Board Members

Richard Arends (Chairman)

Richard is highly qualified in the insurance field having a number of Diplomas in this field to his credit. He is also well qualified in management training and conflict resolution. Richard is extremely active in the community being currently chairperson of Lotus River, Ottery and Grassy Park Residents Association in addition to his duties as chairman of the FMR Board.

Virginia Davids

Professor Virginia Davids completed her studies at the University of Stellenbosch. She has distinguished herself as one of South Africa’s leading sopranos, and has received Nederburg Awards for her roles as Aïda, Tosca and Liu, as well as several FNB Vita Awards. In 1999 she won the Rapport/Rentmeester Prestige Award for SA Women Achievers. Virginia still strongly identifies with the historically impoverished community of Elsies River and is passionate about the development of young singers. She is associate professor and course convener of vocal studies at the SA College of Music.

Brian Gardner

Brian Gardner is a retired professor of accounting from the University of Port Elizabeth, having also been at Fort Hare University. Returning from the Eastern Cape to his home town, Cape Town, in 2003, he and his wife Wendy settled in Constantia. Brian has been o n the FMR board for over four years, taking on the roll of treasurer and manager of FMR’s finances.

Neil Papenfus

Born in the Free State and educated at St Andrews School, Bloemfontein, and Rhodes University (B Com).  Married to Pat with two sons, a daughter, three grandsons and two granddaughters.  Retired in 1996 after twenty-six years on the staff of Rhodes University (Director of Development).

Ed West

Financial Director for Chesebrough Ponds (African / Far East Division) and then Financial Director for Yardley (Africa / Pacific Division) based in Cape Town, where he decided this was the city in which to make his permanent home.  He has been the Administrator of St Luke’s Hospice for 15 years and he is co-owner of the Mugg & Bean in Cavendish Square. Ed enjoys: keeping fit and doing lots of exercise with his partner, big musicals, lots of friends, and most of all animals – especially his 3 cats, an African grey parrot and French bulldog – Lecroix. Ed’s defining moment was attending a Master Class given by Elizabeth Shwarzkopf at Edinborough University in the 1980’s.

Patrick Tikolo

Hailing from King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape, Patrick Tikolo is a lecturer in vocal studies at the South African College of Music, UCT. He continues to perform as a baritone, and is also a composer, arranger and choir conductor – some of his works were performed during the Caltex Massed Choir Festivals in 1996/7.

Tanja Bosch

Tanja Bosch is a lecturer and researcher at the Centre for Film and Media Studies at UCT. She completed a MA in International Affairs while a Fulbright Scholar at Ohio University, where she also graduated with a PhD in Mass Communication. Tanja teaches radio journalism, health communication and qualitiative research methods. Her areas of research and publication include talk radio, community media, and the use of mobile media by the youth.

Shiloh Noone

Shiloh Noone, who joined the FMR board in November 2009, is a regular presenter on the station. He is national project manager for QD Electronics, but he is also a writer, poet, mystic, motivational speaker, and an authority on the rock and folk music of the 1950s through to the 1970s. He is the author of a history of the music of that era, The Seeker’s Guide to the Rhythm of Yesteryear, which has received high praise from musicians and critics alike.

Johann Vos

Johann Vos practised as attorney in Johannesburg and Pretoria until 1985, when he moved to Cape Town, where he practises in partnership under the name Visagie Vos. He has a keen interest in his community, and is chairman of the Stikland Hospital Health Facility Board and the Hugo Lambrechts Music Trust. For the last 20 years he has been sponsoring a piano competition for high school pupils, which over the years has developed into an important showcase for young talent. He was voted onto the FMR board in November 2009.