Miriam Margolyes OBE
Miriam is very well known for her acting, on TV, radio, and in films and was given an OBE for services to drama in 2001.

She has a long standing commitment to refugees and asylum seekers, her Jewish family having come to this country from Belarus.

In November 2009 she presented a sell-out performance at Winchester's Theatre Royal with some famous friends including Stephen Fry and Sandy Toksvig. All the actors gave their time free in support of SWVG.

Miriam's website is www.miriammargolyes.com

John Pilkington
A travel writer and broadcaster, John has been called "one of Britain's greatest tellers of travellers' tales". In 2006 the Royal Geographical Society presented him with the Ness Award for his work in popularising geography and the wider understanding of the world.

Sheffield-born but now living in Hampshire, he frequently raises funds for SWVG by recounting adventures such as crossing the Sahara by camel and going up the Mekong to Tibet. Most recently he travelled to Iraqi Kurdistan.

John's website is www.pilk.net

Rt.Rev Michael Scott-Joynt
Until May 2011, Michael was Bishop of Winchester and a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Great Lakes Region and Genocide Prevention. Since visiting the Anglican Province of the Congo, he has worked with others for an end to warfare and suffering in the Eastern DRC, and the large-scale pillage of its natural resources.

Bishop Michael is an active supporter of SWVG, attending many of our events. He has hosted a fundraising concert at the Bishop's Palace and supported the individual cases of some clients.