First of all I would like to say how delighted and honoured I am to accept the role as Patron of this remarkable Charity.

Let me introduce myself. I am Amanda Cottrell and I have lived in Kent, in the same village and in the same house for over half a century. I was widowed in 1996 and have four children and twelve grandchildren all of whom live nearby. I served as a Magistrate for 23 years and was Chairman of Governors both of the Towers School and of Challock Primary School. In 2006 I was installed as High Sheriff of Kent and in 2007 was made Chairman of Visit Kent and a Board Member of Visit England. I was already Patron of Produced in Kent ( the County Food Group ) and became Trustee of Canterbury Cathedral, the Godinton House Preservation Trust and County President of the Girl Guides Association. I received Honorary Degrees from both the University of Kent and Canterbury Christchurch University and in 2007 was given the Freedom of the City of London (when I drove my sheep over London Bridge!) and of the City of Canterbury. I was awarded an OBE in 2010 for Services to Kent, the Kent Invicta Award and Kent Businesswoman of the Year by the Kent Excellence in Business Awards. I am a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, a Kent Ambassador and in 2013, having been an Honorary Rotarian of the Rotary Club of Ashford, I became a fully fledged Rotarian and served as President in 2022, our Centenary year. I have recently become Patron of the Ellenor Hospice Foundation. I am a linguist, a professional artist, a passionate gardener and lover of the Countryside and I very much look forward to meeting you all very soon.