About Us

Phil Jones

Phil Jones OBE

Phil is the Chairman of Horizon. He joined the Board in 2006. He left government service with the Ministry of Defence in 2018 and is now a semi-retired security consultant. Phil and his family have a long-standing connection with Horizon, where his wife, children and now grandchildren enjoy the wide range of great facilities on offer. He is passionate about the importance of promoting understanding of the benefits of active lifestyles and enhancing Horizon’s already strong reputation for what and how it delivers in the communities it serves.

Peter Lewis

Following a long career in the Royal Navy, my retirement from full time work has given an opportunity to contribute to something that I strongly believe makes a very positive impact on health and wellbeing in the community. Horizon does exactly that and I have now been a Trustee for 4 years.

From junior sailor to helicopter aircrew to captain of warships, my varied life in the military has provided me a broad range of skills and experience that I can translate to the role of a Trustee.

Perhaps above all, I have learned that it is the people in any successful organisation that matter most of all and therefore it is a pleasure to get to know and work with excellent team at Horizon.     

My four grandchildren and Victorian house and garden keep me busy and I play squash, tennis, cycle and use the Horizon gyms regularly.  Although I have travelled the world for most of my life, there are still places on our “bucket list” that my wife and I plan to visit in the next few years..

Sara Gohl

I have been a Trustee and the Director lead for Business and Community Development since October 2021. I came onboard at a time of great change as Horizon embark on their transformation project going from good to great.

My background is in housing and property both in the social and private sectors as well as being a Compliance specialist. I am a Company Director for a local business as well as running my own Consultancy Company. My skills are diverse and compliment the already strong Board.

I am passionate about health, wellbeing and fitness. I’ve been a member of Horizon for 13 years and have been on my own personal rehabilitation and wellbeing journey within that time. I am a charity advocate, campaigner and fundraiser and when I get the time I love to travel and go on adventures.

The role of Trustee is so rewarding and I’m committed to making Horizon Leisure the best health and wellbeing provider for our community. Wellbeing is for everyone, and health and location should not discriminate. I am passionate about developing dynamic partnerships across the South to make the future even brighter and accessible to all.

To me there is nothing more rewarding than taking an active role within our community and making a real difference.

Gillian Foster

Jason Crouch

Jason is Lead Director for IT and Chairman of the Trading Company, having joined the board in 2012. Initially an Engineer but with a long career and broad experience extending to Project Management and Business Change/Transformation consultancy in Information Systems and Service Integration, In/Outsourcing and Managed IT, Telecoms & Network Services, Business & Supplier Management. He has also served on the Board of the Southern Co-op. Jason and his family have been using the Horizon Facilities for 40 years since moving to the area. He is an evangelist for continuous improvement and innovation. He is keen to extend Horizon’s reputation for service and its relationship with the community it serves.

Peter Mellor

I joined Horizon Leisure Trust (HLT) 4 years ago as a Trustee with lead director responsibilities for finance, having retired from my full-time role as a Director of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. I have been a magistrate for 38 years, sitting in both Havant and Portsmouth.

Serving and giving back to the community has always been important to me and I am delighted to be able to play a small part in helping HLT to provide first class leisure, health and wellbeing services to local residents, at an affordable price.

HLT is a charity and an important part of a Trustee’s role is to ensure that the organisation meets its charitable obligations by reinvesting any surplus that it makes, back into the organisation, for the benefit of its members.

In my spare time, I will most likely be found on a golf course, a tennis court, a bowls green or a riverbank.

Bob Hedley

I have been a Trustee since January 2023. Recently retired I found myself with some time on my hands and a feeling that I had experience that I could still put to good use. The Trustee role at Horizon Leisure Trust, whose objective is to promote health and wellbeing within the community, provides me with that opportunity.

 I had a wide and varied career in engineering design and management and later in project management, including living and working abroad. Later on I ran my own small company involved in building development and refurbishment and also residential lettings.

 I enjoy my active leisure with interests in travel, enjoying new cultures and cuisines, languages, hiking and motorcycling. Often all combined into the latest adventure.

 I value my Horizon gym membership and try to go every week, sometimes several times. This helps me with my fitness and keeping weight under control, but also a chance to meet with Horizon customers and employees and to hear what you all think of the organisation. If you see me around feel free to come and say Hello.

 Horizon Leisure have ambitions to grow and develop new services and facilities to broaden their reach into the local communities that we serve. This gives me the opportunity to support the Horizons management team with my project management experience in helping them to shape and deliver the projects that will deliver our new horizons.