Patron & Trustees

Donald Arden - Patron
Donald Arden served a total of 37 years in Africa, 20 of them in Malawi. He began as a priest in Pretoria and Swaziland and was then Bishop of Malawi and Archbishop of Central Africa. Since returning to England in 1981 he has worked as a parish priest and is an Assistant Bishop in London. He keeps in touch by visiting Malawi and by meeting Malawians in Britain whenever possible. He edits Nkhani Zaulere (Malawi Chatterbox) to bring people in Britain news of the church in Malawi. He was invited to become Patron of MACS when it was formed in 1994.

Richard Barton - Chairman
Richard’s working life has been spent in education as an English teacher and subsequently for some twenty years as Head of two schools, the first in Norfolk and then in Canterbury.  In “retirement” he is a school librarian.

Colin Gardner - Treasurer
Colin became treasurer in May 2007. A chartered certified accountant running his own practice since 1981 and prior to that a manager in various forms of accountants in Essex, the West End and the City of London. Chairman of Governors of a local school for 10 years during a time of major changes and new buildings being constructed after attaining grant maintained status. District councillor for 4 years with a special interest in education and housing.

First visited Malawi in 1995 as part of a group from South Africa holding a series of meetings in Blantyre, near Balaka and Mlanje in Mozambique. Having got the African dirt in his feet a further three visits over the years have brought a keen concern for the country and its people. The last visit was to Blantyre and Malindi where an enjoyable stay with Roger Flambert his predecessor as Treasurer and his wife Karla led to his involvement with MACS.

Eileen Eggington - Project Officer
Eileen first went to Malawi in 2006. She has since led three working groups from the UK - mainly based at the rural village of Nkope where there is a blind school unit, primary school and medical centre. She became a trustee in 2008 and Project Officer in March 2009 and works in partnership with Mr Grafiud Tione, the MACS' Representative in Malawi. She visits Malawi to oversee projects annually.

Julie Lupton - Secretary
Julie spent 22 years living and teaching in Malawi, Swaziland and Tanzania. She first taught in northern Malawi between 1980 and 1988 and returned 5 years later to work in Blantyre for two years.  She has taught in secondary schools and for the British Council.  In 2002 she left Africa to live in Kent and became a supporter of MACS. Julie became a MACS trustee in 2011.