Former Thorn Lighting Chairman takes on UK Charity Role - 25.05.06

Hamish Bryce has been appointed chairman of IndependentAge, the charity that helps older people to live with independence and dignity in their later years.  It concentrates on providing support, including financial assistance, emergency grants and the friendship of volunteer visitors to those on low incomes who have cared for others during their lives.  

Mr Bryce, 64, brings to the charity the benefits of a long and successful business career.  He is a non-executive director of Henderson Strata plc.  Until 1998 he was chairman of Thorn Lighting Group plc, having led its buyout from Thorn EMI in 1993 and subsequent flotation.  Since then he has held a range of non-executive roles including Britax plc and chairman of both Heywood Williams Group plc and Norcros plc.  

In a voluntary capacity Mr Bryce is Chairman of the Business Group of the London Resilience Forum, which leads emergency planning in London. He has been a Deputy Chairman of London First; a Member of the Design Council; Chairman of Design Partners and a Member of the DfEE Post-16 Business Champions Group. 

Mr Bryce was born and educated in Perth, Scotland.  He joined the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst where he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and later graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in mechanical sciences. 

In his younger days Mr Bryce was a Cambridge Rugby Blue as well as playing for Scotland and the Barbarians.  He is married, lives in Wimbledon and has one son and one daughter.  

Mr Bryce says that moving from a successful business career to the voluntary sector is a natural progression, and one that will enable him to ‘put something back’.  The values of caring for older people were firmly entrenched while he was growing up, as a result of his grandfather, the local minister with the Church of Scotland, making regular pastoral visits to older people within the parish.   Now he hopes to use his expertise to help IndependentAge extend its activity to an increased number of older people and volunteers – and make sure the funding is in place to do so.

He believes the charity has a unique strength in its extensive network of volunteers and that partnership working at a national and local level, will be fundamental to its development.  He adds: ‘I very much look forward to working with the charity’s committed staff and volunteers who contribute so much to its very special ethos.’

Mr Bryce will take up his position on 24 May 2006, succeeding Mr William Underwood, who has been chairman of IndependentAge for the last five years.  During that time Mr Underwood oversaw the charity’s change of brand name from the Royal United Kingdom Beneficent Association (RUKBA) to better reflect its aim of helping people live independently at home.  It distributes £5 million in regular payments and grants each year to enable older people to live independently at home – but just as importantly offers companionship and support through its highly-valued network of volunteers.  Three in five of those it helps are women aged over 75, many of whom have spent years looking after frail or sick relatives.

Mr Underwood welcomed Mr Bryce’s appointment and the business acumen he will bring to the charity.  He said: ‘IndependentAge is a very special charity providing caring friendship and support that is much valued by older people.  As our population ages we need to ensure we have the funds in place to continue to help those who need our care.  I believe Mr Bryce will bring a wealth of relevant knowledge built on a solid foundation of 32 years’ business experience.  He is the right person with the right blend of skills, experience, perception and above all, values, to lead the charity’.

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