meet the team
Get to know the team at Cowdray, from Farm Managers to Foresters and everything in between. At Cowdray we are proud to employ a huge range of personalities and we hope that this page will give you an opportunity to get to know some of them...
Parks and Gardens Lead
Nick Savage
"We, as a team, are responsible for the upkeep of properties, public areas and supporting events across the Estate but specifically I focus on the holiday lets and more recently, helping with event delivery. The work is diverse but always rewarding as it allows me to support the different business entities in a hands-on and practical way."
Cowdray Lifestyle Retail Manager and Buyer
Claire Stammers
“As well as working full time in the shop, I am also in charge of buying and sourcing new, innovative, and preferably sustainable items for Cowdray Lifestyle across a range of prices. We stock everything from smaller items perfect for a birthday gift to more investment homeware pieces.”
Assistant Polo Manager
Matt Sim
“The main part of my job is scheduling all 36 tournaments played at Cowdray Park Polo Club throughout the season. The role involves a lot of liaising between players, patrons and managers.”
Golf Operations Manager
Shaun Clarke
‘The fact that golf can provide so much enjoyment or frustration in a matter of seconds is what makes it so compelling and why so many people play. I don’t feel many, if any, ever achieve perfection, but we can all strive for that one round that brings us closer to the target.’
Accommodation Manager
Jennifer Dunn
‘The fact that all the accommodation at Cowdray has a home away from home feel makes it very appealing to our guests. The photos are a true reflection of the properties, from how they have been styled to the things that we include as part of a stay. As soon as you step into one of our holiday cottages, they have a warm and welcoming feel.’
Head of Housekeeping
Deborah Brown
‘From a housekeeping perspective, I manage all the accommodation properties across the Estate ensuring that they are immaculately cleaned, fully equipped, and ready to accept guests. I also lead a skilled housekeeping team, overseeing their training and ensuring that they have enough support.’
Head of Farming
Barney Tremaine
'Alongside developing Cowdray’s future farming strategy, I oversee the strategic and operational management of Cowdray Home Farm. Home Farm encompasses over 1100 hectares which includes arable and forage crops, as well as 315 dairy cows and Aberdeen Angus beef cattle.'
Head Butcher at the Cowdray Farm Shop
Steve Page
“Customers are much more aware these days of the provenance of the meat that they are buying. I feel very lucky to have a good supply of beef from Cowdray Home Farm, lamb which is reared on the Estate, and wild Cowdray venison that I can use.”
Works Manager
David Wyatt
“The Works team comprises of 25 experienced electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, carpenters, joiners and handymen. Many have longstanding connections with the Estate with one member of staff working at Cowdray for over 50 years, and two others for nearly 50 years.”
Manager at the Cowdray Farm Shop Café
Emma Hague
‘I oversee the day-to-day operation of the Café. Looking after our customers is a key part of my role, and I very much enjoy chatting to them and want to ensure that their time at the Café always exceeds their expectations.’
Wedding Sales Executive at The Walled Garden
Hannah Fullagar
“As soon as you walk through the oak gate into The Walled Garden you forget that anything else is happening outside. Your shoulders go down and you just relax – it’s such a serene environment.”
Course Manager at Cowdray Park Golf Club
Jonathan Smith
“I have worked at Cowdray for 22 years, 20 of those as the Golf Course Manager. It has been a fantastic and rewarding job, and I take great pride in ensuring that the golf course is immaculately maintained. I love that Cowdray Park Golf Course is playable all year round due to its sandy soil.”
Polo Manager at Cowdray Park Polo Club
Chris Bethell
“Playing professional polo has really helped me as Polo Manager. If you haven’t played and don’t understand the nuances of the game, it is hard to debate with a patron or a professional polo player especially regarding contentious points such as handicaps or an umpire’s decision.”
Operations Manager at the Cowdray Farm Shop
Lizzie West
“A lot of time and energy has gone into getting Farm Shop Online set up. It was a real sense of achievement when we got over 150 products on our website in only 10 days. We are looking at developing meat boxes, BBQ packs and breakfast boxes. There is huge potential to create a whole new business online.”
Cowdray's Wellbeing Manager
Rachel Usher
Cowdray Hall and Therapy Rooms are a busy hub of activity. It’s a place where you can come to step aside from the challenges of daily life, take time to deepen your connection with yourself, your community and the wider world.
Estate Land Manager
Nick McDonald
The environment is now top of every Estate’s agenda, and at Cowdray we are working hard to do everything we can in the fight against climate change and to reverse environmental decline.
Gundog Trainer
Jason Mayhew
Good gundogs need to be enthusiastic, be keen to learn and to take instruction. A successful gundog in competitions needs to have excellent muscle and bone structure and be free of hereditary disease.
Estate Surveyor
Peppi Cella
Being one of the longest serving employees has given me, I believe, a unique role on the Estate. The experience that I have gained from various roles enables me to support and assist all the businesses across the Estate with their varied requirements.
Operations Manager, Cowdray Heritage Trust
Sally Guile
We were absolutely delighted to have been awarded a £45,200 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2020. This money enables the Trust to carry out an options and feasibility study to secure the long-term planning for the future of the site. Fundamental to the project will be innovative engagement and consultation activities with local audiences to help shape our ideas.
Director of Golf
Tim Allen
Professionally, I am proud of how the golf club has grown and improved year on year. The golf club membership is at capacity and for the first time we have a waiting list. Many members have chosen to join us from other clubs and our main aim is to maintain people’s commitment to Cowdray and to ensure that the club provides everything they need.
Forestry Department
Clive & Geoff
Obviously, the machinery has changed our working practices over the years in the Forestry team. When I first started, we used axes, we had chain saws but not used as much as they are now, forestry has got easier with the machinery that we use now. We used to load the felled timber on to the lorries by hand, that was hard work and took a lot of time...
Director of Events & Hospitality
Neil Georges
“Quite simply it is the rarity of the experience; it is a special place, a home. It is somewhere you can be at total peace with the ones you care most about; surrounded by private gardens, where activities are plentiful. Cowdray House is timeless and a rare form of luxury.”
Property Director
Lauren Cleghorn
"We have a wide range of residential properties from idyllic rural farm cottages tucked away in the West Sussex countryside to multi-let blocks of flats in Midhurst town centre – and everything in between..."
Deer Manager
Jason Griffin
"There is a long-standing connection between the Estate and deer. The first record of deer on the Estate was about 800 years ago."
Head Chef
Ben Jupp
Ben Jupp, Head Chef at the Farm Shop & Café, celebrates his 10-year anniversary. "There are many memorable moments but for me a highlight was cooking a Ten Course Taster Dinner in June 2019 to celebrate the Farm Shop’s 10-year anniversary."
Head Forester
Nina Williams
Meet Nina, our Head Forester who joined Cowdray in January, 'There are not that many women in forestry, but there is nothing about the profession that is gender restrictive in anyway - from driving ground machinery to wielding chainsaws...'
