Trustee information correct as of April 2023
Helen Boothman (Membership) worked with the RSPB for over seven years, was a volunteer and Trustee for Buglife for over eight years, and has been involved in marketing and fundraising consultancy with several other environmental charities. Helen was part of the original Great Ouse Working Group which submitted a proposal to Natural England for the area to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. She was one of the leaders of the Houghton & Wyton Neighbourhood Plan and has been involved in running the successful Houghton & Wyton community shop. Recently, Helen has been involved with setting up the Great Ouse Rivers Trust.
Graham Campbell (Chair) is an architect, urban designer and historic building advisor who has lived and worked in the Ouse Valley for more than 30 years. Since leaving full time practice he has fully committed to his passion for landscape and has been responsible for many projects aimed at enhancing or restoring urban and rural landscapes. He was previously a Councillor for Godmanchester Town Council.
Mark Ellis (Treasurer) is a Chartered Accountant with 40 years’ experience having set up and grown his own practice providing financial advice and assistance to small businesses and private individuals. Mark strongly believes we need to protect the Great Ouse Valley and its environs not just for ourselves but for our grandchildren and generations to follow. ‘It is a vital resource for all of us living here for our health and wellbeing’.
Bridget Flanagan has lived in Hemingford Abbots for 35 years, has served on and chaired the Parish Council, and is involved in many community activities including The Friends of St Margaret’s Church and The Friends of the Norris Museum. A retired teacher, she is a committed campaigner for conservation of the built and natural heritage. Bridget has written several books on local history. She hopes that by increasing people’s knowledge they will appreciate and enjoy their surroundings more – especially the precious landscape of the Great Ouse Valley.
Ian Jackson (Media) is a former Editorial Director for an international book production company. Since retirement he has been Chair of the Friends of Holt Island Nature Reserve, a Town Councillor and a former Town Mayor for St Ives. He set up and chaired the St Ives Dementia Friendly Community Group. He lives in the Great Ouse Valley and enjoys every aspect of living on the river.
Michael Jones is managing Director of LH Jones & Son, a marina on the Great Ouse in St Ives - a family business in its third generation of ownership, and believed to be England’s oldest inland marina. Founded in 1946 by Laurie Jones, the company recently celebrated its 75th anniversary and prides itself on its reputation for dedicated service and customer satisfaction. Michael brings a wealth of experience of recreational boating in the Ouse Valley to the Trust and naturally has a deep love and understanding of the river, and the challenges it now faces.
Michael Krause has worked in nature conservation for over 20 years, picking up a wide range of experience from his time at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Plantlife International and Fauna & Flora International, particularly in fundraising, finance and partnership building. His projects have included major initiative to restore peatlands, seabird conservation, nature reserve habitats and a charity partnership to protect 120 of England’s most threatened species - from wild flowers and mosses to butterflies, beetles and bats. With a fair knowledge of birds and moths, he’s determined to learn more about the rest of Great Ouse Valley’s wildlife.
Phil Rothwell has lived in the Great Ouse Valley for the last 31 years He led the Environment Agency team developing flood and coastal erosion risk policy across England and Wales. He worked on a number of campaigns for the RSPB. He was also Policy Director for the Conservation Volunteers and an environmental advisor to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. He is currently Chair of the Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, Chair of the Great Ouse Rivers Trust and a founder of the Rockingham Forest Lottery Heritage Fund project.
Lucas Tatek lives in Houghton and works for a global technology company. A keen runner, paddle boarder, walker and wild swimmer, he has 20 years’ experience as a project manager. He uses those skills, but equally his muddy boots, to assist and help the Trust in their efforts to protect, preserve and enhance this precious and unique environment, while at the same time increasing peoples’ appreciation of it.
Could you become a Trustee?
The Trust is searching for new volunteer Trustees to join our friendly team. We need help to develop a wider degree of expertise as we work to ensure the future of our precious landscape. We are looking for potential Trustees with an interest in any aspect of our work in nature conservation and landscape, but particularly those involved in farming or leisure and tourism. If you interested in hearing more about the Trust please call Graham Campbell on 07952 754763 for a chat.