Our Team

Rebecca James - Managing Director

Rebecca (née Graven) is the 6th generation to be Managing Director of the Company. After leaving college, she joined Lloyds Bank in 1987 before joining the family business in July 1993. Rebecca ran the accounts department for the first four years and then took over the running of the operations up until 2000. She is still at the helm of the business but now balances work life with looking after her two children, Emily and Joshua.

Jonathan James - Operations Director

A local farmer's son, Jonathan has spent the majority of his working career in the fresh produce industry despite a brief spell working for Barclays Bank. He has been in Senior Management within a number of companies since 1988, mainly in the trading departments. Just prior to joining James Graven in January 2000, Jonathan was General Manager of a potato packing and exporting company based in Cambridgeshire. Since joining the company Jonathan has assumed a wider role at national level within the industry. He was the founding Chairman of the Budgens National Retailer Council and is the current Vice Chairman of the Association of Convenience Stores, as well as sitting on the ACS Independents Board.

Caroline Bosworth – Community Liaison and HR Manager

Caroline joined the company in June 2010 as the Community Liaison Manager. Having qualified as a member of in the Institute of Personnel and Development, she worked in industry in Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire with a focus on management development and psychometrics. More recently, Caroline has been involved with the local community as a Magistrate, Chair of the Citizen's Advice Bureau and volunteer at a youth charity. Caroline also has the HR portfolio at James Graven and is particularly keen on staff development.

Kate Bavester - Office and Compliance Manager

Kate is both the Office and compliance manager, which , in essence means that she has responsibility within the company for health and safety isues. Whilst site managers have day to day responsibility for H and S, Kate will answer any  queries and ensure that we comply with regulations for fuel and food retail. In her role as office manager, Kate also sets up the promotions and daily pricing updates and will answer IT queries too. Outside work, Kate is involved with the community in which she lives and is particularly involved in the organisation of the Soham carnival.

Viv Seymour - Accounts Manager

Viv joined the company in 2003 shortly after the Witchford Road, Ely site first opened and this - hard to believe though it is - is where the Head Office was originally located. Once the company had outgrown this space, the Head Office moved to Chatteris above the Slade End Forecourt. More recently Viv has become a part time employee and fills some of her spare time fundraising for Riding for the Disabled.

Rachel Earl - Payroll Manager

Rachel joined the company in 2002 when the Ely site opened. Prior to this, Rachel worked for Barclays Bank Plc in a number of branches and the Human Resources Team. Rachel is responsible for the company payroll and issuing employment contracts; she is part of the finance team.

Karl Mendham - Store Manager, Budgens, Dersingham

Karl worked for Budgens for 15 years before joining James Graven & Sons Ltd when they took over the Budgens store in Dersingham, in May 2007. Karl gained experience in all aspects of the business, starting as a baker on weekday mornings whilst still at school, and also worked part time for Blockbuster Entertainment. He was instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition of the store to new ownership in May 2007, and looks forward to developing close links with the community of Dersingham in the future.

Ken Lobley - Store Manager, Budgens, Soham

Ken has worked for James Graven's for the past 4 years. He has 35 years retail experience having worked for some well know brands such as MacDonalds and more recently Asda. Ken has a good understanding of local communities having owned and managed the local Post Office in Hall Street, Soham for some 15 years. He is now responsible for the day to day running of the Clay Street store in Soham.

Sarah Gray - Site Manager, BP Budgens, Ely

Sarah has worked for the company since 2002 - almost from day one that Ely opened. There are few jobs which Sarah hasn't done at Ely and is a much respected manager who has formed a brilliant team at the site. Sarah is responsible for the day to day running of the forecourt and ensures the team are well trained and happy.

Donna Smith- Site Manager, BP SPAR, Littleport

Donna joined the company as a cashier at Littleport when the site opened in November 2010. Recognising a real talent, she was rapidly promoted to shift manager and ultimately to Site Manager in April 2011. Prior to joinging the company, Donna had previously worked for the Government offices for trade and industry and as a shift / assistant manager for One Stop. Donna is responsible for the day to day running of the forecourt and is particularly looking forward to consolidating the Littleport team and providing opportunities for development for them.