John Houghton – Chairman
John was born in Birmingham, where he received his education and lived for 20 years. After spending a year in Canada, he returned to Birmingham for college and eventually secured a job with a publishing company.
In 1960, John married his first wife and had a daughter. During this time, he not only continued his work with the publishing company, which had expanded into a supplier and conference organiser, but also developed and managed a chain of greeting card shops across the Midlands.
In 1985, he went through a divorce and remarried in 1987 to an accomplished medium and clairvoyant. Together, they established and ran a center for the development of new age therapies and ideas in Malvern.
Afterwards, they relocated to Brighton before retiring to Spain in 2000. However, in 2014, they returned to the UK and settled at The Court in August of the same year.
Christine Kitchen – Vice Chairman & Amenities
Christine entered the teaching profession in 1974, initially teaching in a High School and working as a Supply Teacher. She then spent several years teaching children with special educational needs.
In 2003, she started a small catering business from her home in Penwortham. Christine retired from teaching in 2006 and pursued hospitality and catering qualifications while running her own business.
She retired from her business in 2017 and moved to the Court. The following year, in 2018, Christine joined the Committee, liaising with the gardener and groundsman due to her passionate interest in gardening.
Together with her husband, Peter, Christine actively runs several interest groups for the U3A (University of the Third Age) and leads walks with the local walking group.
Linda Norman – Secretary
Linda was born in Coventry and raised in Lancashire. She trained in Sheffield but spent of her working life in Guernsey. She worked as a children’s dentist and managed a Public Health Service. Following her remarkable career, Linda transitioned into managing a counseling charity, where she continued to make a positive impact on her community.
Now retired, Linda enjoys indulging her passion for travel, both within the UK and abroad. She has family residing nearby, and finds joy in pursuing an array of interests including leisurely walks, birdwatching, rounds of golf, music and politics.
Having owned an apartment at Buckshaw since March 2022, Linda made the decision to settle permanently in April 2023, drawn not only by the village’s charm but also by fond memories of her mother’s 10 years of living there. Determined to play an active role in the Buckshaw community, Linda eagerly lends her support and expertise wherever needed.
Catherine Brereton
Catherine was employed for 8 years in an administrative role with a firm of Chartered Accountants in Blackburn. Between 1972 and 1979, she dedicated herself to home responsibilities and raising her two sons.
In 1979, Catherine joined a pharmaceutical company as a Personal Assistant to the Managing Director of the Export Department, a position she held until 1993. That year, she transitioned to become the secretarial coordinator for a firm of solicitors, also based in Blackburn.
From 1996 to 2008, she worked as a Registrar and PA to the Principal at an Independent School. Sadly, Catherine was widowed in 2018 after her husband’s three-year battle with cancer. She moved to The Court in January 2022.
Anne Blundell – Liason for New Residents
I was born in Wigan. Leaving home at 16 I embarked on a career in nursing. After qualifying I became a sister on casualty. My next move was midwifery training in Edinburgh and Plymouth followed by a post in Kendal. Most of the rest of my career was spent in Kendal. I trained as a health visitor in Preston and a field work teacher in Durham always returning to Kendal. In the years between various jobs I went to work in South Africa where I became involved as a volunteer counsellor in Soweto.
I have been involved with working and fund raising for several charities including St. John’s hospice, Cancer care, Save the children fund and Blue Peter’s TV polio campaign in Turkey. I have also served on several committees.
I ended my career as a senior lecturer in Child Care and health along with social care for people with disabilities and special needs.
Since I moved to The Court in 2023 ( to be nearer family) I have joined in with many of the events and activities becoming known as Crafty Anne because of my love of all creative crafts. I’m very happy living here. The staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful and I also enjoy the companionship of my “Court” family.
Michael Walker – Treasurer
I was born and bred in York but spent most school holidays at my grandfather’s farm in Northumberland. I went to Archbishop Holgate’s School next to the bar walls in York. My first job was at the Army Record Office in York absorbing the Scottish Regiment’s records as the Perth Record Office had been closed. My next job was Payroll Audit of the Northern Command including the likes of Catterick Garrison. I then moved to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Didcot but accommodation was difficult to find as Didcot Power Station was being built. I then moved to ROF Chorley as a Systems Analyst replacing an ancient punched card Payroll system. I spent further time at ROF Bishopton, ROD Chorley again, and ROF Patricroft. I then joined the National Nuclear Corporation at Risley/Knutsford.
I was head-hunted by what is now Ernst & Young and, I spent the next 6 years back at ROF Chorley working on the CHARM Project (Chieftain/Challenger re-armament. After which I developed 100-year models of the 40 plants at BNFL Sellafield and spent a year as shadow finance director of Schindler Lifts UK. I parted company with EY when they wanted me to move to London. I joined the Bank of Scotland a Director of Business Support until we were taken over by the Halifax. Since then, I have worked as a contractor at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, Premier Foods, the Open University, and BAE Systems. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, a Member of the British Computer Society. Apart from my daughter and grandchildren my interests are Newcastle United, live sport on tv, and Pinot Grigio.