Meet The Board

Kerry Wheelwright-Lee

Community and Voluntary Sector

Kerry’s background is in events management, tourism, placemaking and the regeneration of towns and places. She has a passion for connecting people to places and is especially keen to contribute her skills to ensure Todmorden offers a thriving events calendar, is an active cultural hub and creates new and better opportunities for young people.

Kerry is driven by the ambition to make sure Todmorden is a place where her nephew, aged 3, and all the town’s children can grow up feeling safe, with plenty of opportunities, aspirations and where they can embrace arts, culture and community spirit. She is particularly motivated by the opportunity for the Town Deal to support the town in developing sufficient infrastructure to enable cultural growth.

“I joined the Board because I think the Town Deal money could have a really positive impact on Todmorden, ensuring that it thrives and flourishes and becomes a place that truly represents the people who live, work and visit here. There is already such a great foundation in Todmorden for continued positive growth, and I’m committed to using my skills, ideas and experience to build on this potential for the town’s future.”

Esther Ferry-Kennington

Community and Voluntary Sector

Esther has lived in Todmorden for the last ten years and loves the town. She has two children and is driven by the ambition for Todmorden to be a safer place for all children, and somewhere they are proud to say they are from.

Esther is an experienced event manager and arts director. With these skills, she has a particular interest in contributing as a Board member to how the town centre can be developed to support and facilitate Todmorden’s thriving events calendar. Esther co-founded Todmorden Folk Festival, now in its 8th year, and is also Chair of the committee which looks after Todmorden Unitarian Church.

“I’m excited to play a role as a Board member in how we can make the spaces that exist work better to welcome even more people and events. For Todmorden, the Town Deal can make places for communities to share time, space and events, and honour the fantastic voluntary contribution which is made in this town and really make a town fit for the 21st Century.”

Tony Lawson

Private Sector

Tony has a doctorate in engineering and is a fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. He has held senior business leadership roles for over 15 years and is currently engineering director at Weir Minerals Europe based in Todmorden.

“I live locally, have a passion for the outdoors and have three young children at school in Todmorden.

“I joined the board to help create a better future for Todmorden and see the fund as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive change.”

Rupert Corbett

Private Sector

Rupert is an e-commerce professional who has lived in Todmorden since 2018. He is committed to serving the Board to help maximise the impact for residents and businesses of this once-in-a-generation Town Deal investment. Rupert is keen to support engagement, communications and advocacy as part of his role.

“I have two young children and think Todmorden is a great place for us to live, and for them to grow up. I joined the Board to help realise the excellent benefits Todmorden will see from The Towns Fund.”

Keith Brealey

Private Sector

Keith moved to Todmorden two years ago and has lived in West Yorkshire for almost 20 years. He brings skill and experience to the Board from a 30-year career in the private sector and currently works for a B-Corp, biodiverse food and beverage company, who promote food that is good for people and biodiversity.

Keith’s motivation to contribute to the work of the Board is rooted in a passion for working collaboratively with others.

“I wanted to join the Board to encourage active engagement with Todmorden communities and to improve opportunities and services for the benefit of current and future residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

Stephen Curry

Private Sector

BOARD MEMBER: JULY 2020 – NOVEMBER 2022

Stephen has lived in the Upper Calder Valley for 20 years running a hospitality business and has been active in various community groups in both Todmorden and Hebden Bridge. As Chair of Upper Calder Valley Renaissance, he’s been involved in local initiatives including: flood research, business support, visitor economy, asset transfers and the revival of a local sports facility.

“This fund is a unique opportunity to revitalise the town, it allows us to draw on the many consultations which have taken place.

“It’s a challenge to local authorities, to facilitate meaningful collaboration with resident expertise, to create a townscape with facilities designated by local people. Strategic collaboration will establish the town as a place, distinct from the wider identity often imposed on it. But we also have to improve its physical and economic connectivity with the economies of the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire, Lancs. and Greater Manchester.

“We have to use this opportunity to attract additional inward investment to develop a sustainable economy with facilities for the community, businesses, and visitors. And we must provide skills development and training opportunities for all.”

Frankie Mullen

Community & Voluntary Sector

BOARD MEMBER: JULY 2020 – MAY 2022

Frankie is a regeneration and placemaking consultant with over twenty years’ experience across the UK.

She brings strategic, creative and operational expertise to support local authorities, social enterprises / SMEs, town centre management, community/voluntary organisations, and Higher Education institutions and networks.

She is a participation, engagement and communications specialist and an experienced project manager.

Frankie sits on the Todconnect committee, the local business network for Todmorden.

Barbara Jones

Community & Voluntary Sector

BOARD MEMBER: JULY 2020 – NOVEMBER 2021

Barbara has run her own business in Todmorden since 1989, initially a women’s roofing and building company (Amazon Nails) now Straw Works (Architects) and since 2014 also the School of Natural Building through which she has designed & helped build 2-300 affordable & healthy buildings.

She is the author of ‘Building with Straw Bales’ and is currently working with four other EU countries on an Interreg funded project to increase the number of public buildings made of straw (Up Straw), writing Building Regs for straw buildings, and finalist in Design competition for Homes 2030. She is also working with EcoCocon straw panels as a way of bringing affordable healthy housing to a wider audience.

Founder member of the Alliance of Sustainable Building Products, member of the Building Limes Forum and the Association of Environment Conscious Builders. Woman of Outstanding Achievement Award (UKRC) Lifetime Achievement Award (Women in Construction). Board member of Todmorden Learning Centre. Worked with the Sisterhood & After project with British Library on my work in the Women’s Liberation Movement and promoting lesbian awareness.

“I volunteered for the Todmorden Town Deal Board as I want to focus more on using my skills and experience nearer home. I have a lifetime of experience designing healthy zero carbon buildings and understand the wider connections between people and design, I work with diverse groups of people, teaching and sharing knowledge, and helping projects to come to fruition.

“I am committed to my home town, set up the famous Todmorden women’s disco in 1995, have wide networks and work well in groups. I want to see the Todmorden Town Deal Board bring people together and make positive and lasting change happen for Todmorden.”

Tim Benjamin

Private Sector

BOARD MEMBER: JULY 2020 – OCTOBER 2022

Tim is well known locally as a composer, particularly for his operas, which have toured the nation but have also appeared to popular acclaim at our very own Hippodrome.

He is also a technology entrepreneur, having founded and exited a successful tech start-up in the early 2000’s, and has worked with other start-ups since, in the fields of e-learning, publishing, and fintech. Furthermore, he’s a film and stage director.

He bridges the worlds of music, film, and technology in his work as a public speaker (he gave a TED talk on inspiration) and role as Chief Storyteller at Infinity Works, one of the country’s leading technology consultancies.

He serves as a trustee for an opera company and, in his spare time, he is a keen mountaineer.

Cllr Susan Press

CMBC Member

BOARD MEMBER: JULY 2020 – APRIL 2022

Susan was elected Ward Councillor for Todmorden in 2014 and lives in Shade.

Born in Manchester where she worked as a journalist, she moved to Calderdale in 1996.

She was Chair of the previous Todmorden Development Board and currently chairs the Town Hall Working Group which is overseeing the restoration of our flagship Grade 1 listed building with funding from CMBC.

A Director of the Old Library community hub in Cornholme, Susan also volunteers at two food banks in Todmorden and at the Overgate Hospice shop on Halifax Road.

She is delighted that the new Town Board is able to build on the many projects and ideas that local people have contributed over the years and help build a better future for Todmorden.

“This is a real opportunity for all of us to work together and do the best we can not just for the town but for the generations to come.”

Helen Brundell

CMBC Member

Helen is a new Calderdale Councillor representing Todmorden and her profile will be added here soon.

Amanda Bloxsome

Community & Voluntary Sector

Amanda Bloxsome and her family (two generations) moved to Todmorden a couple of years ago. Amanda and her family were attracted to Todmorden for many reasons, its access to beautiful countryside, its links to the historical past, the hustle and bustle of the market, the train links to the business world, and of course the warm and welcoming community.

Amanda currently works in the public sector in her role she, brings together partners and communities and campaigns for cultural change, championing vulnerable groups of people. Amanda has historically worked in the third sector and housing, specialising in homelessness work.

Amanda says she can see Todmorden blossoming further into a town that has a thriving infrastructure, where our children can become the best they can be, where people from all walks of life aspire to live, with alternative bustling industries and retail offers, and where people desire to develop businesses and their careers and where people enjoy their leisure time and holidays.

Amanda stated that she feels really fortunate to be able to help to support the town with their ambitions within Todmorden Town Deal Board.

Denis Skelton

Todmorden Town Council

Denis has lived in Todmorden for over twenty years and has a background in managing social housing and support for people in housing need.

He has been a member of Todmorden Town Council since first being elected in 2015 and put himself forward as a representative of the Council on the Town Deal Board because he is keen to help promote and support improvements in the Town and surrounding area.

He has been particularly keen to promote initiatives that the Town Council have supported such as a new Wheels Park and Festive Lights.

“I support the many exciting new projects for the town which will provide environmental and physical improvements as well as increasing local employment and job opportunities.”

Craig Whittaker MP

Member of Parliament

Craig is a board member and has been involved with Todmorden for almost 30 years, where he lived for a time.

He has since served Todmorden and of the whole Calder Valley, first as a Councillor on Calderdale MB Council between 2003 & 2004, then again, between 2007 and 2011. He became the Member of Parliament in 2010 and is currently serving his fourth term.

“It was an absolute pleasure being able to secure the Town’s Fund of £25m for the rejuvenation of Todmorden from Government last year and I look forward to contributing to the board so that Todmorden’s future sustainability and resilience is supported through great projects enabled by investment of this money.”

Pam Warhurst CBE

Private Sector – Chair

Pam has lived in Todmorden for the past 40 years.

Over her career she has chaired a health food coop in the town, was the leader of Calderdale Council, chair of the local hospital trust and chaired and been a board member of national regional and local bodies including Yorkshire Forward and the Forestry Commission.

In 2008 she co-found Incredible Edible which went on to become a beacon internationally for grass root action around food and self-motivation.

“Todmorden is my home. It is where I brought up my daughter and where she in turn ran businesses in the town.

“The Deal is a huge opportunity for us all to see the sort of investment in the town that can create opportunity for enterprise to flourish and put Todmorden again on the map as a healthy happy place to live and play.”

James Duffy

Community & Voluntary Sector

James was born in Todmorden in 1965 and has lived in the town for most of his life. He has a background in cognitive and social science and has worked in academic research and teaching, community advice work, and health informatics.

Before giving up office work and commuting in 2016 he was a manager of national-level projects at NHS Digital in Leeds. Since then he has become active in community enterprises, including the campaign to save and restore the bandstand in Centre Vale Park. He is a keen musician, climber, and cyclist.

“I joined the Town Deal Board because I wanted to help make the most of the opportunity offered by the Towns Fund. Todmorden has always been my home and I would love to see us all benefit from projects that will make the town a better place to live and work.”

Amna Nisah

Community & Voluntary Sector

Amna’s home is in Todmorden and she is currently studying politics and social policy at Glasgow University. Amna joined the board in 2022.

“I’m ambitious to represent younger people living in Todmorden and ensure we can benefit from The Deal as much as possible. It is a huge opportunity, and I am very excited to work alongside others who are also passionate about creating a more productive, forward-thinking Todmorden that future generations can enjoy.

“Whilst the scale of the projects will be a great learning experience for me. I believe I can bring a unique youthful perspective to those projects and encourage the inclusion of young people across the town deal. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I will work with colleagues to bring the citizens of Todmorden along with us on this incredible journey!

“Initially my interest in the board was purely curiosity, but the more I read about the projects the Board were proposing, I realised the ethos of the board aligned with my own personal beliefs. From then I decided that I wanted to play an active role in the future of Todmorden with others who are like-minded.”

Gareth Marshall

Community & Voluntary Sector

Gareth is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and is currently Head of Operations at Siemens E-Mobility, a business focused on the electrification of transportation infrastructure and the transition to a sustainable low carbon economy.

After growing up in Todmorden, he spent a decade away for study, world travel and work; eventually settling back in the town with his young family in 2012.

He enjoys many outdoor pursuits, including walking, cycling and golf, and has a keen interest in language learning.

“The success of the Town Deal bid gives Todmorden a unique opportunity to become an even better place to be for all its residents and visitors. Drawing on a wealth of experience successfully delivering projects in the public and private sectors, my appointment to the Town Deal board will play a part in ensuring that we make the most of this opportunity, using it as a catalyst for further sustainable regeneration of the town over the longer term”.

Cllr Silvia Dacre

CMBC Member

Silvia has lived in Todmorden for over 20 years.

She has been a Ward Councillor for Todmorden since May 2019 and a cabinet Member for Resources since August 2020.

In being a member of the new board, she wants to help in presenting a successful bid for the Towns Fund money in order to capitalise on Todmorden’s resilience, innovation, creativity, and community spirit to build a sustainable future for the benefit of existing residents and also to attract new residents and visitors.

Rebecca Greenwood

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Rebecca is a housing and regeneration policy officer for West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The Combined Authority work in partnership with local councils and businesses to ensure that everyone in our region benefits from a strong, successful economy and a modern, accessible transport network.

Working with the Todmorden Town Board, Rebecca supports the board in aligning the ambitions and vision for Todmorden with the wider region.

Andrew Kim

Community & Voluntary Sector

Andrew is a puppet maker, performer, and the director of Thingumajig Theatre whose puppets have performed throughout the UK and 15 other countries.

He is the founder and former director of Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade and Todmorden Lamplighter Festival.

He is a Todmorden resident and keen to help support the growth of community organisations, independent businesses and locally-made arts and culture.

Meet The Board

Meet The Board

Pam Warhurst CBE

Tony Lawson

Keith Brealey

Rupert Corbett

Gareth Marshall

Amna Nisah

Kerry Wheelwright-Lee

Esther Ferry-Kennington

Cllr Silvia Dacre

Cllr Helen Brundell

Denis Skelton

Craig Whittaker MP

Rebecca Greenwood

Vacancy TBA

Vacancy TBA

Past Members

James Duffy

Andrew Kim

Amanda Bloxsome

Stephen Curry

Tim Benjamin

Frankie Mullen

Barbara Jones

Susan Press

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