Today we would like to introduce our new Chair of Trustees. Mike Bobbett is a chartered Accountant with experience in a variety of Finance and Operational roles in small businesses and larger third sector Organisations. He is currently the Associate Director – Business Innovation at The Wallich, one of Wales leading charities supporting people who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. He is also a Non-Executive Director at Wales Netball.

Mike has strong roots in Blaenau Gwent, his family come from Blaenau Gwent and many still live here. He spent the early years of his life in Aberbeeg, attending the Arael School. Many of Mike’s close family and friends have been recipients of Specialist Palliative Care and this has instilled a passion and strong belief in the importance of Hospices and the support they provide.

Mike hopes that the time he has spent both working and volunteering within charities and not-for-profit organisations will help him effectively support Hospice of the Valleys and its dedicated staff in continuing to provide outstanding care to families in Blaenau Gwent. He is keen to ensure that the Hospice retains its important role in the local community, extending its services to who need its support, and continues to benefit from its status as a trusted and much-loved charity. Mike hopes to play an active part in helping maintain and develop the activities of the Hospice.

A fun fact about Mike, he is the (great) nephew of the famous football referee, Mervyn Griffiths. Mervyn presided over the 1953 ‘Matthews’ FA Cup Final and was a linesman at the 1954 World Cup Final. Mike’s sporting accomplishments are less impressive, but he is a regular Parkrunner, most recently at Aberbeeg, and has completed over 250 in total. Mike has also ran the London Marathon five times for a variety of local and national charities.