“A most unexpectedly uber blessed, peaceful, enjoyable, fulfilling, challenging, renewing week!The waterfront staffwere great; really helpful and encouraging; made sailing a pleasure. All the team were suberb, a credit to the Lord and Richmond.”
Jeremy and Elaine Creswell, Samos, May 2011

Rotating Image Gallery © DavidTurner.info

Meet the team

Ben TurnerClare TurnerEmma J SimsLiz JonesMarion GiaconellaRebecca LynchSusanne KinnairdAdam PlayfairDanny WilliamsHannah DouglassHermione GarnerRob Baggaley

Sunrise House Staff

 Ben Turner | Chief Executive

Ben Turner

Having made it neither as a professional rugby player nor musician, I spent around twenty years working in the printing and paper industry, latterly running Cantate, London's leading printer for the performing arts, before becoming involved in MasterSun Christian Holidays in Summer 2007.  It's a long story (see FAQs) but Richmond was founded later that year and having worked from our garage (the original Sunrise House) for three years we moved to the new Sunrise House here in Kingston in 2010.  It is the most immense privilege to have been able to continue providing these holidays and to employ the staff that we do.  Clare, my wife, not only had her house invaded by Richmond for those three years, but herself helped hugely until joining full time in January 2009.  The irony is that despite being majority shareholders we have had less holiday in three years than in any single year previously!  But we have visited more places in that time than in the previous 25 years probably.

I was not only born at Kingston Hospital and went to school in Kingston but we now live and work in Kingston!  Having rarely travelled before I love both the Mediterranean sun and the snow-covered mountains but mostly I am inspired by visiting our resorts and meeting with our staff and guests.

John Wesley is my greatest hero having grown up a Methodist; I am a Trustee of CWR, founded by Selwyn Hughes;  and a Governor of Great Walstead School, a Christian School in Sussex.  I love rugby, camping, music and hiking. Top

Clare TurnerClare Turner | Director of Customer Services

I was appointed to the role of Director of Customer Services this year having officially joined Richmond in 2009, although from the moment the company started in 2007 working from our games room I became more and more involved!

I love chatting to our guests on the phone.  Can there be anything more lovely than talking to people about holidays?  There are so many guests I now feel I know although we've never met, but a special delight is meeting guests I've spoken to on resort visits.  I don't ski or sail but I still really enjoy being in the resort atmosphere. I also love being able to spend time with our fabulous staff and managers who've become such good friends. 

I trained as a nurse at St Thomas' Hospital and married Ben at 21.  I was a stay at home Mum and our four children are now grown up, one is married and one is currently on the Richmond Intern Programme.  Having been at Emmanuel Wimbledon for 25 years we moved to the plant at Dundonald in 2009.   I love cooking, entertaining, musicals and meeting friends! Top

Emma J Sims

Emma Sims | Senior Holiday Consultant | PA to CEO

I moved to Kingston from Ireland in 2008 to work for Richmond Holidays. I had heard about Richmond through some family friends and after finishing University thought that working for a Christian Holiday company was a great idea and have been at Richmond ever since! I work mainly in Sunrise House where I am involved in lots of different aspects of the business. I have also had the opportunity to spend some time in different resorts, I spent two months working in Samos in 2009 running the Kid's Clubs, I helped to set up our season in Croatia last year and have also visited our ski resorts on a number of occasions where I have learned to ski and snowboard for the first time. I love speaking to our guests on the phone about the holiday that would best suit them as well as meeting them in resort when I have the opportunity. Top

Liz Jones

Liz Jones | Holiday Consultant

I'm the newest member of the Sales team at Sunrise House; starting mid-July 2011. I process and make bookings for all the Richmond Holidays' guests and will also be personal assistant to Clare. I heard of Richmond through Rebecca who attends the same Church in Kingston and it came highly recommended as a company through those I heard had been on a Richmond Holiday. I am excited to be a part of the Richmond UK Team and I'm also looking forward to maybe visiting one or two resorts myself and talking to you! I've already visited the lovely Austrian Chalet and have a keen interest in the Wintersun resorts as well as Turkey. I would love to visit Alpe d'huez in winter for skiing or summer for Tour de France with my husband! I love running, cycling and ski-ing;  generally being active and outdoors, building relationships, and good food! Top

Marion Giaconella

Marion Giaconella | Finance Manager

Bonjour, I am French and I have been living in the UK for the last 5 years. I have been working in the accounts for Richmond Holidays since July 2009. I didn't know a company like Richmond could exist. I always believed in God and his son Jesus but I never been close to any church back home. I was not looking to work in a Christian environment when I found Richmond. Now, I believe it was a blessing as my faith just keeps on growing since I have started working here. I hope every guest and every member of staff would experience the same feelings. Top

Rebecca LynchRebecca Lynch | HR Manager

I have a history of holidaying with Richmond World Holidays and joined the Richmond team in 2010 as HR Manager for two days a week.  I think I have the perfect job working for a quality Christian holiday company in my chosen career with such wonderful colleagues both here in the Sunrise House and in resort.  I am very passionate about each of Richmond's holiday destinations and often go home from work declaring our next holiday destination to my husband. Top

Susanne Kinnaird

Susanne Kinnaird | Holiday Consultant | PR Executive

I'm Susanne Kinnaird and I work at Sunrise House as a Travel Consultant. I've worked for Richmond Holidays since January 2010. I moved to Kingston from my home in Enfield in 2009 after finishing my university degree in Journalism. I initially started as a temp to help out with a busy period at Sunrise House. But I guess that busy period never really settled down as I was soon made a permanent member of staff! Since then I've been out to beautiful Samos on holiday with my husband and on two short resort visits to the French Alps. As well as chatting to our lovely guests on the phone and booking their holidays, I also enjoy working on Richmond's website and social network pages on Facebook and Twitter. Top

Resort Staff

Adam Playfair

Adam Playfair | Ski Operations Manager

I'm Adam, I'm 24 and I'm proud to be the longest standing Richmond employee! I've had the opportunity to work in most resorts and meet so many incredible people during this time. I love Christ and I love people so I couldn't ask for a better job! Also, being a keen skier, windsurfer, sailor and hiker, I've had opportunities to try out my hobbies in some of the most spectacular locations in the world! Top

 

Danny Williams

Danny Williams | Reberty Village Resort Manager

I started working with Richmond World Holidays following its creation in November 2007 and have been involved ever since primarily leading on the ski guiding and training element of our winter holidays in the French Alps. Indeed, it was a chance meeting with Ben Turner over a starter of snails in the Savoie Region that prompted my involvement. It has been a delight to be involved full time from May 2011 having been seconded from the Welsh Government, and to continue a passion for Richmond’s quality holidays with our Lord at the centre, and working with our various teams.

Having studied Catering and Hotel Management and a period in private sector finance with NPI. I joined the UK Civil Service in 1991 with then Welsh Office working for twelve years in the NHS Directorate responsible for NHS Pubic Appointments, working with Ministerial colleagues around the UK including Whitehall. The last six years I have been a Regional Business Manager for the Welsh Assembly Government leading multi-disciplined teams.

I am on the Board of Governors at Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School and St Richard Gwyn RC High School in the Vale of Glamorgan and football referee with the Welsh FA. Top

Hannah DouglassHannah Douglass | Ste Foy Resort Manager

This time last year (December 2010) I was driving to the Richmond ski chalets having been working in Bristol as a physiotherapist for several years. I loved my job as a Physiotherapist, although had been sensing God’s prompting to step out of my comfort zone and allow God to direct my next steps. I had worked in the past for a Christian holiday company, adore the mountains (especially in the winter) and love skiing, so thought that I would contact Richmond holidays to enquire about the possibilities of working for them. Within a few months I found myself heading out to Ste Foy, a resort that held a very special place in my heart, to embark on my first season with Richmond. It has been an exciting year for me; one that God has taken me further along that journey with him. I love the mix of ministry to staff and guests as well as providing all the elements of quality holidays in an environment that speaks of God’s amazing extravagance and incredible creation. Top

Hermione Garner

Hermione Garner | Alpe d'Huez Resort Manager

Having been in the Christian Watersports World for many years, I had heard of Richmond Holidays, but my first experience of it was visiting a friend working in Mont Chavin. At the time I was self employed and looking for the next step. I had always wanted to do a ski season – so I rang Ben and arranged a meeting. Nearly two years later and I’ve worked in four different resorts in a variety of roles in both summer and winter.

There are so many aspects of the job I enjoy – the high energy buzz of working in resort; troubleshooting, multi tasking, meeting and sharing time with our wonderful guests, developing a team of young people – and of course the outdoor life of a seasonnaire!

Previously I have managed a Christian Watersports Centre in the UK, and have also recently studied on a correspondence course in Theology.

When back in England I love running along the beach, going to my church, surfing, sailing, and meeting friends for lunch or coffee! Top

Rob Baggaley

Rob Baggaley | Head of Ministry

Having been a Ministry Leader for Richmond in La Rosiere, France in 2010 and Samos Resort Manager in 2011, I am now taking on a new role as Head of Ministry and will also be one of Ricmond's Pastors in Ski resorts throughout the season. I have an infectious enthusiasm and a real passion for people; particularly to see individuals find peace with God in their day to day lives.

Having graduated from Sheffield University in Biblical Studies, I worked for five years with children in foster care before changing career completely to manage a tourist attraction in the Yorkshire Dales. I have always felt a calling to ministry and spent the last 3 years, before joining Richmond, pastoring with a church in Hampshire. Top

Richmond World Holidays Ltd, Sunrise House, 133 London Road, Kingston, Surrey, KT2 6NH

Tel: 020 3004 2661 Email: info@richmond-holidays.com

Registered in England No 07058425.

© Copyright Richmond World Holidays Ltd 2012