming a trustee so I knew what to expect.
6. What are some of the goals you would like to achieve at COH?
I would like to continue the good work of the trustees and the leadership team to make COH financially strong for today and the future to ensure it continues to serve society in the way that it does and it was already well on the way to achieving this well before I joined.
7. Like at any job, being a trustee at COH can become stressful sometimes, so what do you do for fun?
For fun, I enjoy all sports
I am a Liverpool supporter but also follow Crawley and regularly attend Broadfield Stadium with my son. So I like to keep busy.
I also have 2 dogs and love to walk them through Tilgate Forest.
Meet Spencer
Spencer Bowen
Trustee
Spencer is married, a father of two grown-up daughters, and retired after 35 exciting years of investing pension fund assets.
He loves most sports - current obsession is Padel - except for football, as he is a Leeds United fan! Spencer is also the Bowen family's entertainment officer, travel agent and IT Helpdesk.
Spencer is also involved in several charities. Crawley Open House is a great place to be a Trustee - the staff are so dedicated and professional, making a huge difference to the lives of their clients.
Louisa Quinn
Trustee
I have worked in the housing sector for over 20 years, beginning my career supporting residents with benefits and rent in hostels across London. I progressed into senior management, gaining experience across a range of areas including income management, facilities, health and safety, policy development, audits, and housing management.
This experience has shaped my understanding of the challenges people face and the importance of delivering consistent, compassionate support. I remain committed to improving how services are delivered, ensuring people are treated with respect and receive the best possible support. I take pride in contributing to practical improvements that make a meaningful difference.
In 2023, I completed a Level 5 Diploma in Housing with the Chartered Institute of Housing, and more recently, in 2026, achieved a Lead Auditor qualification in ISO 9001 (BSI standard). These have strengthened my focus on quality, consistency, and continuous improvement.
As a local resident, I have supported COH for many years; the work COH does is vital, and I am proud to contribute as a Trustee.