A team of VOLUNTEERS
The Ilkley Manor House Trust is made up of local residents who came together because they cared about the building’s wellbeing and wanted to create a long-term plan for Ilkley Manor House as a community asset, following Bradford Council’s 2013 decision to close the House as a museum and art gallery.
For over 50 years, Friends of the Manor House helped with the running of the House, hosting tours and organising regular events. The Ilkley Manor House Trust emerged during 2017, initially managing the House with Bradford Council’s agreement, and formally took over in April 2018. The Friends continued to provide support for the Trust’s initial activities.
The Trustees are volunteers who are responsible for developing and managing Ilkley Manor House, along with any private events and public access on the site.
(Left to right: Jenna Holmes, Roger Tilbrook, Daisy Johnson, Rodney Brooke, Sarah Thomas, John Cockshott, Julia Richards)
President & Trustees
Sir Rodney Brooke CBE (President)
- President of Ilkley Manor House Trust
- Former Chief Executive of West Yorkshire County Council, Chief Executive of the West Yorkshire Police, Westminster Council and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities
- He has chaired many national bodies and the Chair of the Board of the West Yorkshire Playhouse
John Cockshott
- A solicitor
- 30 years of experience in the Building Society movement
- Former Chair of Friends of Ilkley Manor House 2002-2022
- Interests include Roman History
Julia Richards
- Currently a Learning and Development Consultant and Medical Herbalist
- Previously an Art and History secondary school teacher and HR manager
- Experience of working in public, private and third sectors across a range of industries in the UK and Australia. A member of the CIPD
- Interests in the arts and passionate about continuous learning, personal development and good health
Roger J Tilbrook MRICS
- Chartered Building Surveyor and Director of a successful private practice
- Specialist in Project Management with knowledge and experience in refurbishment and maintenance
- Proven track record of developing strategic master plans to deliver long term sustainable solutions
- Successful history of volunteering, fundraising and contributing to community projects in UK and abroad since 1984
Dr Clare Richardson-Barlow
- Lecturer in East Asian Studies at the University of Leeds, specialising in industrial decarbonisation and just transitions
- Co-chair of the Just Transitions Taskforce at the University of Leeds and member of the University’s Research Partnership Committee, both tasked with supporting the University of Leeds' climate transition strategy
- Holds a PhD from the University of Leeds with a background in political economy
- Over 15 years' experience in US-Asia policy, working in international policy research consulting and non-profit management across the Asia-Pacific region
- Deeply committed to community engagement and strategic development, leveraging a global perspective on cultural and environmental issues
Sarah Thomas (Chair)
- Chair of the Ilkley Manor House Trust
- Former NHS Director with specialist role in organisational and leadership development
- Former Chair of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations and Eastern Region Skills for Health Board
- Former Chair of Ilkley Arts 2015-2022
Daisy Johnson AssocRTPI, FIPM
- Head of Programmes at Historic England with expertise in Placemaking and Urban Regeneration
- Over 15 years' experience in community-led placemaking, regeneration, and project and programme management, with a focus on heritage, culture, and sustainability
- Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute, the professional body for planners in the UK and Ireland
- Fellow of the Institute of Place Management
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daisy-johnson
Elaine Toms
- Newly retired Professor of Information Innovation and Management and former teacher, indexer, librarian, and research chair
- Specialises in finding, presenting, using and evaluating digital information and data and has researched those topics in many areas from archival science to culture and environmental management
- Looks for creative solutions to difficult problems
- Passionate about art, traditional crafts, photography, walking and gardening
Rathi Tamilselvan
- Community Curator at Temple Newsam, Leeds, with experience in civic engagement, collections policies and procedures, and co-production in a museum and heritage context
- Developing, designing, and producing co-curated exhibitions and interventions and project management
- Developing contemporary and creative programmes involving artists and creators fostering belonging with diverse external and community partners through accessible and inclusive workshops
Dr Clare Richardson-Barlow
Elaine Toms
Rathi Tamilselvan
The Trust has brought the main House and Victorian cottages back into full use for the benefit of the local community, local creative businesses and visitors, working with a range of partners to create a vibrant heritage, arts, leisure and learning centre for Ilkley.
The Trust is continuing to explore the future development of the building to improve access and catering facilities, both of which will be essential to the future sustainability of Ilkley Manor House.
Read the Ilkley Manor House Trust Forward Plan 2023-2028
The Ilkley Manor House Trust is a registered charity: 1174051
