Meet The Team
Trustees
Tony Hall
Founder, Ambassador, Trustee
Tony has a varied work history including working for BT and the prison service. He and his wife Barbara spent a lifetime supporting young people through youth service, their church and Girl Guides.
They were counsellors in their community. Tony was a full-time carer for Barbara who had symptoms of Dementia from 1999.
He is also creator and former Chair of BDAA and is incredibly busy running dementia awareness sessions, collaborating with other organisations, running the charity and Happy Days memory cafe, and being an active member of Westbury Baptist Church. His ‘spare’ time is spent with his family and his favourite cake is coffee and walnut.
Tony has written a book about his and Barbara’s journey with dementia. You can buy it from Bristol Books at https://www.bristolbooks.org/shop/abucketfulofpatience
You can also buy a copy direct from BDAA at our regular events such as memory cafes, skittles or dementia awareness sessions etc. Please contact us on office@bdaa.org.uk to arrange collection.
Tony Hall
Chair
Tony has a varied work history including working for BT and the prison service. He and his wife Barbara spent a lifetime supporting young people through youth service, their church and Girl Guides.
They were counsellors in their community. Tony was a full-time carer for Barbara who had symptoms of dementia from 1999.
He is also creator and Chair of BDAA and is incredibly busy running dementia awareness sessions, collaborating with other organisations, running the charity and Happy Days memory cafe, and being an active member of Westbury Baptist Church. His ‘spare’ time is spent with his family and his favourite cake is coffee and walnut.
Tony has written a book about his and Barbara’s journey with dementia. You can buy it from Bristol Books at https://www.bristolbooks.org/shop/abucketfulofpatience
You can also buy a copy direct from BDAA at our regular events such as memory cafes, skittles or dementia awareness sessions etc. Please contact us on office@bdaa.org.uk to arrange collection.
William O'Neill
Chair
William is married with two grownup children both living in Bristol. His working live before retiring was in the gas industry starting with British Gas for twenty-six years followed by another twenty-four years being self-employed. The work was engineering based around training development, assessing, auditing, consultancy and compliance.
His engineering background required a systematic and factual approach it also taught him to ‘expect the unexpected’ so his empathetic and easy-going nature helped a great deal.
He has been a member of Bristol Brunel Lions for almost forty years, providing service as well as fundraising locally, nationally and internationally via almost 45,000 clubs around the world, so becoming a volunteer with BDAA was an easy decision to make.
William enjoys many leisure activities including watching live snooker and Bristol Bears, reading, gardening and cooking. His favourite cake is fruit cake especially Christmas cake!
William O'Neill
Deputy Chair
William is married with two grownup children both living in Bristol. His working life before retiring was in the gas industry starting with British Gas for twenty-six years followed by another twenty-four years being self-employed. The work was engineering based around training development, assessing, auditing, consultancy and compliance.
His engineering background required a systematic and factual approach and it also taught him to ‘expect the unexpected’ so his empathetic and easy-going nature helped a great deal.
He has been a member of Bristol Brunel Lions for almost forty years, providing service as well as fundraising locally, nationally and internationally via almost 45,000 clubs around the world, so becoming a volunteer with BDAA was an easy decision to make.
William enjoys many leisure activities including watching live snooker and Bristol Bears, reading, gardening and cooking.
His favourite cake is fruit cake especially Christmas cake!
Fiona Michallat-Cox
Trustee
Fiona joined BDAA as a Trustee in 2018 although she has been involved with the charity for years.
Fiona was a Director at Wiltshire Farm Foods Bristol until the end of 2021. Her favourite cake is lemon drizzle.
Fiona Michallat-Cox
Trustee
Fiona joined BDAA as a Trustee in 2018 although she has been involved with the charity for years.
Fiona was a Director at Wiltshire Farm Foods Bristol until the end of 2021. Her favourite cake is lemon drizzle.
Jen Cave-Ayland
Trustee
Jen Cave-Ayland has worked as an Occupational Therapist in the NHS, the voluntary sector and privately for over 25 years. Specialising in supporting the strengths of individuals and communities, Jen uses that expertise to improve health outcomes.
As well as working professionally with those who have a dementia and their carers, Jen also has experience caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s Disease.
When she is not working, Jen volunteers as a Scout Leader. Her favourite cake is lemon drizzle.
Jen Cave-Ayland
Trustee
Jen Cave-Ayland has worked as an Occupational Therapist in the NHS, the voluntary sector and privately for over 25 years. Specialising in supporting the strengths of individuals and communities, Jen uses that expertise to improve health outcomes.
As well as working professionally with those who have a dementia and their carers, Jen also has experience caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s Disease.
When she is not working, Jen volunteers as a Scout Leader. Her favourite cake is lemon drizzle.
Julia O'Neill
Trustee
Julia is married to William with two grown up children.
Retired Music Lead, Primary Education.
She is a member of Bristol Brunel Lions (currently President). Lions have been happy to give help and support for over 50 years in local, national and International communities.
She is an empathetic, creative, enthusiastic and a team player.
Julia enjoys singing, sewing, reading, music and drama.
Her favourite is carrot cake.
Julia O'Neill
Trustee
Julia is married to William with two grown up children.
Retired Music Lead, Primary Education.
She is a member of Bristol Brunel Lions (currently President). Lions have been happy to give help and support for over 50 years in local, national and International communities.
She is an empathetic, creative, enthusiastic and a team player.
Julia enjoys singing, sewing, reading, music and drama.
Her favourite is carrot cake.
Chris Hunt
Trustee
Chris Hunt joined us as a Trustee in June 2018. He is an independent Financial Advisor. Chris has a wealth of financial, volunteering and Rotary experience.
He was thrown in at the deep end for our 5th Birthday celebrations in July 2018 and spent the day handing out our information packs and talking to the public.
Chris helps as a facilitator on our 3 hour workshops.
His favourite cake is Carrot Cake.
Chris Hunt
Trustee
Chris Hunt joined us as a Trustee in June 2018. He is an independent Financial Advisor. Chris has a wealth of financial, volunteering and Rotary experience.
He was thrown in at the deep end for our 5th Birthday celebrations in July 2018 and spent the day handing out our information packs and talking to the public.
Chris helps as a facilitator on our 3 hour workshops.
His favourite cake is Carrot Cake.
Staff
Samantha Rock Cooper
Trusts & Fundraising Manager
Sam joined BDAA in February 2018 as our part-time administrator (funded by a Charitable Trust). She has almost 30 years charity experience as a fundraiser, administrator and database manager. She spent her childhood fundraising for the British Heart Foundation after her parents set up the local branch.
She is also a certified life coach. She has had close family/friends with dementia. Her favourite cake is carrot cake.
Lisa Dicker
General Manager
Lisa has been with BDAA for several years. She found out about BDAA several years ago when she was setting up a memory café and Tony supported her with it. Lisa volunteered at Happy Days before joining our team officially. Lisa’s role at BDAA is to connect and work with communities to promote and deliver our dementia awareness programmes as well as developing the whole charity.
Lisa likes all cake apart from chocolate. A toasted teacake is a firm favourite.
Samantha Rock Cooper
Trusts & Fundraising Manager
Sam joined BDAA in February 2018 as our part-time administrator (funded by a Charitable Trust). She has almost 30 years charity experience as a fundraiser, administrator and database manager. She spent her childhood fundraising for the British Heart Foundation after her parents set up the local branch.
She is also a certified life coach. She has had close family/friends with dementia. Her favourite cake is carrot cake.
Lisa Dicker
Lisa Dicker
General Manager
Lisa has been with BDAA for several years. She found out about BDAA several years ago when she was setting up a memory café and Tony supported her with it. Lisa volunteered at Happy Days before joining our team officially. Lisa’s role at BDAA is to connect and work with communities to promote and deliver our dementia awareness programmes as well as developing the whole charity.
Lisa likes all cake apart from chocolate. A toasted teacake is a firm favourite.
Cam Dicker
Marketing and Communications Assistant
Cam joined us in 2026 as our Marketing and Communications Assistant. He comes from a background of working in charities and has a deep desire to make a positive impact on people.
Outside of work, Cam is an avid writer, gamer, and movie buff with a love of fantasy and nature. His favourite cake is a sticky toffee pudding.
Clarissa Webb
Activities & Engagement Worker, Volunteer Co-ordinator
Clarissa recently graduated from university with a degree in Automotive and Transport Design. Her passion for supporting people with dementia stems from her personal experience — her grandfather lived with dementia, inspiring her to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Outside of work, Clarissa enjoys playing hockey and music, and she loves spending time playing the ukulele. Her favourite cake is a classic chocolate brownie.
Clarissa Webb
Clarissa Webb
Activities & Engagement Worker, Volunteer Co-ordinator
Clarissa recently graduated from university with a degree in Automotive and Transport Design. Her passion for supporting people with dementia stems from her personal experience — her grandfather lived with dementia, inspiring her to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Outside of work, Clarissa enjoys playing hockey and music, and she loves spending time playing the ukulele. Her favourite cake is a classic chocolate brownie.