meet the team
ina mars
(she/her)
co-vice chair / stall bookings / treasurer
Ina and Her husband have lived in Lakenheath for nearly 5 yrs with their dog Neo.​
when Ina was growing up she had a best friend who back then was male. Ina and her friend, both knew he wasn’t like the other lads, he preferred female company and experimenting with make-up and clothes.
Years later after a failed marriage for him, he decided to be true to himself and transitioned to become Sarah.
What she went through with online trolls and abuse from small-minded people was utterly disgusting but it didn’t stop her!
Today she is living the life she should have led from a young age but coming from a family of JW’S she was kicked out at an early age from home and has made it her way.
Ina's experience with her friend has inspired her to be an ally in the community and work towards bettering the understanding of love and acceptance of everyone.
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We all have the right to love and be loved.
Bailey brown
(she/her)
creative & Stall holder
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sue meader
(She/Her)
chairperson
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Sue lived in Brandon since 2004 and worked in the Town Street Post Office. She moved away for a few years and has lived back here for the last 19 years – and wouldn’t live anywhere else!
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for 8 years Sue was a community fundraiser for adult and children's hospices and has always enjoyed volunteering in a number of ways. She and her husband have a three-generation family business in Thetford. Sue absolutely loves 80s music - and any excuse for a fancy dress party.
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She loves the fabulous community spirit in Brandon with so many people supporting each other in so many ways. She has always felt very strongly that everyone deserves the right to love and equality and to feel a valued part of the community.
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Brandon Pride is a natural progression of all of this and so Sue and a group of friends got together – we're all so delighted to have held the first family-friendly Rainbow Colour Run and Pride Day in our lovely little town and are looking forward to building on the event each year.
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We're all so pleased too, that as a direct result of our 2024 Pride Day, Outreach Youth, a youth work service by and for young LGBT*Q+ people, now hold regular outreach sessions in Brandon.
Maurice Stainsby
(he/Him)
fundraising & sponsorship
Maurice's reasons for supporting this event stem primarily from his friend Don.
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Don and Maurice were friends from 16, went on holidays together, many many late nights, both got married and had families.
A few years ago Maurice went to see Don at Christmas, taking a nice bottle of vintage port.
Don answered his front door, and Maurice expected to see Tara, his then wife.
Don explained that they had separated and she was with someone else.
Maurice asked if he had found another woman, to which don said no. maurice asked (semi-joking) if he had found another man, to which Don said yes.
Maurice says "In all the years Don had never confided in me".
Don said that he couldn’t come out whilst his father was still alive, and Maurice felt so sad that he had to keep a fundamental piece of identity hidden. Lots of tears and three bottles of port later, and Their friendship had never felt stronger.
During the pandemic, Don called Maurice. He’d been suffering from suspected meningitis and it turned out to be brain cancer.
Don was given 30 days to live, but through medical treatment and sheer strength of character, he lived 13 months. He had an excellent relationship with his ex, his kids, and married his partner.
Maurice cares deeply for people and doesn't want anyone else to have to hide their identity, and that is why he is proud to be a Brandon Pride committee member bringing allyship to the LGBTQ+ community in Brandon and the surrounding area.
jessie coburn
(she/Her)
co-vice chair / secretary / creative
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jessie has worked with young people in Bristol for the last 12 years and now works as the operations manager at St Peter's Centre in brandon.
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she loves being creative, laughing, chatting and spends most of her time hoping her plants won't die. Jessie has openly been a part of the queer community since 2017.
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whilst working as a secondary and sixth form art teacher, jessie has run events in schools including pride events and Culture Days as well as LGBTQ+, feminism & BAME societies to promote equality and celebrate difference. She has a heart for people feeling like they belong.
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jessie has not lived in Brandon for long but has been invested in it since 2016 when her parents rev sharron & rev Dennis moved here.
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She also lived here during COVID lockdowns to support the community with the foodbank and prescription delivery service and cares deeply about the town.
kate Hodge
(she/her)
rainbow colour run manager
Although having lived nearby most of her life, Kate only really got to know Brandon when she started her transition in 2017. Wanting to get fitter and in better shape, she started attending the Brandon Country Park Parkrun followed by joining the Brandon Fern Hoppers running club shortly after. Although she joined to get fit, what she found was community and the most amazing bunch of friends anyone could dream of.
Kate is clear that the reason she is out as a proud trans woman is thanks to those who came before, who dared to be different and shone a light in the darkness.
She’s thrilled to be able to carry the torch onward and be part of something that will help and support others. Kate's running experience and expertise meant our very first Rainbow Colour Run was incredibly colourful and great fun!
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Jon Mars
(he/him)
Site Management
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