Introducing our very hardworking Management Committee
Lesley-Anne Avis – Schools Outreach Coordinator
Lesley-Anne retired from practice as a lawyer in London in 2019 and she and her partner, Andrew, moved to Broadway. Lesley-Anne had been a governor at a large “Outstanding” comprehensive school in Kent for 28 years and on moving to Broadway became a governor at Broadway First School, where she is now vice chair with a particular interest in early years schooling.
She has been a volunteer at the last 2 arts festivals; was keen to become more involved and so working on our schools’ outreach programme was a perfect match for her.
Judith Boulton – Box Office Manager
Judith moved into Broadway in early 2021 and took the opportunity of getting involved in village life straightaway by volunteering as a steward and took over the running of the Box Office in 2023.
She has a background in the telecoms industry, worked in primary education and her last job was as a church administrator. She has a particular interest in the performing arts and she’s looking forward to contributing to the success of future festivals.
Judith enjoys cycling and walking in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside.
Alison Braithwaite – Festival Director
Alison was originally employed to take on the marketing & PR for the festival in 2017. She was asked by the Trustees to take over the helm in 2019.
Always having had an interest in and love of the arts, theatre & photography in particular, it is a real pleasure for me to be in a position to work with and promote the talented individuals and organisations that bring so much creativity and pleasure to everyone who attends the festival. The 2025 festival was a fabulous celebration of the Arts and it was so uplifting to see so many dancing the night away in the marquee, enjoying superb outdoor theatre on the village green and people getting together and learning new skills at our many creative workshops.
Amanda Cockle – Volunteer Coordinator
My husband and I moved to Broadway, married at St Eadburghas, our two children attended St Mary’s School, we have been here for 30 years now and have established close ties with the village during that time.
My working life was spent in Nursing , but I am now retired and took on voluntary roles, most recently at The Tourist Information Centre and latterly the Arts Festival which I thoroughly enjoyed, inspiring to become more involved.
I spend my leisure time going to theatre and concerts, as well as walking in the Cotswolds.
Tony Coppinger – Talks, tours, gardens & classical music
Tony moved into Broadway in 2021 and became aware of the arts festival when his daughter received a bursary whilst completing her masters in music. The opportunity to join the volunteers for the next festival was an easy one to take and a great experience.
His business background was in Managed Networks & IT Outsourcing, with the final 25 years in director roles in Sales & Marketing. Having always enjoyed a range of music but mostly rock & pop he came late to Opera & Classical music through his daughters. With a love of theatre & enjoyment of the arts he hopes enough knowledge will have rubbed off to be able to contribute to future festivals. Tony is a fan and previous player of many sports but playing now mainly golf.
Andrew Dakin – Talks, tours, gardens & classical music
A resident of Broadway and the surrounding area for over 30 years, Andrew is a retired Sales & Marketing Director for a multinational manufacturing company.
An opera and classical music lover, and also keen on theatre and all types of art. Andrew is also on the Board of Trustees for the festival.
Sarah Jemmett – Workshops (Painting)
Sarah is a Cotswold-based contemporary artist who has been actively participating in festival events over the years. In 2023, she had the pleasure of contributing as a dedicated volunteer, and her experience left a lasting impression. Her commitment to the charity’s mission of supporting the arts, specifically through bursaries for young students and an education programme for local schools, is unwavering.
With a strong background in the finance industry, Sarah brings a wealth of skills and experience that she hopes to leverage for the benefit of the charity. In addition to her financial acumen, she has been running her thriving art practice since 2016, giving her invaluable experience in organising and curating exhibitions as well as conducting workshops.
Sarah’s passion for the arts and her belief in the power of artistic expression to uplift and her dedication, combined with her diverse skill set and artistic background, is sure to contribute to the continued success of the art festival and the charity’s initiatives.
Karen Lacey – Deputy Festival Director, Craft Workshops, artBEAT Coordinator.
Karen has been a resident of Broadway for the past 30 years & thouroghly enjoys living in the village. She started her working life in the tourist industry however, much of her career has been devoted to the organisation of educational events at UCAS, where she developed a passion for community engagement and lifelong learning.
Her most recent role was at the Gordon Russell Design Museum, where she worked closely with volunteers to support the museum’s operations and enhance the visitor experience.
Karen is no stranger to community involvement—she volunteered at the 2025 Broadway Arts Festival and continues to seek opportunities to contribute to village life. She is excited to be joining the team and looks forward to bringing her enthusiasm, local knowledge and collaborative spirit to her new role.
Amy McLelland – Art Competition
Amy brings a wealth of creative experience to the festival – with a BA (Hons) Fine Art degree from Bath Spa University, several Artist Residencies (including funding by the Arts Council England) and years of practice holding exhibitions across the Midlands, Amy now works as a commercial art dealer in Birmingham. She is a strong believer in art being accessible to all, and is well known for making the world of ‘commercial art’ welcoming to people of all budgets, experience and backgrounds.
Joining the festival primarily to work on the Open Art Competition and Exhibition, she uses her gallery and curatorial experience to elevate what is already a very successful and popular competition even further. She is also very keen on developing the event as an opportunity for up and coming artists to boost awareness of their practices and sell their artworks to new collectors!
