Our Team
The leadership team and staff would love to meet you and chat about any questions you might have.
Elders
Joseph Pettitt
Minister
Joseph has been the minister of Holywell church since 2009. He previously lived in Hemel Hempstead and didn’t know where Loughborough was! Joseph became a Christian in his late teens. He spent several years working as a secondary school teacher but became convinced that God was leading him to give his time more fully to telling people the good news of Jesus Christ. As a result, he studied at London Seminary and worked as an Assistant Minister in Hayes. He then became minister of Holywell and moved to Loughborough. Joseph is married to Lou and they have three children.
Alastair Mitchell
Elder
Alastair grew up at Holywell and became a Christian as a teenager. After moving away to university in Leeds and living in various places including Japan and the USA, he returned to Loughborough and Holywell in 2015, and became an elder in 2017. He works as an engineer and has spent his career developing diesel engines and earthmoving machines. Alastair is married to Miyuki, and they have one son. In his spare time, he likes to be out in the hills or on his bicycle.
Paul Mizen
Elder
Paul was born in Coventry, but attended school in Colchester and became a Christian when he was a teenager. After studying for a degree, he moved to Loughborough where he has attended Holywell church since 1989. Shortly after completing his doctoral studies, he began working at the University of Nottingham in the School of Economics. Paul is married to Maricar, and they have two children. Paul likes walking, reading, and avidly watches rugby and cricket.
Peter Thackeray
Elder
Peter was born and brought up in Barrow-in-Furness and became a Christian in his teens. Although not from a Christian home, Christian school friends encouraged him to come and hear the Gospel and he was eventually converted. After university, a 34-year career in banking took him to various places in the North of England. After early retirement he spent 16 years doing financial consultancy work for a company in the Volvo group. In 2008 he and his wife moved to East Leake and after the closure of the evangelical church in that village they started to attend Holywell. He is married to Jenny, and they have 2 married children. Peter is a member of the council of the Spanish Gospel Mission. In his spare time enjoys visiting Scotland whenever he can and is interested in the writing of John Buchan.
Deacons
Pieter Drijfhout
Deacon
Pieter was born in the Netherlands but moved to the UK in 2003. He became a Christian when he was a teenager before going to university in Keele and then to Glasgow to study physics and engineering. He is now a secondary school physics teacher and moved to Loughborough in 2020 when he joined Holywell. He is married to Katie and enjoys drinking great coffee whilst pottering around in his garden and workshop.
Neil Millwood
Deacon
Neil grew up in South Africa but moved to the UK for university. He works as a freelance engineer, specialising in welding. At Holywell he helps look after the church building and oversees the practical aspects of special church events, including baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Neil is married to Joanna, and they have two grown-up children. In his spare time, Neil likes walking and biking, as well as doing a lot of DIY!
Shaojun Xiao
Deacon
Xiao was born in Hubei, China, but moved to the UK in 1998 to start his Ph.D. at Huddersfield University. He moved down to Loughborough in 2012 to work at a tech company in Leicester as a software engineer. He became a Christian whilst attending Holywell and was baptized in 2018. At Holywell, Xiao is responsible for overseeing stewarding and other practical areas, both on Sundays, and at various midweek meetings. Xiao is married to Ivy Huang, and they have one grown-up daughter. He enjoys playing badminton, going on long walks, and studying the Bible with other Mandarin-speaking members of the church.
Philip Yemofio
Deacon
Philip was born in Accra, Ghana, but moved to the UK in 2006 to study for his GCSEs. He is still here! He moved to Loughborough to study chemical engineering at the University and is currently working in Nottingham as a process simulation engineer. At Holywell, he serves as a deacon overseeing all things tech. Philip is a sports enthusiast, particularly enjoying football and supporting Chelsea F.C. He also loves F1, UFC, and tennis. He is a passionate participant in the online premier league’s fantasy football game. He likes to run (when he gets out of bed and doesn’t break his back!). Philip is a big family guy, is married to Abigail, and they have two children.
Cristian Olaru
Deacon
Chris was born in Romania into a Christian family and made a personal decision to follow Christ in 1998. In 2016, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he now works as a store manager in a construction showroom. Chris is married to Cristina, and together they place great value on family life. They are blessed with four children. At Holywell, Chris serves as a deacon, overseeing ministry to people with various needs. He enjoys sports, reading, and spending quality time with his family.
Staff
Tom Ainge
Assistant Minister
Tom grew up in Coventry and became a Christian there around the age of 12. After university, he became an accountant and worked with a local firm in Coventry for many years. During that time, he began to preach and lead Bible studies at his church and gradually became convinced that God was calling him into full time Christian work. He studied with Union School of Theology in Wales and then moved to Loughborough with his family in 2025 to become Holywell’s Assistant Minister. Tom is married to Beks and they have one young daughter.
Suwan Wei
Operations Manager
Suwan grew up in China and now resides in the UK, where he has worked as a business advisor. He joined Holywell in 2010 and currently serves as our Operations Manager. In this role, he oversees the church finances, acts as our treasurer, and supports the elders as their PA, in addition to serving as a Deacon. Suwan is married and has three children. In his spare time, he enjoys sports and gardening.