Rebel Meriel

In the latest in her series throughout 2018 profiling inspirational women, KATE HASKELL talks to Meriel Fishwick, CEO of FORCE in Exeter

- Kate Haskell

A rebel without a cause is how Meriel Fishwick describes her younger self; she recalls brushing aside pleas from her academic parents to concentrate on her studies and find her own path. However, whatever worries her family may have had about the young Meriel now pale into insignificance as she has found a particularly rewarding role.

After a stint working for Vogue and Harvey Nichols, Meriel soon found herself back home in Devon and working for the Mid Devon Advertiser and then Bearnes, the fine auction house.

Certainly a varied start to her career but it was this mix of skills that made her very useful when a chance meeting changed everything.

FORCE (Friends of the Oncology and Radiotherapy Centre, Exeter) was a charity in its infancy back 1990 when, at a quiz night, Meriel got chatting to its founders Dr Chris Rowland and Bernard Simons.

“I was astounded that such great research work was going on right here in Exeter”, she tells me, “and I knew right away I wanted to be involved so I offered my skills to help in any way I could. Within six months I was their first employee and over the following 28 years have evolved from PR and Fundraising Manager to Support Centre Manager and now Chief Executive.”