We are excited to introduce the 6 dedicated individuals running to join the existing Brontë Birthplace Committee. Each candidate brings a unique set of skills and experiences that will contribute to the future success of the Brontë Birthplace. Take a moment to learn about them before casting your vote.
I am a specialist teacher working within the local authority and employed to support students who have additional physical needs and attend mainstream schools.
I come with 30 years experience of working in Bradford schools including 10 years as a specialist peripatetic teacher.
I work within the wider educational support service alongside a team of specialist teachers across all areas of SEN and am passionate about equity and access for all our students.
I have been involved with the BB from its inception and have watched it grow from our initial door to door ‘register of interest’ forms and market day information stalls through to where we are today.
I feel that I would bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the BB management team.
The skills I bring to the committee…
I’ve been a volunteer since the soft-openings and enjoyed helping out wherever possible throughout the exciting times of this initial phase. I am a keen Brontë fan and know a lot about the history of the family. I also know many different people from a variety of Brontë groups both in the UK and abroad. I am impressed with the aims and objectives of the Brontë Birthplace Committee who have worked with integrity and tirelessly to get to the current position. If I can help in any way I feel it would be time well spent.
The skills I bring to the committee…
I am British but live in Holland. Last weekend I did the tour of the Bronte Birthplace. I was impressed by the passion of the people that work there and the tour was excellent. As a shareholder though, I wondered how large a demand there would be for the AirB&B rooms and, after the current hype of Bradford 2025, how we will sustain the number of visitors moving forward. As I am retired, I am a frequent visitor of museums as well as hotels. I have therefore experience in what works and doesn’t work – across many cultures. During my career in Shell, I was financially and commercially accountable for a business and in the last few years, as a Director of a Joint Venture in China, I had to set a scorecard to monitor the JV performance (including cashflow and growth) as well as ensure a good strategy with relevant controls were in place. I have also since retirement completed a course at a Dutch university to partner teachers – which enables me to also understand their (and the students!) needs.
I am applying to be a committee member as I believe in the mission of the Bronte Birthplace and that with my experience and relative distance from the community, I can support ensuring that it can sustain the momentum that has brought it this far.
Note – I have ticked the boxes below where I have relevant experience.
The skills I bring to the committee…
I hold an honours degree in History and have always had a genuine passion for heritage and storytelling. I spend much of my week here in Thornton and feel privileged to be part of the Brontë Birthplace team. As a volunteer, I lead the tours, welcome visitors, and share the fascinating stories of the Brontë family and this special house.
One of the things I enjoy most is meeting people from all over and helping them to connect with the Brontës’ legacy. It’s a real joy to see visitors leave with a deeper appreciation of both the family’s story and the place where it began.
Becoming part of the committee is an exciting opportunity for me to support the Birthplace in an even greater way. I am proud to contribute to its growth and success and to play a role in keeping this important piece of literary and local history alive for future generations.
The skills I bring to the committee…
I am originally from Thornton but now live over in Haworth and have had a long interest and passion for the Brontes and their story. Having spent my childhood passing the birthplace on the way to school I was totally astounded by what has been achieved there and how this has made such a valuable contribution to Thornton. I originally trained as a local newspaper reporter and have since worked in communications as well as writing my own blog. I would love to do some writing for the website and help with any communications activities if needed.
The skills I bring to the committee…
I was the first Chair of Brontë Birthplace Limited, organised the original share offer and did much of the fundraising (grant applications), together with another Committee Member. I want the Birthplace to be financially sustainable and I have skills to offer from my extensive experience in strategic and business management in a range of organisations, including multinational business, academia and charities. I am community focused and am Chair of Thornton in Bloom and support Thornton Open Gardens, as well as volunteering for the National Trust. I have had both executive and non-executive management experience and have been a committee member of an international board, as well as Chair of two charities plus the Brontë Birthplace itself. It has been great to see the Birthplace opening its doors to the public this year – the current Committee and the new General Manager and Education Officer have really done a fantastic job. The task now is to ensure that the business model is fit for purpose, enabling us to meet our objectives of supporting the historical, cultural, artistic, economic, social and health development of a broad range of communities within the Bradford District.
The skills I bring to the committee…