OUR BEGINNINGS
ESDAR was founded in 1989 by Professor Jack Tulley OBE, himself wheelchair bound, who chaired the charity from formation until his death in 1997. Other Directors, benefactors and supporters of ESDAR have also been wheelchair dependent.
ESDAR has served this, often overlooked, community, for over 30 years, filling a void that has not been adequately covered by social and/or public sector services.
ESDAR’s impressive history and longevity have been achieved through the hard work, dedication and tenacity of staff, trustees, volunteers and benefactors. Equally important has been the strong alliance ESDAR has strived to sustain with the public sector, working in partnership with the councils to meet the needs of this growing sector of the population.
Our founding principles continue to define ESDAR and guide how we deliver our services – the provision of easily accessible, reliable, cost-effective transport to older and disabled members of the community, most of whom are unable to drive or use public transport.
Experience and feedback inform us that any other service provider does not match such scope of service. ESDAR’s turnkey service promise from collection to the final destination, as desired by the client, is one of its unique differentiators.
ESDAR is a dedicated transport service formed in 1989 to facilitate Tandridge residents who were unable to use public transport due to age and mobility restrictions providing access to fulfil their daily needs in and around the area.
OUR VALUES
ESDAR’s Mission is to provide a transport service for those disabled or elderly (over the age of 60) in the prescribed catchment area, many of whom, because of mobility problems, cannot use ordinary forms of public transport or cannot easily get into or out of a car.
“Honesty, patience, professionalism, willing to go the extra mile, listening to passenger needs and acting accordingly, are some of what drives us in serving our members and the wider community.”
ESDAR’s Vision is that all elderly and disabled persons in this category are provided with a safe, reliable form of transport which enriches their lives by providing access to companionship and services that would otherwise not be available to them.
“We do what we’re good at and known for – for going beyond the call of duty”.
ESDAR staff member.
ESDAR operates as a Charity, with a Board of Trustees, all of whom are volunteers, working together to provide an essential service to older and disabled members of the community. The Trustees have wide-ranging backgrounds and professional experience, including, but not limited to, Business and Operations Management, Human Resources, Banking and Finance, Public and Third Sector.
With a new Chairman, several new Trustees and Advisers, ESDAR continues to build on the talent that already exists in the organisation. It has ambitious plans for developing and building on the service excellence it currently delivers and believes it has an even stronger and more valid role to play.
Former chairmen and chairwomen who have led ESDAR, since its formation over three decades ago.
| 2020 to present | Patrick Cannon |
| 2019 – 2020 | John Orrick |
| 2013 – 2019 | David Hodgson |
| 2003 – 2013 | Mike Moss MBE |
| 2002 | Lady Sheena Large |
| 1997 – 2002 | Belinda Ford |
| 1989 – 1997 | Jack Tulley OBE |
ESDAR Patron – Sir Richard Stilgoe
For many people East Surrey Dial-a-Ride is the difference between staying at home or getting out and meeting people; and from the last year we have all found out how important this is.”
Sir Richard Stilgoe has spent fifty years as a performer and writer in all forms of the performing arts. On television he appeared on Nationwide, That’s Life and several series of his own. On stage he toured for many years with his one-man show and subsequently his two-man show with Peter Skellern.
He wrote lyrics for Cats, Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera, music and lyrics for Bodywork, Brilliant the Dinosaur, ‘Orpheus – the Mythical’ and the libretto for the community operas Road Rage and The Freedom Game. His broadcasting work has earned him the New York Radio Festival Gold Award, three Monaco Festival Prizes and the Prix Italia. In 1997 he founded the Orpheus Centre in Surrey, where young disabled people prepare for independent living through a series of performing arts courses.
He owns and drives a JCB digger, and has five children and thirteen grandchildren. Sir Richard was knighted in the Jubilee honours list of 2012.
Board of Trustees
Patrick Cannon
Chairman
Pat is an ex-Royal Navy veteran and has lived in Caterham since 2003, when he returned from 20 years in Australia and New Zealand. …read more
Andy Parr MBE
Company Secretary
Andy has been volunteering for many years with many different organisations.
Since moving from Croydon to Caterham … read more
Steve Luxton
Treasurer
Steve was born and raised in Guernsey, moved to London in 1988, then to Caterham on the Hill in 1998. He soon realised that Caterham and surrounding … read more
Pam Wastell
Secretary to the Board
Pam and her husband moved to South Godstone in 2000, and then moved her mother to Caterham to live nearby. One of her daughters has … read more
Kate Forde
HR & Training
Kate has lived in Caterham for more than 17 years and feels it has been a good place to raise two children.
Teresa Fitzpatrick
Fundraising
Teresa was born and educated in Caterham, trained as a psychiatric nurse and became a Senior Nurse Manager.
Linda Changasubbay
Fundraising & Events
Linda has lived in Caterham since childhood, then grew up, married and raised a family locally.
Her background … read more
DRIVERS
We are proud of and grateful to our dedicated team of drivers, dispatchers and office staff (past and present), who keep ESDAR on the move – literally!
We are, particularly, proud of their unconditional support and service; on average the length of service being 10 years and some much longer at 18 years and still going strong.
We present you our current team, whom not only our members but also many others in our community will recognise, given their active involvements.
Kenny Allen
2012 to present
Eric Thomas
2022 to present
Linda Aggett
2022 to present
David Kellie
2014 to present
Andy Chisholme
2018 to present
Chris McHale
2012 to present
Andy Parr
2003 to present
Malcolm Smith
2012 to present
Richard Snell
2018 to present
Frank Howe
2023 to present
STAFF
Jodi Dauncey
Office Co-Ordinator
Godfrey Goodman
Dispatcher
Pat Boyle
Dispatcher
Advisors
Taravat Taher-Zadeh | Development & Marketing
Taravat’s professional experience spans over 40 years, in development, growth and turnaround projects, working with multi-nationals, small businesses, not-for-profit and public sector services, in the UK as well as internationally.
Following a corporate career in the City’s international insurance broking sector, responsible for emerging markets, Taravat changed direction to pursue new business interests and ventures, including launching T&T Consulting, an advisory, interim and project management practice, focused on marketing and development projects.
Taravat has held executive and board level appointments across private and public services sectors alike, as well as not-for-profit and third sector organisations. It is through her active involvement, as Ambassador, with the Community Foundation for Surrey, that she was introduced to ESDAR and is delighted to have been supporting this hugely important cause, with their next stage of development.
Nick Wood-Dow | Public Affairs
Nick is a specialist in political affairs for local, national and European government relations, with experience of politics at every level, having also served as public relations adviser to the European Democratic Group of MEPs in Strasbourg.
Nick has previously been a borough Councillor in Spelthorne, Surrey serving on planning, highways and health committees and as deputy to the leader on policy and resources. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey in 2012 & is a member of the Lieutenancy Business committee.
Nick was introduced to ESDAR through the Community Foundation for Surrey, where he is an Ambassador.
Ambassadors
Graham Stevens | Ambassador
Graham joined ESDAR in 1999 as a Trustee after taking early retirement from his post in the Revenues Section of Tandridge District Council in 1995, and in 2000 succeeded David Mole as Treasurer. In addition to fulfilling his roles as Treasurer and Trustee, Graham was also responsible for Health & Safety matters.
Graham has been nominated as Volunteer of the year for up to 10 years’ service category by Tandridge Volunteer Council.
Following a stellar 21-year service, Graham stepped down in 2020 for a well-deserved rest, handing the reigns to Steve Luxton, ESDAR’s new treasurer. Determined to ensure that this section of society, that he believes are otherwise written off and isolated, can have a fulfilling life, Graham continues to support ESDAR in any way he can, and he certainly does.
Most of all Graham feels ESDAR is an organisation run by very caring staff whom he believes are its greatest asset but especially ESDAR’s former Manager, Roger who was always there for the Members.