User:DanniStillwell/sandbox

Jason Keith Palmer (born 1971) is a British former customer service clerk, BR Railwayman, Civil Servant, charity volunteer and Brighton businessman, living on the south coast in Sussex. Recognised for establishing Powell & Palmer Menswear, a tailors and gentlemen’s outfitters in Duke Street in the early 2000s and later taking over Fishers Menswear of East Street; the main account and main supplier in the region of Penhaligon’s fragrance and Johnstons of Elgin knitwear, when re-launched as Cactus Menswear.

Notable for serving as volunteer and chair of the Brighton & Hove Mayors’ charity committee under six Mayor’s during their term of office – several consecutively, between 2008 and 2022. Appointed a Director and Trustee of The Sussex Heart Charity (SHC) in 2010 under the chairmanship of Andrew Cohen – cardiothoracic surgeon at the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH); becoming vice chair in 2014 under the chairmanship of the equally respected surgeon and much missed, Andy Forsyth.

Jason Palmer remained in post working directly with the CEO Terry Ayres - chairman of The Sussex Heart Charity. In 2015 Palmer led the introduction of one of the largest single public transport network AED defibrillator upgrade and installation programs in the UK; probably ahead of any other program on a regional transport network of similar size (and population density) in Europe or anywhere in the world, at that time. The chance of successful resuscitation following by stander intervention - in the Sussex community – increased, as a result of this innovative collaborative defibrillator program jointly funded and fully supported by Govia Thameslink Rail (Southern), their staff and The Sussex Heart Charity.

Palmer became chair of SHC working directly with the CEO – a part time job although still a volunteer, through the Covid Pandemic of 2020 (until 2022). The SHCs wider work with patients, their families, dedicated cardiac staff - at the Royal Sussex County Hospital RSCH, The Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath and across the region continued throughout the pandemic and does so to this day.

Early Life

The oldest of three boys, brothers Nicholas Duncan Palmer and Ashley James Palmer, mother Patricia Ann Palmer (nee Brownings, widow and remarried as Patricia Thomas) Father was a SeeBoard cableman and electrician: Sydney Keith Palmer suffered a heart attack whilst at work in 1983 and died on the recovery ward in Cuckfield hospital following a second cardiac arrest later that week. Palmer was not successful during his school years; frequently struggling to comprehend mathematics and was not a sportsman either. His mother, very much an introvert - although always supportive, due to her lack of general understanding and reservedness, was not able to offer useful advice or guidance and Palmer felt he had to learn new skills and educate himself. Quickly learning how to fight his own battles, be wiser - stronger and more positive – learn to overcome his fears of speaking up, asking for help and speaking out, as he was and still is to this day – a naturally shy man. Jason left home at the age of 18 and moved to Hove whilst working for American Express – he met his now husband, David - in 1993 and they moved to Hanover a suburb of Brighton in 1996, where they both still live. Jason’s mother - Patricia Ann Thomas, died of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2008.

Career

Palmer was considering a career as an estate agent, working for GA Property Services in Haywards Heath, until being made redundant in 1987 (after six months as a trainee negotiator). He then undertook a one year short term appointment as customer service assistant at American Express in Brighton, which led to a permanent position and working across all areas of customer services including the prestigious Gold Card and International Departments.

His career direction was seemingly in customer services but then it fell apart during a period of further family loss – losing all his grandparents before the age of twenty-five. During this time there were several short term dead end jobs and a few that lasted more than a year – but nothing really of note; other than a few years working for British Rail (BR) shortly before privatisation. This BR customer service role working in the regional train enquiry bureau (TEB) based in International House, Queens Road, Brighton - led to a reasonably successful career in the Civil Service working for central Government at the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF) based in Hays Galleria, London.

Later moving to 55 Victoria Street, London – continuing his senior Civil Service role at the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) working his way up from the Secretariat as Admin Officer (AO) to Executive Officer (EO), moving to the Franchise Management Team becoming a Senior Executive Officer (SEO), leading and working on projects within this team and department that included: the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) and London station(s) integration, Slam Door train replacement, Cross Rail (now the Elizabeth Line) HS2 , amongst the day to day to management of the Gatwick Express, Connex Rail, Anglian Rail franchises, briefing in person and in writing - Government Ministers, Members of Parliament and from time to time attending Transport Select Committee meetings to support and advise; later made redundant following a change of government.

Palmer’s working life then changed direction with his partner David Fraser established Powell & Palmer Tailoring on Duke Street in Brighton. Palmer’s mother and father both worked at the Jaeger clothing factory in Burgess Hill – Jason had a long held dream to own a clothes shop one day – they opened the store in 2003; fortunate enough to have suits made when working in London Palmer had a friend in Soho tailor Mark Powell. The next few months/year or so, were hugely painful - sadly the retail partnership between Powell and Palmer was disastrous; Mark Powell – a tailor well known in and around Soho London, agreed to terminate their contract and Jason and David went it alone from 2004.

A new approach and way forward was found - long after ties with Mark had been severed. Fishers Menswear at 64 East Street, Brighton was added to the portfolio. However, recession saw the dream die and both shops later closed – the Duke Street store (now Cactus Menswear) finally shut its door - after a long struggle to pass on the lease, April 2014). Nevertheless, David had bought Woodland Dry Cleaners, Hove in 2008. Jason and David concentrated on this remaining business and he on his voluntary work. Alongside shifts in the Dry Cleaners and spending more time at the SHC office supporting the CEO Terry Ayres.

Palmer worked on planning Terry’s retirement and improving the SHCs social media and web presence; generally looking at future proofing SHC; instigating and approving web and media/ design consultancy work by (an acquaintance at the time) Matt Denison. Both Terry and Jason saw a possible successor in Matt and pursued this thought together for several years.

As a charity volunteer and local business man, Jason has written for and featured in many newspaper/magazine articles, written numerous SHC press releases and had letters (published across the county) featured locally in Brighton & Hove and Sussex promoting his local business and voluntary work - varied subjects from food and eating out, to men’s grooming – what to wear (and what not to wear!): Sussex Living, Sussex Life, Silver Magazine, Brighton & Hove Life, Sussex Express, Sussex World, The Argus & The Hanover Directory, amongst others.

Jason also set up Woodland Carpet Cleaners in 2014, this has been his self-employed part time/full time work since, alongside working at Brighton based charity - Family Support Work (FSW), a paid role. After a short spell working two days a week (voluntary) directly with Terry at the SHC office during a particularly difficult period in 2018/19 (and again during the pandemic in 2020); Jason moved back to fulltime Carpet Cleaning.

Honours

The Sussex Heart Charity was awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) in 2023; received from Andrew Blackman the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex - this was accepted on behalf of SHC in April 2024 by David Fraser a fellow Director and Trustee of SHC at a special event held at Ridgeview Vineyard, Ditchling, Sussex.