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Walking Holidays since 1913

Meet our people

At HF Holidays, we put people at the heart of everything we do. Here’s an introduction to our senior members who help drive our defining principles: friendship, fun, fresh air, and the feelgood factor.

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Board of Directors

Executive Leadership Team

Honorary Officers

Meet our board

As a co-operative, HF Holidays is governed by a board of 12 volunteer Directors who are elected by the Society's members. This board sets the strategic direction of the company and is made up of members who have a passion for walking holidays in the UK, Europe, and beyond. Collectively, our board aims to reflect the interests and background of the wider membership. Individually, Directors offer professional or commercial expertise.

Each Director serves on one or more of the board’s assurance committees: Finance, Remuneration, Governance, and Audit & Risk or working groups, which are aligned to the Society’s strategic themes: Led by Product, Membership matters Most, Simplify and Optimise and Culture First. Their roles are to enable Directors and members of the Executive Leadership Team to consider matters in more detail than is possible during a board meeting, including the appropriate strategic objectives and goals and to make recommendations to the board.

Stephen Guile

Chair

Over more than 20 years, I’ve stayed at all our country houses and enjoyed many overseas holidays. Being outdoors with like‑minded people is a simple but rewarding experience, and I especially value the unique atmosphere of an HF holiday.My professional background includes housing regulation and work as a Company Secretary across housing, public, and voluntary organisations, including the NHS. Experience in governance, risk, and organisational improvement has supported my role on the Board.The HF philosophy means a lot to me, and I’m proud to be part of a member‑focused organisation with such committed supporters

Diane Moss

Vice Chair

With an academic background in geography and geology and a firm belief that walking is the best form of travel, exploring the great outdoors on foot ticks a lot of boxes for me. Professionally, I am a governance consultant, working with boards to develop and deliver vision and strategy. I aim to combine these skills and my trustee experience in other organisations, to help HF to continue to thrive and be the top choice provider of great walking holidays.Diane Moss's experience of being a Board Director here .

Linda Haydon

I took my first HF holiday in 2013 in the Lake district and since then I have stayed in most of the UK houses and travelled to Puglia and the Dolomites with HF. My entire career has been in the travel industry which enables me to contribute to the future development and success of HF Holidays as a Board Director. HF is a unique organisation which brings together people drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, but who all share a love of walking and the great outdoors.

Richard Drury

HF Holidays has been an important part of my life since taking my first holiday as a child, then with my own family and now as an HF Holidays Leader. I’m keen to help preserve those things that make HF Holidays so special, whilst recognising the need to evolve our holiday experience and attract new guests of all ages and backgrounds. As a recently retired Human Resources Director I have a strong interest in our people, and I’ll do my best to bring together my professional and personal experiences to support the business.

Andrea (illy) Illingworth

I am fairly new to HF Holidays but as a walk leader and member I already feel part of the community. I bring a fresh pair of eyes and a collaborative leadership approach. I have a service industry background, having worked for the NHS for 36 years in a variety of roles. I value the opportunity to apply my skills and expertise at a strategic level, supporting HF Holidays to continue to lead the way for unique walking holiday experiences both nationally and internationally.Read Andrea's Journey from Leader to Board Director here .

Sandra Taylor

My first experience of HF was in 2013 with a weekend in Abingworth. I immediately became a member and in 2019 a leader. HF Holidays offers much more than mere walking holidays with its strong membership, sense of community and its special ethos. With a varied career ranging from advertising, to working in pensions and lecturing in Business Studies I value this opportunity to use my skills to help HF flourish for future generations to enjoy.Read Sandra's experience of being a Board Director here .

Jerry Gould

With a career in leisure management, then at a Big 4 professional advisory firm, latterly as a partner, I am now Vice-Chair of a large teaching hospital and a Cotswold Voluntary Warden. I joined the HF Board in 2023 and hope my background and range of experience has provided the support to the Board in delivering its strategy that HF’s members would expect. Having been elected for another four years, I intend to work hard to continue adding value.

Duncan Gager

A convert to HF Holidays since retirement. I have quickly come to appreciate that HF is a special organisation with a long and proud tradition of providing walking holidays in its own unique style. Whether travelling on my own or with a group of friends, I have always found HF to be a welcoming and inclusive world. As a Chartered Accountant and former Finance Director with a City based financial services firm, my aim is to bring my professional experience of financial management to contribute HF’s future and continued success.

Elaine Oddie

My first stay with HF was at the Isle of Wight in November 2022, when it rained a lot! However I was impressed with everything about HF, and immediately joined as a member. Since then I have enjoyed several HF holidays and all that they offer, and I want to make sure that our members have the opportunity to do this in the future. I am a retired Chartered Accountant, so being on the Board enables me to use my financial background to benefit the HF organisation.

Donna Lane

HF is unique and special, I felt it on my first holiday in 2016, and have continued since to enjoy holidays both abroad and in the UK as a guest and a walk leader. As a retired county education manager and systems analyst, I will use my skills to support the board in promoting the company's co-operative spirit, welcoming culture, and high-quality holidays. I want to help safeguard its ethos, support strategic growth, and ensure it continues to deliver exceptional experiences for members, guests, and future generations.

Christine Allison

I happened upon HF in 2017 with friends in Dovedale, staying at the Peveril of the Peak. Having recently returned to England and looking to explore the countryside, I landed on my feet! Since that time, I have enjoyed numerous HF holidays, sometimes as a solo, with friends and with a larger walking group. Now, as a huge fan of HF, I have the privilege to serve the membership as a board member, bringing a long career in international finance, business and research to the team.

Raj Joshi

I was introduced to HF by a friend nearly 25 years ago and became a leader about 12 years ago. I have had the privilege of leading on many UK holidays and have met many guests and members. The general conviviality and fellowship have been the hallmark of each of these leads. I bring to the Board experience from the NHS, having developed clinical services, training programmes and was actively involved in, and leading, national professional organisations. I have also been a Trustee of a local Academy Trust during its early years and was involved in audit, risk management and governance committees. I have a very strong affinity for HF. I support its ethos and values.

Manuela Gordea

Society Secretary

I joined HF Holiday over three years ago and have enjoyed every minute since. It's a real privilege to work alongside such a dedicated and experienced Board. With a background in law and a strong commitment to the Society, I’m passionate about helping shape its future success. When I’m not in the boardroom, you’ll often find me exploring the great outdoors—Scotland is my favourite walking destination, and Glen Coe never fails to inspire.

Executive Leadership Team

The Board of Directors delegate the day-to-day running of the Society to the CEO and the ELT who are each responsible for a particular area of the Society. The CEO reports to the chair of the Board.

Chris Simmonds

I have spent my entire career in the business of making people happy through holidays, as CEO of Saga Holidays, Revitalise and the JG Travel Group. In the autumn of 2024, I joined HF Holidays and I am privileged to lead this pioneering, heritage travel company whilst sharing their co-operative values. My fondest memories of walking include seeing the flora of the Borneo rainforest, spotting Bee Hummingbirds in the Sierra Maestra in Cuba and here in the UK, I cherish any ancient woodland in spring, adorned with a carpet of wood anemones and bluebells.

Justine Gibbs

Chief Finance Officer

I have more than 30 years’ finance experience, much of it in hospitality and travel, and joined HF Holidays over ten years ago. I enjoy making finance understandable and helping colleagues use insight to make better decisions. I’m proud to have supported HF’s journey and strengthened its financial future. As a co-operative, our success means building a sustainable Society for generations to come. Outside work, I enjoy travelling, keeping active and spending time outdoors with my family, preferably somewhere sunny by the sea.

Jenny Brydon

Chief Commercial Officer

My career in travel has included senior commercial roles at Travel Supermarket, Saga, AA, Holiday Autos and Lastminute.com. I’m passionate about the outdoors and proud to contribute to HF Holidays’ remarkable heritage of bringing people together through a shared love of walking. Away from work, you’ll usually find me in the mountains, whether walking, climbing, skiing or cycling. My favourite destinations are the Alps and Patagonia, especially when there’s a slice of cake waiting in a remote mountain refuge.

Gillian Mininch

Head of Tour Operations

I’ve been working with HF Holidays for 31 years, but I first started when I was a student and spent two summers as a volunteer walk leader. Since then, I’ve gained a Mountain Leader qualification and was a member of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team for 25 years. When it comes to the outdoors, nothing rivals Scottish mountain summits for me, especially when rewarded with endless views of mountains and lochs. My favourite time to visit is May – long days, the midges aren’t too bad, and the weather can be stunning.

Rob Box

Chief Technology Officer

I joined HF Holidays in 2018 after 20 years in technology leadership across media, hospitality and finance. My role covers day-to-day IT operations and our long-term strategy to simplify and improve the systems supporting the Society. A favourite HF memory is celebrating my dad’s 70th birthday at Monk Coniston and climbing the Old Man of Coniston together. My aim is to give colleagues reliable technology, allowing them to focus on what matters most: creating wonderful experiences for our guests.

Maggs Williams

Head of Hotel Operations

I have spent my career in hospitality, leading teams that create memorable experiences for guests across the UK. I love seeing our houses full of life, great food, and that shared sense of adventure that makes HF Holidays so special. I’m from Lancashire and grew up visiting the coast with my grandparents so I’m happiest by the British seaside. But I do have a soft spot for the Yorkshire Dales. Don’t miss Pateley Bridge’s Oldest Sweet Shop or Bizzie Lizzie’s in Skipton for proper fish and chips.

James Gambling

Chief Marketing Officer

I bring over 32 years of travel industry experience to HF Holidays, with a career spanning Saga Travel, Travelopia, Just Go! Holidays, and World of Cruising. Having grown up in Folkestone from the age of five, I’ve always loved being by the sea and feel most at home soaking up the sunshine on Mallorca’s south-east coast. Away from work, I enjoy treating my grandchildren to fish, chips, and ice creams, or relaxing with a spot of fly fishing.

Sarah Davis-Brown

Head of Culture and Sustainability

I joined HF Holidays in 2008 and am proud to work for a co-operative with such a strong sense of purpose. My role focuses on creating a positive colleague experience, strengthening our culture and embedding sustainability across HF Holidays. I’m excited to help shape a future that benefits our colleagues and members and to make a positive impact on the people and places we travel to via the Pathways Fund. Outside work, I love exploring the UK coastline on foot.

Honorary Officers

Elected by Members of the Society at the annual general meeting, our Honorary Officers are comprised of a President and a maximum of eight Vice Presidents. They shall all be Members of the Society and selected upon the recommendation of the Board.

David Gray

Vice President

My family all became members of HF Holidays in October 1948, and I will celebrate 75 years of membership in 2024. I also led many walks as an HF Holidays Leader, and while there are so many excellent walking locations to choose from, I’ve always been very fond of the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog). On a clear day, Pen y Fan enjoys brilliant views and the range from Crickhowell to Hay on Wye has some outstanding trails. I love the sense of community HF Holidays offers and as current chair of the HF Holidays Retired Leaders Association, I help organise its annual reunion.

Bob Gomersall

Vice President

My first HF Holiday was at Tywyn (mid-Wales) in 1961, aged 11. I started leading for HF Holidays in 1969 and I'm still going strong today. The rugged hills and vast lochs of the Scottish Highlands make it a wonderful place to walk, and you’ll find me at Glen Coe every summer and in the Lake District at Christmas and New Year. My background is in physics and education, and I have founded and built up three successful international businesses. I served on the HF board for 32 years and I’ve still got the same passion for HF Holidays that I first found as a boy all those years ago.

Angela Brassey

Vice President 

After many happy years as an HF Holidays guest and member, I served on the board from 1994 to 1997 and was delighted to be made an Honorary Officer as Vice President in 2018. My favourite walking destination is probably the High Pyrenees, where my husband and I (Peter Brassey, former CEO of HF Holidays) have spent the last 35 years walking and skiing. Now, in my later years, I’ve found that rail holidays in the mountains are becoming more attractive. In summer, there’s nothing quite like a trip to Switzerland’s Bernese Alps where a handy network of cable cars allows us to trek through the mountains with ease.

Joyce Hilton

Vice President

Ever since working my first summer season as a leader in Scotland, HF Holidays has been a huge part of my life. Fast forward to today and I've served 28 years on the board and have been enjoying HF Holidays for over 60! While I’ve walked in incredible places all over the globe (including a trip to the Himalayas), there’s something special about the Scottish Highlands. My husband and I love Glen Coe and our country house, Alltshellach. When leading walks in the area, it was always a pleasure to see the delight and sense of achievement guests felt when completing a summit of Ben Nevis.

Trusted British co-operative

We are proud to be Britain’s only walking holiday co-operative. Led by almost 40,000 members, offering hundreds of holidays across the UK and overseas, with all surplus being reinvested back into our Society.

Flexible choice of guided walks

Experienced volunteer HF Leaders guide every walk at our UK country houses, offering up to three daily options. Making it easy to find a holiday to suit your ability, and with the flexibility to switch grades each walking day.

Book early with confidence

Become an HF Member to benefit from our Price Pledge. Secure your first choice of holiday early, and if the cost drops after you book, we will automatically refund the difference (exc. travel agent, group and self-guided bookings).

Book with confidence

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

If we cancel your holiday, we honour all refund requests 

Travel with confidence

We know that peace of mind is priceless, so we’ll always go above and beyond to meet – and exceed – expectations

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

HF Holidays

A British heritage brand with 111 years of experience

Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries

Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members

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© 2026 HF Holidays Limited. Registered in England, number 5713R. VAT Number 125 4899 87. All Rights Reserved.

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