Meet the team
Janice Brooke
Practice Principal & Financial Planner
Janice has over 27 years experience as a Financial Advisor and has built up a successful practice with over 2000 clients. Janice started out in financial services with Allied Dunbar and latterly Openwork and has a wealth of knowledge in investments and pensions.
Janice is currently working towards her grade four in piano and enjoys the theatre and spending time with her family.
Financial Qualifications
DipPFS – Diploma in Financial Planning
Cert CII (MP) – Certificate in Mortgage Practice
James Studley
Financial Planner & Commercial Finance Broker
Originally from Norwich, James graduated from the University of Glamorgan in 2006 and spent six years working with Barclays Bank as a Mortgage Adviser. He has since worked for a small brokerage offering a mortgage and financial protection services and completed further financial qualifications before joining Brooke Financial as a Financial Planner in 2013.
Outside of work, James enjoys travelling, snowboarding and playing golf. He’s also a keen follower of Norwich City FC.
Financial Qualifications
DipFA – Diploma in Financial Advice
CeMAP – Certificate in Mortgage Advice & Practice
Sam Padbury
Financial Planner
Sam originates from Hinckley in Leicestershire. He completed his undergraduate degree at Durham University and was a regular in the men’s rowing team during his time there. After graduating Sam decided to pursue a career in finance, joining the practice in 2020 having previously worked for another Openwork Partnership practice in Leeds.
Sam specialises in personal finance protection and cashflow modelling for retirement.
In his spare time, Sam enjoys cycling, DIY and has recently taken up golf
Financial Qualifications
DipPFS – Diploma in Financial Planning
CII (MP) – Certificate in Mortgage Practice
Deborah Scaife
Practice Manager
Deborah graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2005 with BA Honours and started in financial services in 2006 as a Mortgage Adviser before joining Brooke Financial in 2008 as Practice Manager. In her spare time Deborah enjoys spending time with her daughter along with cooking for friends and family.
Financial Qualifications
Cert CII (MP) – Certificate in Mortgage Practice
Chris Townson
Mortgage Protection & Equity Release Broker
Chris lives in Bingley and is a Mortgage and Protection Broker with over 25 years experience in financial services. Chris joined Brooke Financial in 2020 having previously worked for Vitality Life, UK Asset Resolution and Bradford & Bingley.
In his spare time, Chris enjoys DIY, watching and playing many sports and is a keen follower of his local team Bradford City FC.
Financial Qualifications
FPC – Financial Planning Certificate
CeMAP – Certificate in Mortgage Advice & Practice
CeRER – Certificate in Regulated Equity Release
Claire Smith
Pensions & Investments Administrator
Claire, has lived locally for the past 30 years, having moved north from Derbyshire. She’s based in our Ilkley office.
Claire works within the pensions and investment administration team and has worked with several financial planning practices over the last 20 years before joining Brooke Financial in 2017.
She speaks fluent French and German, enjoys travelling and tennis.
Meenal Gohri
Mortgage & Protection Broker
Meenal originates from India and moved to the UK in 1996. Prior to joining Brooke Financial in 2019 as a Mortgage & Protection Broker, Meenal spent 8 years working in insurance.
Meenal loves travelling, following the cricket and any good challenge!
Financial Qualifications:
CeMAP – Certificate in Mortgage Advice & Practice
Jacob Allison
Mortgage & Protection Administrator
Jacob is a graduate of Durham University and started with Brooke Financial in 2021 as a Mortgage & Protection Administrator. Prior to joining, Jacob gained valuable experience working in administration for a specialist finance broker in which time he gained his mortgage qualification.
In his spare time Jacob enjoys playing football, cricket as well as other sports and is a keen follower of his local team Bradford City FC.
Financial qualifications:
CeMAP – Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice
Kate Clifford
Mortgage & Protection Administrator
Kate has lived in Leeds for 38 years and has been in Financial Services for the past 14 of them. Before joining our team she worked as a Sales Ledger / Credit controller within the Financial Industry.
Kate joined the Brooke Financial team in 2015, working closely with Meenal and James to process mortgages through to completion, and specialising in protection for all advisors.
In her spare time she likes to have fun with her children, cooking, travelling, and going for long walks.
Danielle Drysdale
Pensions & Investments Administrator
Danielle joined Brooke Financial early in 2019 and is responsible for the Wealth proposition dealing with investments and pensions working closely with our Advisors. Previously, Danielle worked in various roles in the Financial Services industry since 2000 with a short career break between 2012 and 2018 where she ran her own business and engaged in voluntary activities.
In her free time Danielle enjoys meeting her friends for afternoon tea and planning her next travelling adventure.
Brian Beatson
Customer Consultant & General Insurance Broker
Originally from Liverpool, Brian graduated from the university of Lincoln and has lived in Yorkshire for over 27 years. Brian is part of the Ilkley team and specialises in General Insurance brokering. He also provides support to our Yorkshire Building Society Agency customers. Prior to joining Brooke Financial, Brian had worked in a number of financial services roles over 20 years. Outside of work Brian is a keen walker and loves studying languages.
Felicity Swale
Business Manager
Felicity originates from Ilkley and manages the daily running of the Ilkley Agency, working closely with our Pudsey office to ensure the business runs smoothly. She leads our Ilkley team and works to develop close relationships with other local businesses, organisations and within the local community.
Prior to joining Brooke Financial in 2020, Felicity has worked within retail management for over 11 years.
She enjoys travelling and exploring new cities.