Trustee Profiles
Janet Johnson
I moved to Denby Dale 30 years ago, and our 3 children were born and brought up here – all keen users of the old library. I worked as a landscape architect, mostly for urban regeneration charities, and latterly as a Regional Fundraising Manager for a national charity before taking early retirement in Oct 2018. I am a keen gardener & veg grower, enjoy reading, researching our family history and walking – with or without dog! I volunteer in the Community Library on alternate Tuesday mornings.
Derek Lawrence
A native “Geordie” but have lived in and around Denby Dale for the past 25 years. I started to volunteer at the library after retirement from 50 years in various manufacturing industries. Now as a trustee I hope to help in ensuring the library and facilities will serve our community for many years to come.
Susan Daniels MA
Susan is a Denby Dale resident. She worked in education for over forty years: as a school teacher in England and Nigeria, including time as a school librarian, then as a teacher trainer at Bretton Hall College and finally at Leeds University.
Dr Neil Denby FHEA
I have lived and worked locally for the last 40 years, my children having attended our excellent local schools. Growing up, they benefited enormously from our local libraries and I see no reason why future generations should not also do so. Although social media has replaced many things, I still believe that there is nothing better than a good book (physical or electronic) for improving knowledge, understanding and skills of communication. As a trustee, I hope I can in some small way ensure that this essential service continues.
Tansy Hepton
One of our long-standing volunteers, member of various management teams, and minute taker, Tansy is now also a Trustee. She received the Mentor Award for 2017 from Kirklees library Service, having taken on a support and mentoring role with a young volunteer working towards a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.
Jonathan Milner
After working in and around the area for nearly 20 years as a Chartered Surveyor, I relocated to Denby Dale 10 years ago and opened a local estate agency in 2012. It’s now time to give back to my community. After becoming a member of the Denby Dale District Lions in 2014 I became a trustee of Denby Dale Community Library in early 2017. As a trustee, I hope to help the library achieve its potential as a valuable resource for our community, a resource that past generations have been fortunate to always have available.
Kate Tunstall
I have lived in Denby Dale for over 40 years and retired in 2010. When I heard about the proposed library closures, I joined the campaign group Friends Of Denby Dale Library in 2012. As I became aware of the extent of the swingeing cuts having to be made by Kirklees Council, I realised that using volunteers was a viable way to maintain a member of library staff at Denby Dale. I joined the Denby Dale Community Project and became a Trustee in 2015. I am joint Library Volunteer Coordinator with Linda Kitson.
Sarah Bennett
I started volunteering in the library over 5 years ago. I enjoy meeting local residents, sharing my love of books and local information/resources. I recently retired from a career in midwifery and have joined the Trustees to support the continued presence of the library in our community. I am committed to supporting new volunteers to join our team.
Jan Gault
Jan has lived in the village for 4 years, and has a daughter and grandchildren in Skelmanthorpe, and another daughter in London. She has had an interesting and varied career, in Yorkshire, London and Lincolnshire before retiring 8 years ago. Her proudest achievement was the development of one of the first ‘One Stop Shop’ practices on the east coast in Mablethorpe, where all NHS services are brought together under one roof. She worked there for 17 years until she retired in 2015. Jan has volunteered in the Kirkwood cafe since November, and has been the driving force behind the recent improvements to the window display at Denby Dale Post Office.