The Black Horse Community Group is run by a volunteer committee of local people who are passionate about keeping the pub at the heart of Grimston. Together they bring a wealth of experience in finance, law, agriculture, business and community work.
Martin Stainton
Chair
Marie and I moved to the village just over 7 years ago and still can’t believe our luck in finding such a wonderful place. I retired after a career in business supporting UK and Ireland Manufacturing and Utilities with their engineering and maintenance needs. I now work with the Prince’s Trust helping young people to develop their plans to establish their own businesses.
I love long hikes in the Peak District but you’ll also find us taking not so taxing walks around the village.
Graham Page
Vice Chair
Having spent 70 years “down South” as a Corporate Banker, Consultant and Bursar at a Special Needs school, my wife Sandra and I decided (during Covid) we needed to be closer to our son and his family of 3 grandsons. Luckily for us we found Grimston, its shut-down pub and some lovely people. Previously having started a SEND charity “Swings & Smiles” in Newbury as a founder-Trustee, I needed another interest in the community here and joined the successful team of Black Horse Community Group in 2025.
Retirement seems busy with interests in golf, our narrowboat “Inglewood”, important lunches with friends from Surrey & Hampshire — leaving just sufficient space for a walk to the pub!
Carol Davis
Secretary
I have lived in Grimston since 2012 after moving from Houghton on the Hill. Our family have always believed in volunteering in the community as community assets and activities enrich lives. My husband, Ray, is a retired lecturer and could trace his family back many generations in Houghton where he was a Parish Councillor and School Governor. I was Treasurer of Houghton Village Hall for over 30 years before moving to Grimston. We love living in Grimston in our multi-generation home with our daughter, son-in-law and grand-daughter.
Before retiring, my day job was in the agricultural industry. I have been passionate about agriculture all my life, particularly cattle and sheep, and specialised in genetics and business analysis. For 25 years, I was also the Member Trustee of the organisation’s Pension Scheme (c£220m).
Tony Moore
Treasurer
My wife, Claire, and I have lived in Grimston for more than 30 years and for almost all of my life my home has been within ten miles of the village. As a Chartered Accountant I spent over forty years with an accountancy practice firmly based in the East Midlands and retired a few years ago. During my career, whilst acting for a variety of mainly owner managed businesses, I tended to specialise in auditing and risk management and doing the jobs that no one else would do!
Becky Vickers
Committee member
I moved to Grimston from Great Dalby with my parents in 1984. My mother still lives in the same cottage. When I returned to the village in 2002 my husband and I undertook restoring a derelict farm building next to my mother’s cottage and this is where we still live.
My work involves specialist investigation of building subsidence and the negotiation for insurers with all parties to achieve repairs, including tree management where needed. This follows from being Company Secretary of a specialist insurance broker handling medical insurance for travellers and the negotiations with overseas hospitals and transport facilities.
A few years ago I started riding again and I now have my own horse stabled locally. We have had large dogs rehomed from the military and rescued from the streets. Along with my husband I have an interest in classic cars and music — I have been playing the piano since I was aged 6. More recently I studied through the Open University to gain my BA Hons.
Mike Petty
Committee member
We moved to Grimston in 2016 from Loughborough, where we had lived since 1992. We wanted a larger garden and more space for our bees — bees and close neighbours in a town setting are not a good combination! My wife, Rosie, is a retired teacher. Two of our four children are boomerangs and returned home for the duration.
I have been in business for over 25 years. Prior to that, I was a University lecturer. I am currently a director of three private limited companies. I have been a trustee of a charity with a £35M turnover and am currently a trustee of the Leicestershire & Rutland Beekeepers Association. Until recently, I taught business skills at Loughborough University.
Ben Skailes
Committee member
Originally from Shropshire, but have lived in Grimston then Saxelbye for the last 16 years. Previously worked in London for a Dutch bank and a US commodity broking firm before studying for a Masters degree at Nottingham University Business School. I was in the family cheese business in Cropwell Bishop from 2004 and as Sales Director from 2009.
Interests include cars, shooting, hunting, fiddling about on boats and lager!
Simon Downward
Committee member
Kelly and I moved to the village a few years ago. Having moved so many times with work, it’s been a pleasure to settle down in such a lovely English village. I am a proud father of two lovely girls, with a passion for packaging, people and of course our local pub.
Rose Best
Committee member
I was born in Saxelbye where I lived until I married Tony and then we moved to Grimston. I run a horse stud farm and sheep farm on the family farm in Saxelbye with Tony.
Black Horse Community Group 