Stephanie Richards
Steph has completed many roles within the charity but she is most proud of setting up Paws and Claws, our rabbit centre in Harwell, in 2012. Since then, Steph has supported growth, strengthened financial oversight, and helped improve animal welfare and community engagement, collaborative partnerships and driving innovation through data-led decision making consistently.
Louisa Meyer
As a Governance Trustee, Louisa brings a wealth of experience from her corporate HR background, coupled with a lifelong belief that every animal deserves to be treated with kindness and compassion. Her professional expertise and personal values align strongly with the charity’s purpose, making her a thoughtful and committed presence on the board.
In her role, she provides board-level insight into strategic people leadership, organisational culture and effective governance. Louisa helps ensure that the charity’s mission of protecting animals is supported by strong structures, clear accountability and the right people practices to enable staff and volunteers to thrive. Her guidance contributes to a well governed, forward looking organisation dedicated to improving animal welfare across the region.
Holly Ashton
Holly oversees all things marketing and social media for the RSCPA Oxfordshire & Reading.
Her journey with the charity began at just ten years old, dressed head to toe in a rabbit costume, shaking a donation bucket outside Oxford United’s stadium! Since then, she’s been motivated to continue her work with the Oxfordshire RSPCA family.
In 2023, she even took on her first (and last) half marathon, raising funds alongside fellow supporters.
A lifelong animal lover, all of Holly’s cats have been adopted from the RSPCA Oxfordshire. Her current cat, Margot, often steals the spotlight on our social media channels! After officially becoming a trustee in 2025, Holly's keen build the charity's digital presence and highlight all the amazing work the Oxfordshire team do.
Sharon Chrisp
Sharon is the Operations Manager for the RSCPA Oxfordshire & Reading. She has been in the role since December 2022. Sharon has worked with animals all her working life, previously as a qualified Veterinary Nurse, and then an RSPCA Inspector for 17 years. She has seen some very difficult things as an Inspector, and now, this role she now does is the 'Happy Everafter', where she finds lovely new homes for rescued animals.
Here at the RSCPA Oxfordshire & Reading branch, we prioritise the animals rescued by the Inspectors from cruelty and neglect, when they are in our care, we take them to the vets, get them the help they need, we vaccinate, flea and worm treat, microchip and neuter the animals then we find them a lovely new home.
Sharon has a rescue dog called Gyp from the RSPCA, she was found as a stray wandering around Basingstoke, is 14 years old now and showing her age. She has taken many animals home with her over the years and some just do not leave!
Jan Thomas
Jan is the Treasurer and a Trustee, responsible for everything financial - from paying bills and preparing accounts to setting budgets and ensuring strong financial planning and controls are firmly in place.
A lifelong animal lover, she also fosters dogs and cats for the branch. When two lively German Shepherd puppies were rescued from a crate on a building site, they came to stay with Jan. They may have wrecked the garden, but they were a complete joy. Seeing them head off to their forever homes once they were ready was a truly lovely, if slightly bittersweet, moment. They still visit from time to time and have grown into gorgeous, happy and confident girls.
Jan is also no stranger to getting involved at events, having once dressed up as a bunny and, in full 80s glam, taken to the stage to sing Mamma Mia with a band at a fundraising night (sadly not the real ABBA!).
Jan has been a Trustee since 2016 and Treasurer since 2019.
Ami Radford
Ami joined RSCPA Oxfordshire & Reading in February 2026 as our Animal Welfare and Rehoming Assistant, brought on board to help manage the growing number of animals in our care.
Her love of animals started early – growing up with three huskies will do that! She now shares her home with a Labrador called River and a rescue cat named Daisy, who's given her a firsthand appreciation of just how much rescue work can transform an animal's life.
After completing a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Care and Management at Berkshire College of Agriculture, Ami spent four years working at a kennels, caring for dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes. Working with the RSPCA has been a long-held ambition, and she's excited to be part of the team helping Oxfordshire's animals find the loving homes they deserve.
Annabelle Clitherow
Annabelle has been a passionate supporter of the RSPCA and a lifelong animal lover for as long as she can remember.
She served as an RSPCA Inspector from 1998 to 2010, starting in Leicester before moving to Northants and eventually taking a home posting in Oxfordshire. Before that, she worked for the Blue Cross in Burford. Those years on the frontline gave her first-hand experience of the challenges animals and their owners face every day.
That background is invaluable in her role as Welfare Trustee. She understands that animals' needs are the same regardless of how wealthy an owner may be, and she's seen how quickly circumstances can change for any family.
As Annabelle puts it: "I understand the situation that owners can find themselves in, and it is so good that we can assist them and make a difference for their pets."
Her connection to the RSPCA is personal, too. Her first RSPCA pet was Mabel, and since then she's welcomed Elvis, Bonnie, George, Margot and Blue into her life, along with plenty of boarders over the years. Pictured here with Bonnie, who was rescued from Chipping Norton.
Linda Oliver
Twenty years ago, Linda answered an advert in the local newspaper to become a Home Visitor for the about to be resurrected branch of RSPCA Oxfordshire. The branch had collapsed several years beforehand due to lack of Trustees.
Shortly after attending the two day course at Blackberry Farm, she was asked to become a Trustee of the newly formed branch. Initially Linda's role was fostering coordinator, as that was how we accommodated our animals. This led to Linda fostering a seriously abused dog which was still with her 17 years later. Linda has fostered many dogs and cats over the years and acquired 5 tortoises which had been abandoned. She currently has two tortoises and two cats that are all rescue.
Linda is now currently Branch Secretary and Trustee, overseeing the cat intake and rehoming. Linda would recommend the Trustee role to anyone who is passionate about animals as she finds it enriching and rewarding.
Sally Day
Sally has a lifelong love of animals and has always enjoyed having small animals as pets. She's passionate about promoting the power of pets to support people with their mental health and wellbeing.
Having grown up in Oxfordshire, Sally has always loved the RSPCA and returned to the county in the past five years. Her background is in marketing and communications, and she's worked with a range of small charities in-house and as a consultant over the past 15+ years.
She's now a content marketing consultant focusing on content, storytelling and engagement. At RSPCA Oxfordshire, Sally supports the team with general strategy and business engagement, and works alongside Holly to help with fundraising and social media.
Sally has been a Trustee since May 2025 and regularly helps out at the Rabbit Sanctuary in Harwell and at local fundraising events. The volunteer team are some of the kindest and most wholesome people she's ever met, and it's so great to be involved!
