Meet The Team
Sam
Sam is our founder and chairperson of Thermal Drone Support Bedfordshire and owns Ulysse the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla that started our charity! Sam has spent her entire life around dogs and
other animals. Rescuing horrendously damaged dogs from Cyprus and spending time searching for lost dogs years before Thermal Drones were thought of to be used to search for missing pets. Life revolves around 8 dogs and Thermal Drone Support Bedfordshire!
Sarah
Sarah has worked for many years as a Personal Assistant and Administrator and is using her skills to be Charity Secretary for Thermal Drone Support Bedfordshire. Sarah has owned dogs all her life, mainly rescues and currently has a wonderful Vizsla. When she's not looking after her twins, you can see her out running with her dog and plans to complete her next Half Marathon to raise money for the wonderful work of the charity.
Leon
Trustee and drone pilot. He loves dogs and things that fly, whether that be drones, aeroplanes or interplanetary spacecraft . He enjoys helping people in need and bringing communities together. Leon has been around from the beginning and was out looking for Ulysse with his drone over Christmas 2023. In his day job he is a manufacturing engineering manager, building space hardware and exploration rovers heading to Mars! Leon is also a volunteer first responder for the statutory ambulance service - EEAST and an Emergency Ambulance Crew for St John Ambulance.
Meg
Meg is our trustee and drone pilot. If she’s not out flying thermal drones, monitoring traps or doing charity admin, social media and ‘behind the scenes’ work, she’s at home with her own ‘zoo’ of animals, or looking after other people’s pets as a qualified veterinary nurse! Meg is very passionate about supporting owners of missing pets (having been in the position herself) and is often at the end of the phone providing advice, support and guidance to pet owners of Bedfordshire.
Pilots and ground support
Dave
Dave is a keen experienced drone flyer who joined our team in early 2024 after meeting the team whilst doing his own aerial photography work. Dave has his own dog, as well as a service dog to keep him busy, when he's not photographing our beautiful landscapes. Dave's caught various localised incidents on camera, including flooding and fires, he's even had one of his photos published in a national newspaper.
Jake
There to support even after a night shift! Is methodical when searching and a quick learner. With a strong aeronautical background and safety at the heart at what he does Jake is a key team member.
Martin
Meet Martin, one of our pilots here at the charity! A passionate dog owner and drone pilot in his own time, Martin truly understands the special bond between pets and their humans, which drives his dedication to bringing lost animals back home. With his lifelong experience in agriculture, Martin offers a unique perspective, using his understanding of rural landscapes to enhance our search efforts. Outside of his work with us, Martin loves exploring the countryside with his own dogs and also enjoys cycling in his free time.
Neil & Emma
We are Neil and Emma, and we joined the wonderful team at Thermal Drone Support Bedfordshire in late November. After experiencing the heartbreak of losing our beloved dog and feeling powerless in our search, we knew firsthand how devastating it is to not know where your pet has gone. My husband, Neil, uses a thermal imaging drone for surveying fields for local farmers and while browsing on Facebook we discovered how thermal imaging drones were also a powerful tool for locating lost animals and pets. One evening, while searching for a missing horse, we met Sam from Thermal Drone Support Bedfordshire. A shared passion for reuniting lost pets with their families sparked a connection, and we exchanged numbers. From that moment, we decided to collaborate and dedicate our skills to helping others in similar situations.
Alan
Alan is one of our volunteer pilots, his background and experience is in aviation where he has worked for over 30 years, he is married with 3 children and two dogs, he joined the team because he understands the emotional turmoil with losing a much loved pet and wanted to use his skills to help reunite pets with their owners.
Chris
Chris is one of our drone pilots and search volunteers. Whilst new to piloting drones, Chris brings over 50 years of experience in flying model aircraft including helicopters and even an autogyro. Doggy Dad to 2 energetic bundles of fur, he is very aware of the worries of a dog running off and not returning. Being able to offer others help in that dreaded situation reinforces the feeling of comradeship to other dog parents. Days are spent with my wife either in the garden, walking the dogs or exploring the country. As a recently qualified and licensed Radio Amateur I also volunteers at the National Radio Centre, Bletchley Park.
Gill
Gill is our trapper who’s journey with traps started nearly 10 years ago after a friend rehomed an ex breeding poodle, she didn’t get into her new home and was gone across A1 at Buckden and off into the countryside for 3 weeks, trying to find a trap locally it was decided to get the begging bowl out to raise money to get one, trap purchased and set, suzie was caught . Word got out a trap was available in Bedfordshire another was soon needed so gill purchased another. A trap is needed when a dog or cat is not going to be caught “manually “ or it is a safer option for all involved and nobody gets hurt .There is always a trap loaded in the truck ready to be set . Gill also has 2 dogs, a Cockapoo and a Romanian rescue, 3 cats and 2 horses. The day job is working at a commercial vehicle workshop, so once the day job/horses are fed the trap is on call.
Lou
I’m Lou, I’ve known Sam for 20+ years. And we’ve always had the same passion for training and pets. I now come as a two with my little 8 month old girl Connie strapped to me. We are part of the ground search team and would love to train to do some piloting next year. I work my own dogs on a shoot. Used to event horses, and look after people's pets when they go on holiday, so I have a love for all animals. It’s so nice being part of a team where we are all in it together for all the right reasons to bring pets home and at the very worst to give owners closure.
Fundraising
Elaine
Elaine has been good friends with Sam for many (many!) years, the initial connection was large,hairy, and dribbly dogs (Italian Spinone). She was part of the large and determined search party looking for Ulysse for those long twelve days. She is currently part of the fundraising/ event planning team and is passionate in ensuring that the charity goes from strength to strength.
Laura
Laura helps with fundraising activities after chatting with Sam about the charity and their fundraising plans! She used to be scared of dogs but is now completely obsessed with them after getting one of her own!