To help you identify and get to know your committee we’ve written short introductions to ourselves and we’ll be adding photos shortly

Iain Durham – Chairman
I’ve been playing 40k with Vanguard since I moved back to Bristol in 2014. In those days mainly above the Old Duke and old BIG. I got involved with helping to run things in 2018 before getting voted in as Chair in 2021. I’ve been running our Vanquish event since 2019 after been subbed in as a last-minute replacement for the TO. I’m down for most club nights where you’ll find me with one of multiple 40k armies (Ad Mech, Custodes, Imperial Knights, Tau, Eldar, Votann, Blood Angels, Space Wolves) I’ve also got a small 30k Mechanicum contingent (fully painted) as well as force of Old World Bretonnians (very much not painted) and never played with Trench Crusade army, we don’t mention the Blood bowl team still in its unopened box or my Necromunda models. You’ll also find me championing Boarding actions but thankfully I can use my 40k models for that so it doesn’t need a new list of WIP models.
James Gibb – Treasurer
Hi, I’m James Gibb. I’ve been playing 40k since the early 1990’s – starting with a box of beakies painted as Blood Angels. I’ve been a member of Bristol Vanguard since 2019, and a committee member since 2021. As well as 40k, I also play Horus Heresy, Legiones Imperialis, and Aeronautica. I’m re-starting Blood Bowl after a 30 year hiatus and have been known to play AoS when Alex nags enough. I’ll happily play narrative, matched play and even boarding actions, and I’m one of the founding members of The League of James, when we play Team events. On the committee, I started as Secretary, before taking on the Treasurer role more recently. You’ll see me around at club nights at least once a month and I’ve been running our 30k events as well as Vae Victis and the member’s big game.
Chris Stout – Secretary
Hi I’m Chris. I’ve been playing 40k since the end of 5th edition. I’ve been a member of Bristol Vanguard since I moved to Bristol at the end of 2014. I was already aware of Vanguard from attending previous Vanquish and Spoils of War events so I knew there was an established 40k community. I currently play World Eaters (in their heresy white and blue colour scheme) and I have substantial Tyranids (red ones) and Grey Knights (metallic blue ones). Outside of 40k I’ve played a few 1-day MESBG events with my dwarves and Elves. I also have a skaven Blood bowl team and keep casting envious glances at Adeptus Titanicus and Old-World models and games. I’ve played most formats of 40k but I’m mainly interested in tournaments and Team events in particular. On the committee I’m the club secretary so do a lot of the behind-the-scenes admin work and do a lot on the merchandise. I also run Vanguardians Assemble event our annual and Bristol’s first 40k team’s event.
Josh Longden
Hi, my name is Josh. I have been playing wargames with Vanguard since moving to Bristol in 2010, and have been involved with the committee in various roles for most of that time. I mostly play 40k, but have dabbled in other systems and am currently trying to get back into heresy. I play a lot of RPGs, board games and other assorted geeky things. I am probably best known in the community as the organiser of our more narrative focused events and a champion and custodian of the club’s distinctive terrain.
Ray Mordy
Hi, I’m Ray Mordy. I’ve been playing Warhammer on and off since 2nd Edition — back when the mighty cardboard Ork Dreadnought roamed the tables. I first found the club at the old BIG just before COVID, and once lockdown lifted I jumped straight into volunteering to give something back to the community that had already given me so much. I’ve been on the committee for a few years now. I’m mostly known for two things: consistently finishing 4th at tournaments (to the point where my own event now has a dedicated 4th‑place trophy that I can never win), and owning a pile of shame so large it may soon qualify as its own faction. These days I mainly play 40k, though I’m dipping into 30k more and more, and I occasionally appear at Sigmar nights for a game of Spearhead. Over the years I’ve collected a fair few armies, Blood Angels, Ultramarines, Orks, Black Legion, Alpha Legion, Thousand Sons (40k and 30k), Necrons, and — when I feel like adding a bit of theatrical flair — Harlequins Aeldari force. This year I’m running another one‑day 40k RTT and bringing back the narrative Tempest event with custom missions. I’m also working behind the scenes on new ideas for club nights around the launch of 11th Edition. And personally, I’m determined to make a serious dent in my ever‑growing pile of shame — or at least reduce it to something that doesn’t require planning permission.
Alex Phimister
Hi, I’m Alex Phimister. I started in the hobby as a kid, drawn in by the Lord of the Rings, but soon bounced off for the usual reasons. I got back into 40k in the summer of 2021 with T’au. I moved to Bristol and joined Vanguard in early 2022, and played my first ever game not on a kitchen table against our very own James Gibb. Since then, as well as joining the committee in 2025, I’ve expanded my interests to the extent that I believe I can lay claim to having the broadest set of games in the committee; I have attended events for 40k, AoS, Kill Team, Blood Bowl, Titanicus, MESBG and Heresy in the last 3 years, and additionally have dabbled in Necromunda, Mordheim, Aeronautica and Frostgrave. My favourite is (for now) undoubtedly Age of Sigmar though, and since 4th edition launched in 2024, I have run monthly meetups to get beginners into the game. I also ran Vanguard’s first AoS event in November 2025. This year I’d love to get more Vanguard members into AoS and other non-40k games. I’m also running my first 40k event, Vae Victis 2026; which feels appropriate as it was both my first event and I was the 2024 champion. Generally, in the hobby my plan this year is to finish the army projects I am already working on, as well as expand into some non-GW games.
James Ross
Hi, I’m James Ross. I first started playing 40k in 2009 until I left for university in 2015. I made a return to painting minis in 2019 and started playing again in 2021 when I joined Bristol Vanguard. I joined the committee at the end of 2025. I am primarily a 40k player but I have played a little blood bowl, kill team, as well as a new foray into Horus heresy in 2026. I am still very new to the Vanguard committee but I am running a league for the first time this year and am looking forward to doing more in the future. I’ll be around on most Thursday nights with my Custodes or Ultramarines.