MANX MSA TRUST - Key Persons
After obtaining an engineering degree from UMIST in Manchester, Alan became a director of family company SCS www.scs.co.im at the age of 21. It is now the largest facilities and building services company on the Isle of Man and has been trading for over 45 years. Alan sits on the executive of the Isle of Man Employers Federation and is general secretary of the Ballannette Trust, which was set up in memory of his late sister Annette and provides an expanding area of local nature reserves in the Baldrine and Laxey areas with public access.
Married to Joanne, between them they have three children - along with two Labrador retrievers to get them out into the Manx countryside. Alan enjoys a round of golf; although not to a particularly high standard and never intentionally plays in the rain "the game is hard enough even in bright sunshine...".
He first got to know Chris Blake as their sons are good friends and in the same year at Laxey School. Alan says: 'I have been inspired by Chris's positive mental attitude to this largely unknown disease. The Manx MSA trust will look to provide funding towards research, adding to the work undertaken in the UK thanks to the Multiple System Atrophy Trust http://www.msatrust.org.uk/research/ and the various projects they have sponsored to date. It will also provide local support and awareness which is often difficult on a small Island location.'
Alan hopes to be involved primarily in fund raising activities and says: 'Let's have some fun along the way and raise as much as we can for this cause.'
Alan says he is honoured to have been asked to help with the Manx MSA Trust. We say he's a very nice chap, community driven and fun to be around. We're honoured he agreed!
Job Titles:
- Head of Communications
- Coach With Laxey AFC Junior Football With FA Level 1 Coaching
Originally from Galway in Ireland, Niall has over 25 years banking experience in Ireland, Jersey and the Isle of Man. In 2013, Niall's career took a different direction when he took the role of Commercial Manager with Isle of Man Post Office, managing their commercial activities for print production, postal logistics and document management services. In January 2017, Niall was appointed Interim Commercial Director, with responsibility for sales and commercial activity across all divisions of IOM Post Office.
In his spare time, Niall is a coach with Laxey AFC junior football with FA Level 1 Coaching qualifications. He also likes motorbikes and in particular his Ducati when the weather allows, as well as play the odd round of golf.
Niall brings decades of commercial experience to the charity, is keen to raise awareness of MSA and attract funds for use towards research into the disease.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Co Founder and Company Secretary
Nicola Blake is the Co Founder and Company Secretary of The Manx MSA Trust. Nicola along with her husband Chris (the Founder) and fellow Co Director Alan Clague, run the charity on a day-to-day basis and together are the driving force behind many of the activities geared towards meeting the objectives of the charity.
Nicola's career spans over 20 years within the Isle of Man and Jersey Finance industry and includes managerial appointments within two International Banks.
As a mum of two, Nicola is kept busy with the pace of family life, as well as supporting her husband Chris through his MSA journey.
As a Director of the charity, Nicola is passionate in raising awareness of MSA within the community and through the continued support of the Manx public we hope to contribute in finding a cause and ultimately a cure of this complex disease.