“Claire Thornber is a strong, intelligent woman who sees solutions where others see problems. I have been her colleague in two capacities; the first as her employee and secondly as her partner in a co-production project between two charities.”
In both roles Claire has treated me with respect, generosity of spirit and candour. She delivers results because she works hard and holds herself to a very high standard. While most people usually focus on their own recovery following CES, Claire got to work to make life better for others.
The results of her vision for a Cauda Equina charity are plain to see. Cauda Equina Champions Charity is thriving due to her dedication and wealth of experience. Her foresight in valuing the voices of others with lived experience has paid off in dividends, with her endeavours reaching international status. I believe this because Claire structured the charity so that the support and information is coming from people who understand what it’s like and not just medical professionals who may know the science but not the reality of life with CES.
As a professional to work with, Claire is a straight shooter. She’s upfront, she’s honest and she operates with a strong sense of justice. Her work with People First KC is yet further evidence of her fight for a more just world. She is a natural talker and I’ve witnessed her talking to top of their field professionals and I’ve also heard her speaking to adults with learning disabilities at People First Keighley and Craven. She treats everyone the same, no matter who they are or where they’re from.
Her candour and sense of humour makes her a great colleague. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind and question the status quo if she feels the need to do so, I have always found it a brave and endearing quality.
In summary, I highly rate Claire Thornber as a professional and as a leader. I have so much gratitude towards her for the mentoring she has kindly given me. Claire is someone who climbs the corporate ladder metaphorically speaking but also supports those lower down on the ladder to keep climbing too and I really admire that. She sees potential where many other people don’t, and she doesn’t wait for opportunities, she creates them. Any professional would be lucky to have her on their team.