MEET THE TEAM
Soper Hall is run by a team of dedicated, local volunteers with a diverse range of skills and experience. They care deeply about keeping this historic facility alive and thriving at the heart of Caterham’s community.
Chantal Baker
Chair
Chantal has been Chair of Soper Hall since 2023. She is passionate about the community and ensuring that all can benefit from our building and our community spirit, having been brought up in the East End of London, community is in her blood.
Chantal lives in Caterham and has 3 boys and her white Bolognese Snowy. She is a regular helper at the Comedy Night Bar. She provides Pro Bono work to other local charities in the area through her accountancy and tax practice.
In her spare time, Chantal can be found on the sideline cheering on her boys in their sports, walking her dog around Caterham and travelling whenever she can.
Andy Parr
Vice-Chair
Andy Parr M.B.E. is the Vice Chairman of the board but turns his hand to anything. He can be found in the office changing door codes, in the hall running the bar or in the car park tracing cables or unblocking drains.
When not at the Halls, he has been Chairman of the Caterham Festival since it started 15 years ago, is a driver and board member for East Surrey dial a ride, A Scout leader, member of Rotary and an honorary member of Round Table
In his spare time he enjoys doing different things. Playing practical jokes, marbles and pram racing. In 2012 he was a dancer in the Olympics closing ceremony and for the past two years he was driving front line Ambulances to assist during covid
Matthew Baker
Finance
Matthew has been the Finance Director for Soper Hall since 2014. It’s his job to ensure the charity’s finances are kept in good order to help ensure a strong base for the future of the hall.
Matthew lives in Caterham and is married to Chantal and they have 3 children. Matthew helps out with several local community groups and is also a director of the Caterham BID, which is the town centre’s traders group as well as chair of one of the local scout groups and a member of the local Rotary club.
Hilary hopkinson
Events
Hilary organises the events at Soper Hall which include monthly markets and the annual Christmas Fair and also organises the upkeep of the outside planting with the help of volunteers. She can regularly be found running the bar at events.
When not involved with Soper Hall activities runs her own business repurposing vintage textiles and helping run her husband’s project management company.
Martin Smith
IT & Communications
Martin can call on the experience of a long and distinguished career in IT consultancy and management – both in the private and public sectors. He ensures our website and office systems are fit-for-purpose.
Outside of work, he is a musician and singer.
He is active in organising ad promoting events at Soper Hall – particularly where music and entertainment are involved.
Michael Cooper
Relationships
Michael had a long and varied career as an IT Project manager and worked for many large, world renowned, organisations. Locally, he was one of the group who looked at the opportunity for the Soper Hall to be taken into community ownership and was a key member of the group which successfully persuaded TDC to pass ownership to Soper Hall Community Centre Ltd. Outside of this, Michael is a keen tennis and bridge player
Beverley Connolly
Fund Raising
Beverley is a founding member of the Soper Hall team, being our chairperson until recently.
From her work as a district councillor to involvement in a number of local, community projects, Bev has been hugely active in promoting and supporting the community.
Her background and contacts make her ideally suited for her fundraising role.
Dave Knight
Building & Facilities
David has many years in the construction industry and is happy to meet the heavy maintenance care on Soper hall.
David also enjoys getting behind local needy causes to help the community thrive.
Outside of work David enjoys family time and travelling.
David supports Soper hall in any way he can