What is The Lionel Abel-Smith Trust?
Our story
The Lionel Abel-Smith Trust (formerly Wendover Community Trust) is a registered charity that was set up to provide financial assistance to the residents and organisations of Wendover Parish and the Moor Park estate – see the map in the first of our FAQs – with the aim of improving the lives and wellbeing of people in the community.
The Trust was created in December 1977 by the Lord of the Manor of Wendover, Lionel Abel-Smith, to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. His family had been the principal landowners in Wendover from the 1790s and, with great generosity, Mr Abel-Smith gave cottages and a substantial cash endowment to found the Trust. He said then that he wished to create something for the benefit of Wendover and its inhabitants.
As a result, since 1977 the Trust has been able to award over £2 million in grants to individuals and organisations in our community.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity of Lionel Abel-Smith Esq., the people of Wendover will greatly benefit for generations to come, long after we have all gone.”
Today, the Trust is conscious of its responsibilities in terms of supporting everyone in the community from all backgrounds with inclusivity and accessibility at the core of our organisation. We also take the monitoring of our own environmental impact seriously. The properties in the Trust’s care all have energy-efficient insulation, responsible investment of Trust funds, and we have been paperless since 2019 for our AGMs.
The Trust organisation
The Chair and Trustees of The Lionel Abel-Smith Trust all have strong links to Wendover and are active community members.
Dr Gwen Williams (Chair)
Sarah Potter (President & Family Trustee)
Steven Bishop
Cllr Steve Bowles
Sheila Bulpett
Emma Carroll
Marion Clayton
Bob Duggan
Angela German (Clerk)
Wendy Gray
Caroline Harrington
John Mayhead CBE
Glenys Newman
Become a Trustee
Occasionally, LAST needs to appoint new trustees to help us with our work in the Wendover community. Please read the job description to see if the role is one that you might be interested in. Future vacancies, and their application deadline dates, will be advertised in Wendover News and on this website when appropriate.
Our meetings
The Trust holds two formal meetings, in Spring and Autumn each year, and considers the applications for grants that have been received. Other applications are considered throughout the year.
The Trust’s Accounts can also be viewed at the Charity Commission website.