MEET THE BID TEAM
Alison Drummond - Operations Manager
Alison joined the BID team in March 2020 after 10 years as Events Manager for Oxford City Council.
Alison is an expert in events management and operations, including security management, health
and safety, legislation, and best practice.
She is a dedicated and tenacious member of the team and
a brilliant relationship-builder, who will do everything in her power to support businesses and make things happen for them.
Fun Fact: Alison once worked as a TV presenter in Bolivia!
Warwick Heskins, BID Chair
Warwick is the Director of West Berkshire Pub Company Limited which runs The Catherine Wheel in Cheap Street and more recently The Spare Wheel in Market Place. He has 11 years’ experience in the hospitality industry.
Prior to this Warwick spent 21 years working in the corporate head offices of BT then o2/Telefonica as a buyer and Senior Internal Auditor.
Since Warwick opened the Catherine Wheel in 2014 the pub has gone from strength to strength allowing him to open an additional venue ‘The Spare Wheel' in Market Place in 2020.
Warwick has worked closely with the BID in the past and, in his new role on the board, looks forward to working with the new Newbury BiD team to help develop Newbury town centre during this difficult period, and out the other side, especially ensuring independents have their voices heard.
Outside of work Warwick is a Reading FC season ticket holder and enjoys playing 5-a-side football when time allows.
- Sector: Independent Hospitality
- Area: Cheap Street & Market Street
Richard Farley, Deputy Chair
Richard is the Centre Manager of the Kennet Shopping Centre and has been involved in the scheme in some form since 1997. Before taking the reins of the centre in April 2019, Richard was the Operations Manager, Service Manager and Security Officer at the centre having progressed through the ranks since he was 18 years old. He also managed 15 different facility teams in shopping centres, offices and retail parks across the country from Plymouth to Leicester to Kent, including of course, the Kennet Centre.
A keen board member since June 2019, Richard wanted to be part of the larger community business wise, having been a resident since his teenage years, and make a difference with the different sectors working together for the town.
In his spare time Richard can be seen on the stands of Madejski Stadium supporting Reading FC and is a very keen follower of Formula One.
- Sector: Shopping Centres
- Area: The Kennet Centre
