The campaign · Project Phoenix

The people behind the group.

A President, a Chairman, and the associates of Stokenchurch working to reclaim the Kings Arms.

Foreword

From our President, Sir David Steel KC.

For the last six hundred years the Kings Arms, previously the George and latterly the Kings Hotel, has occupied the site in the hill top village of Stokenchurch. It boasts of Royal connections with King Charles the Second and Nell Gwynne, and no doubt holds secrets through the centuries. The building has gone through many transitions and additions to reach its 21st century pre-fire appearance.

My family has lived close to the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border since the Second World War, and my wife and I now reside in the parish of Stokenchurch. I am determined to encourage steps to create a plan to either rebuild, restore or recreate the Kings Arms, retaining its 20th century grandeur.

We are approaching the fifth anniversary of the fire which turned the building into an eyesore, and took the heart of the village.

I very much urge you, and the Stokenchurch community, to actively support Project Phoenix and begin to build the future of our village for the next generation.

Sir David Steel KC
President

Introduction

From our Chairman, Chris Nash.

Project Phoenix. The aim is to restore an historic village landmark and recreate a sustainable hospitality venue and community asset for future generations.

The Kings Arms Reclamation group consists of eleven experienced business people, ten of whom reside in the parish. All give their time to Project Phoenix voluntarily and free of charge. Our aim is to give Stokenchurch its heart back. There is no point in sugar-coating the task ahead — it’s not going to be easy or straightforward, but I relish the challenge.

The group is looking at various possibilities, whether with a partner or partners, a community share issue, a combination of both, or whatever. We will look at various solutions and act accordingly. It is important to stress that no individual associate or officer of the group, nor the group as a whole, will profit from our efforts. This is quite simply for the parish of Stokenchurch.

Our website is constructed to give you all the information we have to hand; our minutes of meetings will be published, and the group is and will continue to be totally transparent. We will hold a public meeting in the late summer to keep the community up to date, to answer any questions, and importantly to allow the village voice to be heard loudly.

The date will be advertised on the website, and you will also receive an invitation via a leaflet through your letterbox. It is vitally important that you, the residents, get involved. I look forward to meeting you in person.

Chris Nash
Chairman

The team

Eleven people, one purpose.

Chairman

Chris Nash

A retired businessman with a track record of turning ambitious ideas into reality. Chris built a successful foam-industry manufacturing company employing over 60 people and developed his own respected brand of mattresses. A resident of Stokenchurch for more than 50 years, he led the campaign to rebuild the Scout & Guide Headquarters after the 2005 arson attack, helping raise around £600,000 to open the new building in 2011. He has a reputation for delivering projects others believe impossible.

President

Sir David Steel KC

One of the leading voices in the village, consistently calling for action over a building left unsafe for nearly five years. Sir David enjoyed a distinguished legal career: appointed King's Counsel in 1981, and after many years at the Bar he served as a Recorder and Deputy High Court Judge before being appointed a Judge of the High Court in the Queen's Bench Division in 1998, for which he was knighted. He continues to advocate for a safe and lasting resolution for the building.

Press Officer

Bernice Scanlon

A Director of Procurement with over 25 years' experience across multiple industry sectors and disciplines.

Treasurer

Andrew Nunn

A retired bank manager from Lloyds Bank plc, very active in village life and Chairman of the Scout & Guide HQ.

Secretary

Andrew Preece

Managing Director of UK Mats Ltd, a local business, and a parish councillor for nearly ten years. Andrew liaised with the council in the aftermath of the fire and understands the complex leases of the common land surrounding the hotel. He has lived in the village all his life.

Associate

Richard Rivett · M.I.C.E., M.I.H.T., C.Eng.

A retired chartered civil engineer with an extensive career in local government as a senior executive at Buckinghamshire County Council. A resident for more than 50 years, he has advised the Parish Council and the local authority on highways, drainage and watercourses, and is a highly respected source of guidance on the community's infrastructure.

Associate

Egon Hunt

A successful businessman, founder and Managing Director of Hunts Office Furniture Ltd in High Wycombe. Egon has lived in Stokenchurch all his life, and his father once owned the Kings Arms — a close personal connection to the building.

Associate

Tim Anning · FNAEA

The village's estate agent, who has lived here all his life. His business sits next to the Kings Arms and was badly affected by the fire; he had to relocate for several years before his office was repaired and safe to return to.

Associate

Rob Emmett

Though relatively new to the village, Rob has taken a keen interest in the building through his work as a land agent of 25 years, specialising in multi-million-pound properties along the River Thames. He has previously run a project to acquire a local-authority building in disrepair and rebuild it as a public–private initiative.

Associate

Manny Pillai

Over 25 years of technology sales leadership roles, where he has led teams responsible for securing strategic partners and customers across sectors and regions. Manny specialises in digital transformation for enterprise organisations — network, web and application security, cloud infrastructure and SaaS — and has built and led sales and partner teams across EMEA. He is also Founder and CEO of a growing UK dental group operating multiple centres, including Stokenchurch Dental, which he runs with his wife, a dentist, with a focus on accessible, patient-centred care. Manny runs the Stokenchurch community Facebook group of some 9,000 members, and leads on technology for Project Phoenix, having built and maintained this website.

Associate

Rev Mark Ackford

Vicar of Stokenchurch since 2018 and an integral part of the village, bringing energy, compassion and vision to the parish.

All associates give their time voluntarily and free of charge. No one will profit from the campaign — it is for the parish of Stokenchurch.