The Team

Committee members

James Watson

I was a friend and colleague of Neil’s and learned a lot from him during the early days of my career. Following on from Neil’s tragic death Sarah became a close friend of mine. I came on board with the Foundation to help bring to fruition Sarah’s vision to support all bereaved Police families, both Officer and Staff, in memory of Neil and Dave.

Gareth Olley

I have been a police officer for over 20 years with Merseyside Police and come from a real police family, with my mum, dad, brother, uncle & cousin all serving within Merseyside & Lancashire at some point.

As a result of this, not only do I have a strong blood connection to the police service, I also feel a strong bond to the whole police family and I feel privileged to be part of the Doyle-Phillips Foundation to support my extended ‘family’ during their times of need.

Dave Hulligan

I am a serving officer currently providing student officers with support along their learning journey. I can only hope new recruits can show an ounce of the compassion and care Doyley showed during his career.

I joined the police family with Doyley in the same class at Bruche were we had some funny times.

I also worked alongside Doyley for a number of years watching him speed into the nick as he was running late.

I never knew Dave but from what I hear he and Doyley shared the same values.

Values which I will try my upmost to uphold and inspire to future officers.

Mark Cole

Hi I am Mark Cole and I have been a police officer for over 14 years. `Previously I served over 24 years in the Royal Air Force regiment. I have always been passionate in supporting my military and police colleagues and their families during my careers. I have always been very passionate about charities and supporting those who need support those who need support, love and care. I have been involved in many charitable events to raise funds for our charities. I was fortunate to work indirectly with both Neil Doyle and Dave Phillips. Both of their tragic deaths had a massive impact on all members of the police service both in Merseyside and nationally. I have had the upmost privilege to have ridden for both officers during recent Unity Tour cycle rides and continue to ride for those who have died each year.

Joanne Duggan

My name is Joanne and I am a committee member for The Doyle Phillips Foundation. I am responsible for co-ordinating the Events Team.

I am Sarah’s cousin and had the pleasure of knowing Neil for over 16 years and know his passion for helping people was second to none so when Sarah told me about setting up the foundation, it was a no brainer that I was going to be involved and support her and the other family members.

Shaun Bainbridge

I hold the position of Treasurer for The Doyle Phillips Foundation.

I had the honour of being friends with Neil Doyle, working alongside him and experiencing situations that demonstrated his uncanny ability to empathise with people regardless of what situation they were facing. He truly was a man who was able to utilise communication as one of his key skills.

I no longer work for the Police, but am skill keenly aware of the need to be involved in supporting those families that unfortunately find themselves in circumstances of grief and uncertainty.

I am privileged to be able to drive this Foundation forward in the name of my friend and his family.

Trustee Members & Board

Sarah Doyle -
Chair

I am Sarah Doyle, widow of PC Neil Doyle who was killed on 19th December 2014 after being recognised as a police officer on his works Christmas night out.

I am the chair and one of the founders of the Doyle Phillips Foundation, and it has been my aim to be able to provide peer support, to other families who have lost a loved one whilst they where serving for Merseyside Police.

I have found over the past 6 1/2 years, that peer support has been a lifeline to me and I want to be able to provide the same support to other members of the blue line family that may be struggling.

Mark Robin - Vice Chair

Having supported the families of Neil and Dave from the outset of their untimely killings by organising numerous charitable events, it is my passion and desire to ensure their memory and legacy lives on.

Now close friends with the families and having launched the Doyle Phillips Foundation, I am committed, more than ever, to providing much needed support to families of Merseyside Police who have suffered or will suffer the most unimaginable pain.

By day, I am employed as an event planner and event advisor. By night, I am the Chairman of an amateur rugby league in St Helens called Portico Vine. I hope to use my organisational and leadership skills, in conjunction with the raw passion for helping and supporting others in my role within the Doyle Phillips Foundation.

Steve Jones - Treasurer

I have been a police officer for over twenty years. I am retiring at the end of 2021 and moving on to lecture in Higher Education.

I have always been passionate in supporting my police colleagues and their families during my career. Policing is a career like no other. It can expose officers and staff to both mental and physical challenges. I was fortunate enough to work indirectly with both Neil Doyle and Dave Phillips. Both of their tragic deaths had a massive impact on all members of the police service in Merseyside and nationally.

I have always supported the work of Police charities, so when Sarah Doyle first mentioned the concept of the Doyle Phillips Foundation (DPF) to provide more holistic support to not only police officers but support staff, it was a no brainer!

I am proud to be a trustee for DPF to ensure all those officers and staff who serve are provided the support, should they find themselves in a position of need, no matter what the circumstance