Ian Williamson – Chair – Semington Community Benefit Society

Ian Williamson has lived in the village with his wife Liz since 2010 when he set up the Semington Dock boat repair business. Following Graduation at Bath University, and later an MBA at Oxford Brookes, he worked for Unilever, for ICI in the UK and abroad, and latterly in the recycling industry. He is a keen volunteer restoring canals, Rotarian for 30 years, Cub Leader, RFU coach supporting girls playing rugby, Land Rover hobbyist and beekeeper. He was involved with the neighbourhood plan which recognised the need to protect the Somerset Arms. When it became available to buy, he set up the Semington Pub Action Group with a few villagers to act now to save the pub or lose it

Andy Cobley – Vice Chair – Semington Community Benefit Society

Andy Cobley and has lived in Semington since the mid 90’s. He is passionate about the area and reopening the Somerset Arms for the whole community to enjoy. Before retiring he was a headteacher in a residential special school before going on to oversee operations and major projects for a leading education company both in the UK and the Middle East. Previously, he and his partner owned and ran a guest house in Wales. He enjoys DIY and looks forward to getting his hands dirty clearing and helping refurbish the pub!

Glen Watson – Secretary – Semington Community Benefit Society

Glen Watson is the Secretary of the SCBS and moved to the village 7 years ago, drawn by the village pub and canal. As a pub goer, Glen particularly enjoyed the live music and is passionate about saving the pub as a place for locals to meet, make friends and enjoy a party. After a career in the civil service, culminating in project managing the national Census and running the Office for National Statistics, he became a self-employed landscape gardener. He now enjoys woodworking, working at music festivals, volunteering in mental health and helping organise and set up village events. 

Mark Dallaway – Treasurer – Semington Community Benefit Society

Mark Dallaway qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in Bristol (1989-1996) and was an Audit Manager and the Staff Manager while there. He joined Devizes based Relcross (1996-2025) where he was Managing & Finance Director for over 25 years. He has previously been Treasurer of both Cumberwell Park Golf Club and Corsham Hockey Club, the latter of which he was part of the founding committee. He moved to Semington in 2002 enabling his children to attend the village school and to enjoy walks and cycle rides along the canal and by-ways. He is keen to restore the Somerset Arms to its position as a focal point for the whole village and events throughout the year.

Hugh Turnbull

Hugh Turnbull was born in Luton and retired to Semington in 2018 after 43 years in Wales. He was chief reporter of Western Telegraph in Haverfordwest 1975-79, head of News at Swansea Sound, 1979-89 before becoming a reporter, presenter, and producer for BBC Radio Wales, 1989-2010.  He now lives at St Georges Court, the former Semington workhouse. He is a member of the Semington Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. Married to Jennifer, he has two grown-up children and three grandchildren in Brisbane and London.

John Hurn

John and his family have been part of the Semington community for more than 30 years. Throughout this time, they used the local pub for social connections and joining village life. After extensive travel across the globe, where he participated in several large-scale construction and engineering projects, John returned to the UK. His professional work has included developing baggage handling systems at airports, as well as engaging in barn conversions and the adaptive reuse of buildings. Additionally, John serves as a trustee at the Independent Living Centre, supporting local community resources.

Peter Smith

Peter Smith is a member of the SCBS team and has lived in Semington since 2014. He’s been made very welcome in the village and enjoyed being a parish councillor for 10 years, almost five of them as chair. He wants to see the Somerset Arms reopen as a thriving community pub. Before retiring, he was Wiltshire CC’s Corporate Services Director. His interests include growing vegetables, live music, Oxford United and (mildly embarrassing) Morris dancing.

Richard Bruges

I was born in Semington and, after time away, returned in 2012 to settle with my family and contribute actively to village life. My career has focused on product development and leading innovative businesses, giving me a practical perspective on strategy and building businesses. I’m passionate about protecting Semington’s rural character and community, supporting local initiatives, and ensuring the village thrives for future generations. Outside work, I enjoy managing our smallholding at Brook House and organising events such as the summer and winter fetes. I hope to bring innovative thinking, collaboration and long‑term planning to SCBS.

Clare Emery Read

Clare Emery Read is a boat dweller and part time resident of Semington. She has travelled around the village for over 20 years and was a frequent customer of the Somerset Arms.  She has over 22 years of experience in the hospitality trade including hotels and pub and had her own public house at the age of 18. She went on to manage several award-winning establishments in Bath and the surrounding area.  She has many years’ experience working in substance misuse and homelessness and now works within the local council in the housing sector.

Rhys Evans

Rhys Evans supports the SCBS group, focusing on data management and GDPR. By day, he works at Microsoft, with a background in strategic software sales and previous experience at OneTrust, one of the world’s fastest-growing tech companies. He moved to the village in May 2025 to swap city life for something more community-focused, and in February 2026 welcomed his son, Cooper. For Rhys, reopening the pub is about creating a proper village hub. A place to meet, unwind, and make memories after a long day. He’s passionate about helping bring that back to life, so Cooper and the wider community can enjoy the same kind of moments that make a village feel like home.

Liz Williamson

Liz Williamson is a GP originally working in Melksham, and more recently at Hospital at Home in Swindon. She has been married Ian for 25 years. They extensively renovated the canal lock house, where they live with their 2 teenagers, and a menagerie of cats, chickens, and pigs. Canals, and canal side pubs, featured in her childhood holidays and later in volunteering to restore derelict waterways, where she met Ian. The village having both a pub and a school were massive selling points for the relocation from Oxfordshire. She loves real ale, good food, and Morris dancing. She has already booked her side, Devizes Jubilee Morris, for the future grand reopening weekend of the Somerset Arms. 

Daniel Jesse

Daniel Jesse provides extensive support on Media and Comms to the steering group.  He moved to Semington in December 2024, from Melksham.  He has 25 years’ experience of IT Support, of which he has used his knowledge, to create and start building the website. Previously he worked for Wadworth Brewery for thirteen years.  Along with his family, he keeps himself busy by running and cycling