Chris Quirk – Chairman
Chris is the elected Isle of Wight Councillor for Shanklin South and has served for over ten years as a Shanklin Town Councillor and as Shanklin Town Mayor since 2021. As an elected Shanklin Town Councillor Chris led negotiations with the Isle of Wight Council for Shanklin Theatre to be re-opened and transferred to community ownership. He has been Chairman of Shanklin Theatre and Community Trust, the Charitable company that owns Shanklin Theatre, since its inception and, until 2017, was also Chairman of Shanklin Theatre Limited, the company that actually runs the Theatre. Although not serving on the Board, Chris still retains specific responsibilities for Health and Safety for this company.
Chris was a hotelier in Shanklin for many years and served as elected Chairman of Shanklin Hotel and Accommodation Association (SHAA) and as the elected Hoteliers’ representative on the Island’s Tourism Development Board and subsequently the Tourism Advisory Board that superseded it when Visit Isle of Wight was formed.
A graduate Biochemist/Microbiologist with a Master’s degree in Business Administration, his varied earlier career was predominantly in the Pharmaceutical Industry, including time spent as Therapeutic Group Manager and Divisional Head at Glaxo, Commercial Director at the Open University, European Director at Edelman (a World leading PR Consultancy), and Commercial Director and Managing Director at two World-class Pharmaceutical Contract Research Organisations.
Chris is married to Joan; they have three grown-up children and nine grandchildren.
Sally Beston
Sally comes from an accounting background after leaving Comprehensive School in Kent in 1976. She held various positions in Investment banking in the City of London before moving onto the Island in 2001. Sally lives with her husband Michael who runs a successful tourism business operating in the heart of Shanklin since 2001.
Sally joined the Shanklin Hotel and Accommodation Association committee (SHAA) in 2002 and has been the current Chairman of SHAA since 2012. Sally also joined the Tourism Advisory Board in 2012 and remained on the Board until it disbanded after the introduction of the Wightbid. Sally is currently a company Director for Visit Isle of Wight Ltd and is also a Director of the Shanklin Performing Arts Centre CIC. Sally has extensive knowledge of the Island’s tourism industry and brings a wealth of hotel and hospitality knowledge with her.
Sally and her husband have two daughters who were educated on the Island; they are now both pursuing their own careers on the mainland.
Michael Beston
Michael left Comprehensive School in London in 1976 where he entered onto a RTITB apprenticeship into the automotive industry. Leaving the industry temporary to pursue a career with the Greater London Council in 1984 – 1986. Re-joining the automotive industry in 1987 and holding managerial positions with a leading international vehicle glass repair and replacement company before moving onto the Island in 2001. Michael runs a successful tourism business that has been operating in the heart of Shanklin 2001.
Michael is an elected member of Shanklin Town Council and an Isle of Wight County Councillor. He is also a long standing committee member for the Friends of Shanklin Theatre and a Director of the Shanklin Performing Arts Centre CIC.
Michael brings a wealth of theatre and community knowledge with him.
His many and varied hobbies include walking – cycling – photography – 1950’s classic vehicles – social media – the theatre and attending live music events across the UK.
Mick Dawson
Mick moved from Lancashire to Ventnor with his parents and sister in April 1960 aged 9 years old. His parents, despite not having any experience in the hotel or hospitality industry, went on to purchase a 15-bedroom hotel. Mick was educated at Junior and Secondary schools in Ventnor, achieving 6 GCE O-levels and 3 CSE’s. In 1968 he enrolled on a four-year course in hotel management that included two six-month periods of industry training. Firstly, at the Colne House Hotel in Cromer and at the Berystede Hotel in South Ascot in 1969.
In 1972 Mick graduated at the Portsmouth College of Technology with a National Diploma in hotel keeping and catering and became a member of the Hotel and Catering Institutional Management Association. (MHCIMA). In the later part of 1972, Mick’s parents, along with his sister and brother-in-law purchased the Melbourne Ardenlea Hotel in Shanklin.
During the next 32 years, the 2 Star rated Hotel was upgraded with all 55 rooms incorporating full en-suite facilities. A full central heating system was added including colour televisions in all rooms. By far, the largest project was the addition of the Island’s largest indoor swimming pool complete with sauna, sunbed and spa bath, complete with nine en-suite bedrooms above and accessed by a new lift.
After Mick’s parents had passed away, the Hotel was sold in 2004. A year later, Mick and his wife Jan purchased the St Georges House Hotel in Shanklin. Specialising in bed and breakfast accommodation, all the bedrooms were converted to include En-suite facilities. Shortly after, they were introduced to Shanklin Hotel and Accommodation Association (SHAA). Mick subsequently joined the SHAA committee and then went on to take the role as treasurer and later to the role as president after his retirement.
Mick is also a Director of the Shanklin Performing Arts Centre CIC and brings a wealth of tourism and hospitality industry knowledge with him.
Carol Harvey
Terry Harvey
David Beeson
