Meet our team of directors...
Clair Abrey
I joined BLN as a Virtual Assistant and straight away I was made to feel welcome and included. I love that BLN is run by local businesses for local businesses and focuses on supporting the fantastic range of diverse and independent small businesses that Norfolk has to offer. I wanted to be a Director as the more networking events I attended, the more I realised that their principles and beliefs aligned with my own and I felt empowered to be more involved, to have a say and be a part of everything that BLN stands for and wants to achieve. At my core, I’m a helper and bring with me over 20 years of admin experience, fresh eyes and hopefully some inspiring ideas.
Glynn Burrows
Glynn Burrows is a true Norfolk Dumpling, with roots going back in this fine county, to the C16th. Having been fascinated with family and local history since childhood, it is one of his proudest boasts to say that all of his direct ancestors so far discovered, lived within 50 miles of where he lives today!
Having trained as a chef and after working in several places, including France, he married a Norfolk “gal” and settled in Gressenhall. He has two adult children and two beautiful little granddaughters. Now he is self-employed as an historian and offers bespoke tours of East Anglia, trading as Norfolk-Tours. Most of his guests are people wanting to find out more about their own family history but he has also taken several professors, lecturers and writers around to places for their researches. He writes for several magazines and online publications, “appears” on an American internet radio show as their English Correspondent and is in the process of writing several local history books.
Buy Local Norfolk is an obvious organisation for such a person. With a passion for his beloved county he hates to see how it is being decimated with the loss of individuality of the towns as well as the beautiful city of Norwich and he wants to step in and do something buy ventolin inhaler online before it is too late. Buy Local Norfolk is a step in the right direction!
Peter Bussey
After 30 years in commerce a convenient opportunity to venture out as a sole practitioner accountant arose in 2017 and I set up Abacus Accountancy.
My career in accountancy came about after spending 2 years travelling around the world aged 18, after my A levels, to give me time to decide upon a worthwhile career.
On my return I moved to Norwich to take up 3 years full-time study at City College for my ACCA qualifications, then stayed local as a trainee accountant with Norwich Union. After a spell in London with the Corporation of Lloyds looking after Names’ funds, I returned to Norfolk as a senior accountant with the R G Carter Group.
Being self-employed now gives me the flexibility for school runs for Georgia, our granddaughter, and to walk Leah our Labrador/Alsatian rescue dog (during daylight in the winter). As a keen cyclist I had hoped to get more miles on the bike. Unfortunately this has not happened with the number of clients steadily growing – despite taking on staff to cope!
In addition to being a Director of Buy Local Norfolk, I am also a Director for the Eastern Landlords Association which ties in with the small rental portfolio built up over the years. Since 2010 I have been Treasurer for Shine, a charity in Great Yarmouth providing nursery and day care for children with special needs. Finally, I am proud to be a ‘gold’ blood donor with achieving 100 my target.
So with all this, and attending rock concerts of increasingly aged bands, this doesn’t leave much time with my wife, Emma.
James Martin
James was born in West Runton on the beautiful North Norfolk coast after his parents moved from London after falling in love with the county in the early 70’s.
Having grown up in the market town of Watton and a couple of moves to other parts of the county he finally settled in Thorpe St Andrew with his wife, children, and two mad spaniels.
After running two successful independent businesses, James took up various other positions before setting up a new family confectionery business called Sweet Smiles of Norfolk in June 2021. He loves meeting other amazing businesses at events he attends and takes inspiration from the drive and determination he sees in other business owners to grow and thrive, sometimes in the most adverse of circumstances.
This individuality is what makes buying from an independent not only unique but also such a rewarding experience. Knowing that no matter how small the transaction, the buzz that goes through that business owner every time somebody chooses their product or service can not be replicated anywhere else, imagine if we could bottle up this feeling, how amazing would that be?
Away from work, you will generally find James working with children at football coaching sessions building confidence for our next generation, or as a season ticket holder, in the stands at Norwich City FC.
Chris Lewer
Outside of work, Chris spends most of his time running his teenage children from one place to another, enjoying his daughter’s musical journey (guitar, bass and piano) and watching his son play rugby for Norwich RFC.
Grace Appleby
Grace moved to Norwich in 2016 to attend UEA and fell in love with our fine city.
Since then, she’s been busy building Yawn Marketing with Sam Edwards, a local marketing agency that prioritises community above all else.
A relationship-builder by nature, Grace loves nothing more than meeting new people and connecting them with the things they need – be that a business, a service, or a friend.
Alongside her full-time job, Grace runs a Community Interest Company called Norfolk
Women’s Marketing Network. NWMN is an organisation that strives to empower women to progress in their careers, connect members with like-minded individuals, and create spaces for knowledge and skill sharing.
As Yawn and NWMN grow, Grace is learning a great deal about business, community, and the importance of buying local. She’s excited to support Buy Local Norfolk and help toexpand its reach and influence.
Kerry King
When I joined Buy Local Norfolk as a member, I realised early on that I wanted to become a Director. The other Directors were so passionate about the organisation and I felt the same. I believe it’s incredibly important to redirect business back into our local economy, increasing job prospects for our county and revenue for all of us. Being part of the LGBTQ+ business community is another plus point I feel I can bring to the table. Norfolk has some amazing entrepreneurs and companies and I have the awesome privilege of shouting about them every chance I get.