Who’s Who
The Board of Directors
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Ali Quas-Cohen Creative Director & Project ManagerAli is the general organiser of all things Funny Wonders. She was one of the first ever youth members way back when it was a Saturday morning make-things-round-the-table-at-Chris-and-Doug’s-house set-up. Since then she has delved in and out around school, university, working and travelling seeing Funny Wonders grow. Her involvement stepped up a notch for ‘The Silk Road’ production in 2008 and since, she has managed projects, became a Director of the company in 2009 and Artistic Director in 2017. Ali studied earth science at university and has a doctorate from the University of Manchester. She now has a number of part-time jobs in Buxton including as a tour guide, netball coach, sports leader and administrator.
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Sandra Worsley Financial Director & Chair of the BoardSandra is an accountant. As Financial Director, her role is to establish and supervise all matters relating to finance. This includes monitoring expenditure and supporting project leaders to manage their budgets. She has been involved with Funny Wonders since the days of the voluntary group in 2000. She has watched it grow from being a small entity to where it is today. She is also a support worker behind-the-scenes and is looking forward to all the great potential we have bringing life to many. She became Chair of the Board in 2017.
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Anna Watson Wellbeing DirectorAnna is a mum to three girls, a school nurse and a paediatric nurse. Her involvement with Funny Wonders began with the inception of the voluntary organisation in 2000, which was set up in order to be able to raise funding for a gigantic elephant project called M.A.S.S.I.V.E.. Anna has previously run a Puppet Club at Buxton Infants School and been part of the Changing Faces team. She is now devising new projects for schools and continues to be involved projects in whatever capacity her other commitments allow.
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Laurie Agnew Musical DirectorLaurie has mostly listened to his mum talk about Funny Wonders and has spent a lot of his previous life being dragged around various Funny Wonders events(!) and every now and again gets to be a musician/part time technician. He has graduated from Salford University after studying music and is now a full time musician running workshops, playing in bands, giving private lessons and working with Funny Wonders – his own choice! Laurie is our Musical Director and with Liam Morson, has devised the Recycled Instrument Workshop building instruments from junk and rubbish. His hopes for the future are to continue playing as much music as possible and to be able to feed himself whilst doing it. He is now a drumming teacher based in Manchester.
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Sarah Gordon Performance Director, Support WorkerSarah is an actress and works in schools as a drama practitioner. She first got involved with Funny Wonders for the 2016 Buxton Carnival in our rollercoaster ride(!) and is now part of our team working in schools and other community projects. She joined as a Director in February 2023.
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Julia Director, Support WorkerJulia joined us in 2024 to support our High Peak Youth Robotics project after joining us for carnival with her family in 2023.
Other Team Members
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Jason Lewis Technical Support, Musician, Support WorkerJason is an electrical and sound engineer. He first got involved with Funny Wonders by doing our PAT testing for a packet of biscuits. Since he has been involved in projects both technically providing electronic support and as a musician during our community and school workshops.
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Dave Lydford Activity LeadDave joined our team in 2024 to lead our High Peak Youth Robotics youth group activities.
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Steve Activity Support VolunteerSteve is a new local artist. He joined our team in 2025 to support our Changing Faces and High Peak Youth Robotics projects.
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Beth Webb Safeguarding AdvisorBeth acts as our External Safeguarding Advisor should any issues arise. Professionally, she was a social worker and worked on the Derbyshire Child Safeguarding Board.
- Bob Activity Volunteer
Bob joined our team in 2025 to help support our High Peak Youth Robotics project.
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Frances Sussex Activity VolunteerFrances is a retired teacher who raises guide-dog puppies. She first got involved with Funny Wonders to help support the Buxton Flowerpot Trail 2021 project.
Past Team Members
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Arthur Griffiths Activity VolunteerArthur first got involved with our Changing Faces project, supporting workshop activities, and joined us for carnival in 2023.
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Dan Watson Support WorkerDan is part of the Agnew-Watson clan. He helped support projects and was a regular at carnival before moving out of the area in 2025.
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Cheryl Norton Activity VolunteerCheryl joined us to help support the Buxton Flowerpot Trail 2021 project.
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Viv Marriott Workshop VolunteerViv first joined us for flowerpot workshops and the Buxton Carnival in 2016. She then supported our Changing Faces workshops and brought the flowerpot trail project to us. Sadly, Viv died in December 2021.
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Laura Danzi Activity VolunteerThe Amazing Laura Danzi joined us in spring and summer 2019 supporting the Changing Faces project 2019 and Flowerpot Project 2019.
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Hilary Gresham Activity VolunteerHilary first got involved with Funny Wonders during summer 2014 helping with Carnival and then the Christmas Light Installations in Poole's Cavern.
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Yvonne Noworytu Activity VolunteerYvonne is a local artist who got involved in Funny Wonders activities in 2013.
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Doug Agnew Co-founder, Chair, DirectorDoug was a visual artist and art teacher. Sadly Doug passed away in 2016. Click the pick to see our page in dedication.
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Mark Wagstaffe Director, Youth ChairWaggy joined us for the trip to Sapporo in 2007. He became the chairman of the Youth Group during 2008 and 2009 and went on to become a Director.
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Liam Morson MusicianLiam is a full-time musician and school-friend of Laurie who was first involved with Funny Wonders in 2007 playing in the house band “Shadowhouse” accompanying our summer youth productions. He was then involved with developing our musical workshops and accompanying our shadow puppet theatre productions in schools.
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Amy Whelan Workshop Leader, ArtistAmy is a local artist and joined the Funny Wonders Team in 2011 to develop and deliver various workshops to take into schools.
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Emily Smedley Workshop VolunteerEmily helped out at our Puppet Club and help develop the Early Years products with Amy Whelan.
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Jill Forest Project ManagerJill joined us in 2010 to help with our Youth Group activities.
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Neil Scowcroft Marketing, DirectorNeil had various roles with Funny Wonders including promotional material design, networking, IT Officer, photographer and youth group helper.
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Chika Woodward Support WorkerChika first got involved in 2009 supporting the youth group and exchange with Yamabiko-Za. She continued to help in 2010.
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Daniel Doyle Musician, IT SupportDan was the bass player in Funny Wonders band 'Shadow House' in 2008 and 2009. He also designed incarnations of the Funny Wonders website.
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Chantelle Ross Participation OfficerChantelle worked with the Youth Group in 2009 focusing on ensuring each participant was included and involved on a level they were comfortable with.
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Michael Clement Technical SupportMichael worked with the Youth Group in 2009 supporting the light and sound requirements of the productions.
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Christine House SecretaryChristine first became involved with the voluntary organisation and helped transition to an incorporated company. She also helped with the Youth Group.
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Nori Sawa ArtistNori worked with Funny Wonders between 2004 and 2011 developing the cultural exchange programme with Sapporo and Buxton Puppetry Festival.
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Jim Lampard Workshop Leader, MusicianJim worked with the Youth Group in 2008 exploring movement and music and has led many puppet parades with the Samba Band.
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Nenagh Watson ArtistNenagh worked on the 2008 production of 'The Silk Road' helping the youth group learn about puppet manipulation and performance.
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Gill Hindle VolunteerGill was involved in many projects with Funny Wonders between 2007 and 2009.
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Maxi Robinson Voluntary Group ChairMaxi was Chair of the Funny Wonders voluntary group for several years and helped organise several of our early projects.
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Marcus Clarke DirectorMarcus is an award-winning artist, actor, puppeteer and writer. Marcus was a Director of Funny Wonders until 2024 offering a wealth of experience and advice.
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Jo Spencer Activity VolunteerJo is a local mosaic artist and first got involved running a workshop for our Changing Faces project. She then joined as a volunteer for our Buxton Flowerpot Trail 2021 project.
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Holly Jackson Activity VolunteerHolly joined us to help support the Buxton Flowerpot Trail 2021 project.
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Joel Woodruff Workshop VolunteerJoel joined us to support Changing Faces workshops in 2019.
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Sarah-May Matthews Workshop VolunteerSarah-May helped at some of our Changing Faces workshops in 2017.
- Stafani Barton Activity Volunteer
Stafani helped at community workshops and events in 2017.
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Lorraine Butcher Activity VolunteerLorraine helped Anna run the Buxton Infants School Puppet Club and helped in the carnival parades. Lorraine sadly passed away in 2020.
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Lysbeth Black Activity VolunteerLysbeth is an artist from Marple. She first got involved with Funny Wonders in 2013 and helps us with our community events.
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Charlie Denton Activity VolunteerCharlie was involved with Funny Wonders between the ages of eleven and eighteen being a member of the Youth Group and then a volunteer.
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Caroline Keightley Activity VolunteerCaroline joined Funny Wonders in 2013 helping out with the P.O.P.P.I.T. project, carnival and the Buxton Puppet Festival.
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Charlotte Emily Workshop Leader, ArtistCharlotte was involved for many years attending workshops and working with the Youth Group. She became part of our team working in schools in 2012.
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Chris Agnew Co-founder, Artistic DirectorChris founded Funny Wonders. Sadly she passed away in June 2012. Click her picture to see our dedication page.
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Aya Nakamura Workshop Leader, ArtistAya, a theatre artist specialising in puppetry, masks and scenic design, helped to deliver youth projects between 2009 and 2011.
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Karen Millward Youth Group VolunteerKaren helped run the Youth Group in 2010 and 2011.
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Angela Pearson Workshop LeaderAngie ran workshops for many years with Funny Wonders but then emigrated to Australia! Boo!
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Kieran Agnew MusicianAs an Agnew, Kieran was inevitably a Funny Wonderer as a kid. He performed in Sinbad and was part of our 'Shadowhouse' band in 2008.
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Carol Taylor-Bruce DirectorCarol was one of the first Directors of Funny Wonders Inc.. Her advice, experience and guidance was irreplaceable.
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Corinne Howard Workshop LeaderCorinne worked with the Youth Group in 2009 on 'The Owl and the Pussycat' Showcase and helped with script writing, acting and physical theatre.
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Ruby Moon Workshop LeaderRuby was involved with Funny Wonders throughout the 00's leading musical and textile workshops.
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Jon Taylor ChairJon was the first Chair of Funny Wonders Inc. CIC and was instrumental in creating the Community Interest Company in 2008-2009.
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Lucy Hill Technical SupportLucy was part of the group who travelled to Sapporo and she helped with the technical side of 'The Silk Road' production.
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Tricia Durdey Workshop LeaderTricia worked with the Youth Group for 'The Silk Road' production exploring movement and dance choreography.
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Alan Hindle VolunteerAl was involved in many projects with Funny Wonders between 2007 and 2009.
