Meet the Team
Neil Bartlett FNAEA CPEA MARLA
Managing Director
Neil joined the firm in 1998 as an apprentice following work experience and his professional attitude and hard work soon elevated him through the ranks to become a Partner in September 2011. Throughout his time with the company he has gained his Certificate of Practice in Residential Estate Agency and NVQ Levels II and III whilst also achieving the highly regarded Fellowship of the National Association of Estate Agents when he was 25, the youngest eligible age. Neil has also passed the Technical Award in Residential Lettings and Property Management and is a member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). A proud Torquay boy born and bred, Neil has extensive knowledge of the areas we cover and a true passion for the profession.
Paul Leaver MNAEA
Director
Paul joined the firm at the start of 2015 and brings a wealth of experience, having been a household name in the local property market since starting his career at GA Property Services in 1992. He moved to Waycotts in 1995 where he progressed through the ranks to become an Associate Director, before joining Torbay Council in 2010 to work in a variety of roles involving housing and community safety. Throughout his career so far, Paul has achieved his NVQ Level III in Residential Property and Level 3 award in Domestic Energy Assessment through the National Association of Estate Agents of which he is a member. A Torquay boy born and bred with his roots firmly in the bay, Paul is a true professional with encyclopedic knowledge of both people and places.
Gemma Bartlett
Director
Gemma is Neil’s better half, and instrumental in the growth of the company throughout their gradual taking over the firm from John & Eve. Studying privately to gain the acclaimed AAT Qualifications, Gemma keeps a trained eye on the accounts side of the businesses and human resources. In addition to her long-term role at the firm, Gemma worked at HMRC as a Revenue Officer for seven years, then joining the Lloyds Banking Group, and on to a highly regarded independent accountancy practice in Torbay. A busy mum to two beautiful children, Gemma takes exceptional multi-tasking to a different level!
Steven Russell MARLA
Lettings Manager
Steven earned promotion to Lettings Manager in 2020 following his six years’ dedication and hard work, achieving valuable experience since joining our busy department in March 2014. Before entering lettings, Steven worked for a 40 office strong telecommunications company and brought extensive knowledge of accounts, payroll, bookkeeping and IT. Steven is a Member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and has passed his Certificate of Practice in Residential Lettings and Property Management, which reinforces his commitment to standards within our industry.
Jessica Magill MNAEA
Sales Manager
Born and bred in Torquay, Jess joined the John Lake family in March 2019, taking her first steps into estate agency. Following her education at a local sixth form, she began her career in the hospitality industry, working front of house for one of Torquay’s long-established hotels, where she developed the exceptional communication skills and warm, approachable manner for which she is known. Since joining John Lake, Jess has progressed from trainee to Sales Manager, earning an outstanding reputation for her professionalism, enthusiasm, and genuine commitment to helping clients through every stage of their move. Her dedication to continual professional development saw her achieve the Propertymark Level 3 Award in Residential Property Sales, becoming a Member of NAEA Propertymark. Leading our sales team with passion, integrity and attention to detail, Jess combines outstanding local knowledge with a calm, caring approach, delivering the exceptional standards of customer service and professional advice that have been at the heart of John Lake since 1978.
Justina Stanway MNAEA
Sales Valuer / Negotiator
Having been a household name in the local property market since moving to Paignton in 1993, Justina joined the John Lake family in May 2023. Commencing her career at PSG preparing local authority searches for solicitors, Justina took some time out to start a family, before qualifying as a Domestic Energy Assessor in 2007 and starting her own business producing energy reports and Home Information Packs. Following the withdrawal of the HIPS in 2010, it was an obvious move into agency as a Negotiator for the long established Barbets in Paignton, where she was appointed as a director in 2017. Justina has also achieved the NVQ Level 3 in ‘The Sale of Residential Property’ through the National Association of Estate Agents and Propertymark, of which she is a member.
Carolyn Axtell
Sales Administrator
Carolyn joined the firm in 2001 and is the linchpin of the company, solely office-based with a relentless task of making sure the rest of the team are working efficiently. Usually the first port of call when contacting our office, Carolyn deals with all the office administration from booking appointments to creating brochures and marketing material – without these instrumental components none of the team could conduct their jobs professionally.
Rachel Lee
Lettings Administrator
Rachel joined our busy letting team in May 2024, bringing with her a broad depth and knowledge of the local residential property market. Starting her property career in 2006 in the Devon office of a large national house builder, Barrett Homes, Rachel relocated to Surrey with a family-run agency specialising in residential sales and lettings. Moving back to Exeter in 2017, Rachel joined a national franchise letting office before taking an opportunity to join a new independent Torquay agency as their office manager, becoming instrumental in driving significant growth of the business for five years. With the owner planning to close the business and move counties, Rachel took a role with a large South Hams-based practice in their Professional Services Department, but missed being front of house in a busy sales and letting office. Rachel’s enthusiasm is infectious, and has seamlessly settled into life at John Lake.
Shirley Grove MARLA
Accounts Administrator
Shirley brings a wealth of knowledge to the John Lake team, having worked in the professional lettings industry locally since 1996. She joined us in October 2025 to lead our Accounts Department, where her extensive experience and attention to detail are invaluable. Originally from Yorkshire, Shirley moved south during her youth, living in Essex and Cheltenham before settling in Newton Abbot in the early 1980s where she has remained ever since. Over her 30-year career, she has witnessed and adapted to many changes in the lettings industry, further strengthening her expertise by gaining professional qualifications through our governing body, ARLA, part of the wider Propertymark of which she became a proud member having successfully achieved her exams. Known for her keen eye for detail and sharp sense of humour, Shirley brings both professionalism and warming personality to her role.
Toby Leaver
Sales Negotiator
Toby joined the sales team in December 2024 as a trainee, following exemplary academic achievements at Torquay Academy and now studying toward his Propertymark professional qualifications. Facing a tough decision whether to further his education at university, join the Police, or enter the property industry, it was the excitement of sales which enticed him alongside the ability to gain vocational qualifications, and of course dealing with people less criminal minded! A Torquinian born and raised, Toby comes from a generational Torquay family and follows his father’s footsteps into estate agency, although forging his own successful path.
George Sage MARLA
Lettings Negotiator
George is Torquay born and bred, having been educated and raised in the Bay. He joined our busy Lettings office in August 2023 as an apprentice, having already commenced the first year of a vocational business qualification. Since successfully completing his business qualification with us, George has gone on to achieve the Propertymark Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency and is now a Member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA Propertymark), demonstrating his commitment to professional development and the highest standards within the residential lettings industry.
Enthusiastic, approachable, and eager to learn, George has established himself as a valued member of the team. He undertakes a broad range of client facing and administrative responsibilities, providing knowledgeable and professional support to landlords, tenants, and colleagues alike.
Sue Johnson
Lettings Administrator
Sue was educated in Torquay, having moved from the Midlands with her family. She began her career in insurance before moving into the hotel and leisure sector, holding management roles at a renowned local hotel and later a waterside bar and restaurant.
Entering the property sector in 2013, Sue spent almost a decade as Office Manager and PA to the Director of a local commercial estate agency. She later broadened her financial experience in credit control whilst privately studying towards her AAT qualification in Bookkeeping.
Sue first joined our lettings team in June 2024, heading our accounts department, and following a year away returned in September 2026 to head our lettings administration. She brings extensive property, administrative and accounts experience, together with a keen eye for detail, warm personality and wicked sense of humour!
Abi Pritchard MARLA
Administration Consultant
Abi joined our thriving Lettings Department in August 2025, quickly becoming a valued member of the team through her work across administration, legal compliance and property viewings. Demonstrating her commitment to professional development, Abi achieved the Propertymark Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency in July 2026 and became a Member of ARLA Propertymark.
Following her family’s move to Scotland in September 2026, and not wishing to lose such a valued team member, Abi transitioned to supporting our Sales Department remotely on a self-employed basis, primarily assisting with sale progression and client management. Originally from Salisbury, Abi graduated with an MA in English Literature from the University of St Andrews.
She subsequently built a varied career in London across public relations, events and hospitality, before relocating to Torquay in 2020. With her bubbly personality, passion for property and wealth of customer-focused business experience, Abi remains a highly valued member of the John Lake team.
Darren Bartlett
Lettings Consultant
Darren provides our letting department with a broad depth of construction knowledge and management expertise on a consultancy role. Darren was previously a contracts manager for a large environmental specialist firm handling remediation solutions to the development, industrial, commercial and public sectors, working for them for eleven years and covering the whole of England. As a Torquinian born and raised, Darren took a lifestyle choice to change career path and enable him to spend more time in the Westcountry with less travel away from home. Darren primarily assists our lettings team with property inspections, condition reports and maintenance issues.
John Lake FNAEA FNAVA
Consultant
Having been brought up in Devon’s Exe Valley, John entered the profession in 1968 as an articled pupil with a large firm of auctioneers and valuers in Bristol where he progressed to establish a new office in Bath for the company before returning to Devon with his family in 1974. After furthering his career for 4 years with a local independent firm in Torquay, John started his own partnership in 1978 and was a Fellow of both the National Association of Estate Agents and National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers. Although John officially retired in March 2019, he remains on hand in an advisory capacity, providing invaluable experience amassed over 45 years in Torquay. An exceptional agent, and a true gentleman!