TNA UK Executive Committee
| Jillie Abbott | Chairman |
| Cathy Fletcher | Secretary |
| Mike Gibbard | Treasurer |
| Professor Joanna Zakrewska | Medical Advisor |
| Clive Clifton | Membership Officer |
| Jan Bruten | TCS Team Coordinator |
| Anna Lacey | Members' Dedicated Helpline |
| Tricia King | Local Support Group Coordinator |
| Anna Hopkins | Webmaster |
| Michael Grimes | IT Advisor |
| George Cunningham |
Having worked in various secretarial, PR and customer relations roles - mainly in the motor and airline industries - Jillie was for 17 years co-owner and director of a successful limited company operating a small group of fast-fit/MOT centres in South London. After developing TN in 1998 she was forced to sell the company two years later.
Since attending the TNA USA conference in 2002, she has become heavily involved in the TNA - initially as Regional Support Group Co-ordinator and later as Deputy Chairman and then Chairman of the Association.
So far, with the help of various complementary therapies and coping mechanisms, she has managed reasonably well on medication and has not had any surgical procedures, though would not rule out anything in the future.
She is currently in remission and grateful for this opportunity to be able to help others who are less fortunate and do everything possible to raise awareness of the condition amongst healthcare professionals and the public.
Since graduating from Warwick University in 1979 I have spent the majority of my working life in the field of social work with children and families (apart from two years spent sailing yachts professionally around the Greek islands with my husband). I have worked within the statutory and voluntary sectors and have specialised in adoption work with young children who, because of their early life experiences, can be challenging to parent. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with remarkable adopters and seen the difference they have made in their adopted children’s lives. I had a brief period of retirement in 2010 but am now back practicing in the legal arena as a Family Court Advisor. I have an interest in academic research and am currently involved with a long term project.
I became involved with the TNA after my husband was diagnosed with TN in 2009. He was diagnosed because his maxillary-facial specialist had attended a medical conference where the TNA had exhibited their stand and recognised my husband’s symptoms. The TNA became a lifeline as we struggled to make sense of his condition and its implications for our lives. He is currently managing on medication and alternative therapies. The information provided by the TNA has been invaluable to both of us. I was happy to offer my services to such a supportive and vital charity.
I retired 18 months ago after 20 years in various senior posts in the UK and USA with a large FTSE 250 international transportation business. My experience ranged from finance, mergers and acquisitions through to general management and operational improvement. In previous businesses I worked in finance and consulting.
Carol, my wife, and I came across the TNA in search for help and information for our son who was diagnosed with TNA some 3 years ago. It's good to help a cause which is so vital to those like our son and it is a major source of interest and sense of purpose amid the gardening, travelling and grandson-minding that otherwise shapes my life.
Professor Joanna M. Zakrzewska BDS, MB BChir, MD, FDSRCS, FFDRCSI, FHEA - Medical Advisor
After obtaining dental ( Kings College London), medical ( University of Cambridge ) degrees and specialist training in oral medicine Joanna Zakrzewska went on to specialize in orofacial pain. Her MD on trigeminal neuralgia led to further clinical research in this field.
She spent ten years as an academic at Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry were she was awarded a personal chair in facial pain. In April 2007 Joanna Zakrzewska moved to a NHS post at Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London Hospitals in order to set up a national centre of excellence in facial pain.
She has written four books on orofacial pain, contributed to over 10 chapters and written over 80 peer reviewed papers on the theme of orofacial pain. She lectures extensively both nationally and internationally. She is a member of the TNA US medical advisory board.
Clive Clifton - Membership Officer
I was a War baby, born in 1944 and weaned on national dried milk still remember getting my sweets on ration books in the 1950s, grew up to real musinc in the 1950s and 60s, passed my motorcycle first, then passed my car test in the Territorial Army, where I served in the Royal Military Police for 12 years which is where I got my warped sense of humour from, I think.
I was an HGV driver for many years and for five years I ran a motocycle Enduro club. I have just completed 26 years with Thames Water, looking after Pumping Stations. We all have to do a call- out roster every four weeks and that can keep me very busy. At weekends, when I’m not working, I’m a volunteer at Brooklands Museum, doing preservation and conservation of aircraft. In the summer I go to a lot of steam rallies; I have two stationary engines of my own that I’m currently restoring. I am well travelled in Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Thailand, Bali, Malaysia and South Korea. I might be going to Australia again early next year.
I had an MVD operation last year for TN. Apart from a couple of turns, it seems a great success - I am pain free and off all medication for now.
Jan Bruten - TCS Team Coordinator
Jan joined the TNA as Secretary in 2002 and retired from that post in 2010. She is now the Telephone Contact Support Team Co-ordinator, giving her direct contact with fellow TN sufferers, which she finds enjoyable and interesting. She has suffered with episodic TN for 10 years, which is under control with medication. After working for many years in the pharmaceutical industry, she now works in the Mental Health Centre of a large hospital in Harrow and spends much of her working day accompanying patients in the occupational therapy groups and round the hospital grounds, describing this role as challenging but immensely rewarding. She is a keen rambler and swimmer. She is also a dog-lover and hopes to start her own grooming business following her retirement from the NHS, after extended visits to New Zealand and South Africa.
Anna Lacey - Member's dedicated Helpline Coordinator
Anna is a single mother of two teenage girls. She has lived in several locations in the UK and in the Middle East, making a living as she travelled. Anna now runs her own business from home and therefore has been able to manage well around her GPN attacks. She is her own understanding boss! Anna developed GPN at the end of 2007, following a very stressful year of going through a divorce and moving house. She controls her GPN with carbamazepine as she does not have a visible "loop" in the brain for any surgical intervention. Her former career has enabled her to gain understanding and a sympathetic attitude, and she is well-equipped to be a volunteer on the helpline team.
Tricia King - Local Support Group Coordinator
Following several years of industrial relations work in a public corporation, I qualified as an Associate Legal Executive. I then undertook a variety of legal and administrative work, in local government and a prison. I have had several textbooks published and enjoy pursuing my interests in history and local history, as well as spending time with my children who are now independent. My TN started in 2007, during the first year of a degree course in Criminology…but I was determined to complete the degree! I am allergic to carbamazepine and gabapentin but my TN is reasonably well controlled at present with other medications. I was diagnosed in 2011 with SUNCT/SUNA.
Anna is a Project Manager (Prince2 accredited) for an IT solutions company working with clients both in the government and commercial sectors. She manages several projects that provide workflow and case management solutions.
Anna is widely travelled, having spent a few years living in SE Asia and Australia.
She was diagnosed with Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia at the age of 29 and she currently manages the condition with medication. She has volunteered with the TNA on the Telephone Helpline before becoming Webmaster.
Is a Chartered Engineer who spent most of his life designing and building chemical process plant at home and abroad. He has used computers for many purposes for many years and (most of the time) enjoys being webmaster.
Since retiring in 1991 he has found himself involved with several local charities and clubs. He is a past president of Oxted and Limpsfield Rotary Club and has served on the Oxted Parish Council. He has so far avoided TN.
Professional background: After national service Gerorge joined the diplomatic service, serving at home and abroad for seven years. He quit to enter into politics and was a Member of Parliament for 13 years. During that time he was also briefly a Member of the European Parliament. After losing his seat in 1983, he became chief executive of the professional body of librarians and information scientists. George is now retired and leader of the TNA’s West London Local Support Group.
TN history: TN hit George ten years ago. Normally, the manifestations are not severe and he has had several periods of remission. Allergic to Carbamazepine, he has rung the changes with alternative medications and has sometimes been able to do without any.