DIRECTORS

Colin is a retired consultant physician who worked at Pontefract General Infirmary for 32 years and held senior medical management positions with the Mid Yorkshire Trust for 20 years, at both clinical directorate and trust board level during an era of rapidly changing medical and management culture.

Well-known and well-networked in the area, he served on the governing bodies of two local schools for 15 years. Since retirement he has become actively involved in several community groups as well as Pontefract Heritage Partnership: Chair of Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens, member of Pontefract Civic Society Executive Committee, Chair of Pontefract in Bloom and Vice Chair of Friends of Pontefract Park.

Alan was educated at Normanton Grammar School in West Yorkshire, and at Newcastle upon Tyne University. He has a degree in Politics and Economics. He lives in Pontefract and has a passion to see the town’s rich heritage play a major part in its future regeneration.

For the past 20 years he has worked in the field of community regeneration, particularly serving the former coal mining areas of Yorkshire. He worked for Wakefield Council as community development officer on the SESKU regeneration scheme, before taking up the role of Yorkshire Regional Manager for the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, where he and his team raised in the region of £14million for projects in former mining communities across Yorkshire. He has been Chief Executive at North Doncaster Development Trust, and also spent two years as Pontefract’s Heritage Development Officer and successfully drove the partnership arrangement with Wakefield Council to secure a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund – the Townscape Heritage Initiative. He currently manages a community anchor in Wakefield.

Local entrepreneur Heather Copley is the founder of Farmer Copley’s Farm Shop. The enterprise employs 47 staff and turns over £2 million. She is a multi-award winner and seen as setting the standard for the industry, is a regular conference speaker, and judges nationally.

The business has strong links with the community via the shop and numerous events held throughout the year, in particular the Pumpkin Festival and corn maze. Heather devises all the marketing and project management and this is the main area of expertise that she brings to PHP.

Alan Johnson is a Chartered Surveyor by Profession with 45 years experience in the construction and development industry and currently employed as Deputy Director of Estates and Facilities at the University of Huddersfield.

He is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He manages an annual maintenance/operational budget of c. £6.5m per annum and has been responsible for managing capital developments

Experienced local business woman Kim joined the board to make the dispensary and hermitage one of Pontefract’s must visit centres incorporating local business, generating work and protecting the heritage of the town. Kim currently owns Pomfret Bridal Gowns and is a member of the Pontefract Town Centre Partnership.