Trustees
Brigitte Chaudhry MBE
RoadPeace Founder and President
When Brigitte’s only son, Mansoor aged 26, was horrifically killed in October 1990 by a van driver who had ploughed into him whilst driving through a junction with lights already red for a long time, she was shocked at the shabby treatment of his innocent death. Brigitte quickly learnt that the response to a road death, however blameless the victim and reckless the offender, was worlds apart from the response to a violent death caused by someone in other circumstances. She protested through legal actions in the High Court – eventually three judicial reviews over five years. She found other people who were bereaved through letters in newspapers and approaches to Compassionate Friends, and she documented their experiences.
These experiences made it clear that a grave injustice was being perpetrated and suffered. Together with some of the people she met, Brigitte decided that to challenge the casual attitude to road casualties and offer support to the victims, a dedicated organisation needed to be set up, since none existed and no-one spoke up for road victims. RoadPeace's first meeting was held around Brigitte's dining table in 1991 and the organisation began in 1992 with the first ever helpline for road crash victims, which she manned at the same time as developing the organisation.
As National Secretary, Brigitte has been involved with the day-to-day work of RoadPeace for 16 years, stepping down at the 7th conference in April 2008, which celebrated RoadPeace’s 15 years of pioneering work since its public launch in 1993. Brigitte’s engagement with RoadPeace continues in her role as president, but she is also working at international level for road crash victims: since 2004, she has been President of FEVR (European Federation of Road Traffic Victims) and in collaboration with the World Health Organisation she continues to develop and promote the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
For more of Brigitte's experiences read about how RoadPeace was founded in Hidden Victims and her speech at RoadPeace's 15th anniversary conference.
Hidden Victims - how RoadPeace began Past and future challenges - Brigitte Chaudhry speech to the RoadPeace 15th Anniversary Conference
As National Secretary, Brigitte has been involved with the day-to-day work of RoadPeace for 16 years, stepping down at the 7th conference in April 2008, which celebrated RoadPeace’s 15 years of pioneering work since its public launch in 1993. Brigitte’s engagement with RoadPeace continues in her role as president, but she is also working at international level for road crash victims: since 2004, she has been President of FEVR (European Federation of Road Traffic Victims) and in collaboration with the World Health Organisation she continues to develop and promote the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
For more of Brigitte's experiences read about how RoadPeace was founded in Hidden Victims and her speech at RoadPeace's 15th anniversary conference.
Hidden Victims - how RoadPeace began Past and future challenges - Brigitte Chaudhry speech to the RoadPeace 15th Anniversary Conference
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Cynthia Barlow OBE
Chair
Cynthia's only child and daughter, Alex Jane McVitty, was tragically killed on 7 June 2000, aged 26. She was cycling in the City of London when the driver of a concrete mixer lorry turned left across her path.
Cynthia's experience of the investigation, inquest and the court procedings were painfully disappointing and isolating. She was compelled to carry out her own analysis of what had happened and drew her own conclusions of the responsibilities that needed to be taken by the driver and by his employer. She bought shares in the company and attended their Annual General Meeting, speaking out about what had happened to her daughter and offering suggestions for what the company should be doing to prevent further injuries or loss of life.
Cynthia's determination and courage was met by the company agreeing to work with her to improve their vehicle and driving practices. Since then, Cynthia has been involved in many areas of road danger reduction, but is especially engaged in the dangers of HGVs to cyclists and other vulnerable road users and the responsibilities of freight operating companies. You can read more about Cynthia's experiences in this testimony to her daughter - Alex Jane McVitty testimony
In 2011 Cynthia was shortlisted as an SMK Campaigner Award Finalist.
In 2014 Cynthia was awarded an OBE for services to road safety
In 2011 Cynthia was shortlisted as an SMK Campaigner Award Finalist.
In 2014 Cynthia was awarded an OBE for services to road safety
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Pauline Fielding
As well as being a Trustee, Pauline also co-ordinates the RoadPeace North West local group.
Read Pauline's moving story of how she came to be involved with RoadPeace: They Never Found My Sons Killer at msn.com
Laura Middleton-Guerard
Laura represents the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers on the RoadPeace Board of Trustees. Laura is a solicitor in the Serious Injuries Team at Irwin Mitchell's London office. Through her work, she acts for victims of preventable crashes who have sustained life changing injuries, such as head injuries, spinal injuries and severe orthopaedic trauma. The majority of these injuries are caused by road traffic crashes, where the defendant driver was drinking, on drugs, distracted, speeding, not heeding to the presence of cyclists on the roads. Alexandra Swann
Alex is a senior marketing professional who has worked with a range of organisations over the last three decades to deliver strategic marketing and communications. She has also worked in a voluntary capacity with the City of London division of Cancer Research UK to raise funds.
Alex has first hand experience of dealing with the consequences of a fatal road crash that resulted in the death of two close relatives. As a Trustee, she is committed to using her skillset to help RoadPeace reach people in need of support and do everything she can to promote RoadPeace’s principle of road danger reduction.