Who's Who in the QES
Bernard Lamb, President of the Society
Dr Bernard Lamb joined the QES as a life member in 1981 and has been President since 2007. He is the author of three QES research books based on national surveys, and of the QES Practical Guide to Punctuation. The Queen's English and How to Use It is his latest publication. For 40 years he taught and conducted research in genetics at Imperial College London where he studied and tried to improve his students' use of English. He is a Fellow of the Society of Biology and of the Royal Society of Medicine, holds a BSc, a PhD and a DSc, and has written more than 100 scientific papers and The Applied Genetics of Humans, Animals, Plants and Fungi. He has also been Chairman of the QES London Branch for 21 years.
Rhea Williams, Chairman of the QES Committee
Mrs Williams was unanimously elected Chairman of the Society at the recent AGM. A former teacher, Rhea has already shown her commitment to the Society and has made numerous appearances in the broadcast and print media, around the world. In addition to her duties as Chairman, she is anxious to see changes in education in the United Kingdom, that will allow teachers to get on with the job of teaching.
Ennis Killip, The Trust's Administrative Secretary
Ennis Killip is Cumbrian by birth. She attended the University of Wales where she attained a B.A. Hons. Degree in Philosophy. She then moved to London as a computer programmer for Shell UK before going on to work for the child-protection team of one of the London boroughs. Ten years ago, together with her partner, Tony Scott, she moved to live near Reading. Ennis began working for the QES in 2007, when it became clear that the Queen's English Society needed an administrator to service meetings and deal with enquiries. Ennis is always happy to receive questions and comments regarding the Society and will deal with enquiries promptly.
William (Bill) Ball, The Hon. Treasurer
Bill acts as a proof–reader for Quest and prepares material for our on-line Guides to Good English. He has launched a branch of the Society in the West Midlands, (and is always looking for new members), in addition to running his own accountancy business, which he started in 1994. A former grammar school boy, Bill is very supportive of the QES. He told me: "My main areas of interest are spelling, punctuation, and the changes that have taken place in the grammar of the language since the days of the Fowler brothers a century ago."
Tony Scott, Membership Secretary and Webmaster
I find it worrying that now when so many people are emerging from full–time education with their shiny new degrees, so rightly proud of their achievements, that they cannot communicate accurately or with elegance. I hope that the small part I am able to play as Membership Secretary and Webmaster for the QES, will help people to decide that writing and speaking English correctly, is a good thing for the country, is fashionable and (if you will forgive my lapse), — IT'S COOL!
Debbie le May, Editor of Quest
Mrs Debbie le May is currently a freelance journalist and frequently acts as Editor and Sub–Editor for a number of local newspapers; (she has been a writer for more than 20 years). Having experience in public relations, Debbie, a former member of British Mensa, is in her 20th year as a local Councillor and stood for Parliament in the 2005 General Election. She is the Editor of Quest, recently publishing the Summer 2010 edition.
Adrian Morant, Vice Chairman and Editor of the QES Newsletter
Adrian Morant has been a freelance journalist specialising in telecommunications, Information Technology and related areas for a number of years. A Chartered Electrical Engineer, prior to becoming a journalist, he gained broad experience working in the defence, medical, computer and other sectors of industry. Consequently, he understands the need to use English correctly to convey information clearly and without ambiguity to the recipient who, it must be appreciated, may not even be a native English speaker.
Ken Thomson, QES Media Consultant
Ken Thomson has worked in the theatre as publicist with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in book publishing as commissioning editor with Harrap and Barrie & Jenkins. He was Head of Press for non-factual programming at the inception of Channel 4 TV in the early '80s and worked there for 15 years. He was PR consultant for Jeremy Isaacs on the launch of ARTSWORLD (now Sky Arts) - the UK's first digital channel devoted to the arts. Born in Australia, he has a rough grasp of English.