Staff
Becci MurrayOperations DirectorBecci has full responsibility for running the Trust, her main focus being the ‘people’ based services and delivery. This includes existing projects such as Here for You, the Food Bank and the Young Carers Group, as well as investigating new project opportunities for the benefit of the community.
Julie KennedyProject ManagerJulie is responsible for supporting the Operational Director, and leads on a variety of regeneration and developemnt projects.
Ian GuthrieFinance OfficerIan is responsible for the overseeing of all financial operations of the Trust and has additional responsibilities for the management of the William Elder Building.
Joanne DouglasSenior AdministratorJoanne is a member of the Here for You team delivering support and advice to customers with job searching activities. Joanne is also responsible for our IT support and leads on website, social media and marketing activity.
Sarah PontonFacilities & Administration AssistantSarah is responsible for organising bookings and setting up of our meeting and conference facilities. She also covers reception and supports the wider team with a variety of administration tasks.Freya HerriottDestination Marketing & Development OfficerFreya Herriott is born and bred Berwick upon Tweed. She has just completed a degree in Events Management at Leeds Beckett University and is our newly appointed Destination Marketing and Development Officer. She is responsible for all the website and social media content of VisitBerwick as well looking at work with festivals, events, local businesses, attractions and community groups in the area to develop Berwick upon Tweed as a go to visitor destination.
Linda WilsonOffice & Facilities CleanerLinda is a fundamental part of the Trust. She ensures that all offices, meeting spaces and facilities are cleaned and ready for business.
Becci Murray
Operations Director
Becci has full responsibility for running the Trust, her main focus being the ‘people’ based services and delivery. This includes existing projects such as Here for You, the Food Bank and the Young Carers Group, as well as investigating new project opportunities for the benefit of the community.
Julie Kennedy
Project Manager
Julie is responsible for supporting the Operational Director, and leads on a variety of regeneration and developemnt projects.
Ian Guthrie
Finance Officer
Ian is responsible for the overseeing of all financial operations of the Trust and has additional responsibilities for the management of the William Elder Building.
Joanne Douglas
Senior Administrator
Joanne is a member of the Here for You team delivering support and advice to customers with job searching activities. Joanne is also responsible for our IT support and leads on website, social media and marketing activity.
Sarah Ponton
Facilities & Administration Assistant
Sarah is responsible for organising bookings and setting up of our meeting and conference facilities. She also covers reception and supports the wider team with a variety of administration tasks.
Freya Herriott
Destination Marketing & Development Officer
Freya Herriott is born and bred Berwick upon Tweed. She has just completed a degree in Events Management at Leeds Beckett University and is our newly appointed Destination Marketing and Development Officer. She is responsible for all the website and social media content of VisitBerwick as well looking at work with festivals, events, local businesses, attractions and community groups in the area to develop Berwick upon Tweed as a go to visitor destination.
Linda Wilson
Office & Facilities Cleaner
Linda is a fundamental part of the Trust. She ensures that all offices, meeting spaces and facilities are cleaned and ready for business.
Board of Trustees
Alan BowlasTrusteeAlan is our longest standing Trustee and his career history involves some 30 years in management roles in sales, marketing and retail operations in the oil industry with ESSO -Cleveland and British Petroleum, now retired from full time employment is actively involved in the Town and is a former Town Councillor and currently the Mayor of Berwick-upon-Tweed and in 2008/9 was Sheriff with the old Berwick Borough Council. Currently Alan was a Board Member at Borders College and chair of the Audit committee having served for the maximum of two full terms. He continues in an advisory capacity to BC consultants the business arm of the College, is currently a Governor at the Community High School a position he has held for many years. Main outside interests time permitting are, collecting art, fly fishing, shooting, gardening and bowling as a member of Berwick Bowling Club.David HarperChairDavid joined the Trust in 2018. He qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and Chartered Town Planner and has held senior positions in the Public, Private and Consultancy Sectors specialising in the extractive, waste management and energy industries before establishing his own Planning, Property and Environmental Consultancy in 2012. He has also worked with the voluntary sector, having been a Director of Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN) an organisation responsible for the management and distribution of Landfill Tax Credits for charitable purposes. David is also a Justice of the Peace for Lothian and Borders.Colette HarperTrusteeColette is currently the Company Secretary for a small private Consultancy. Prior to this she worked in the Mortgage and Financial Services sector for a considerable number of years before returning to education as a mature student, obtaining a degree and becoming a teacher.
After living for 14 years in the Scottish Borders she moved to Berwick upon Tweed in 2018 when she joined the Board of Trustees. She brings a variety of experience particularly of dealing with people of all ages from all walks of life and believes that this and other transferable life skills are useful to the Trust in helping it to achieve its objectives.John FisherTrustee2017 John has worked for 30 years in Financial Services in the North of England, with a brief sojourn to London to work for the FSA following the financial crisis of 2008. He moved with his family to Berwick five years ago when he took the role as Commercial and Credit Risk Director for Tesco Bank, based in Edinburgh. The Community Trust is his first venture into the voluntary and charitable sector, except for previously acting as advisor to a credit union in Merseyside. Outside of work and a couple of children at school means his free time now tends to focus around U18 rugby, university open days and various transport duties, but when possible, he does have an abiding interest in history and antiques.Sally HolbornTrusteeSally retired in 2019 after spending 18 years working as the Finance & Facilities Manager at Sure Start Children's Centres North for Northumberland County Council. During this time she was heavily involved in the development of the Children's Centres in Berwick, Wooler, Alnwick, Seahouses, Rothbury and Hadston. She is a past member of the Institute of Management and the Association of Accountancy Technicians. Sally is a native of Berwick upon Tweed and joined as a Trustee in September 2019.Keith SisemanTrusteeKeith has been a trustee since 2016. He previously had a 30 year career in advertising supporting a number of familiar household brands. He sat on the London board of a major international agency and was a member of the institute of marketing. Keith has long standing ties with Berwick and has always viewed it as his spiritual home. He recognised that the Community Trust was a driving force for change in the town and wanted to use his marketing skills to it's benefit.David PurvisTrusteeDavid is a craftsman who has ran a stained glass design and manufacture business for 27 years, the last 20 in Spittal. He has taught classes in this field both privately and for the mental health charity Mind, has worked part-time as an adult education organiser and ran various projects for local organisations including Surestart. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2019, with particular interest in the food bank (as he had volunteered there for the previous few years, and worked in a soup kitchen in Bradford in the 90's).Mike CrawfordTrusteeMike grew up in Berwick and returned to live here in 2017. He works remotely for a research project at the University of Bristol. He has broad IT, data management and information security skills as well as accounting experience from his previous career. He has worked in the charitable and private sectors, as well as being a volunteer and trustee with charitable organisations in the past. Most recently he worked with the 'A Better Hospital for Berwick' campaign. He's a passionate believer in the town and its amazing spirit and feels it's important that everyone is included in any improvements.Daniel InglisTrusteeBorn and bred in Berwick upon Tweed, Dan is a successful local business owner sand joined the Trust in 2021.Catherine HandleyTrusteeOn arriving in Berwick eight years ago Catherine was very grateful for the support given by the Trust, and specifically by ‘Here for You’, as she looked for employment. She was lucky enough to spend her first summer working for the Tourist Information Centre, which gave her an invaluable insight into this fascinating town and its people. She now works in a senior school teaching ICT and supporting pupils with special educational needs, and is also a school governor at a local first school. In her spare time she manages and maintains a local charity’s website but also enjoys dragging her husband out for walks along the beautiful coastline and up and down mountains!Joan MontgomeryTrusteeJoan retired in 2019 from 40 years as a Primary Teacher and returned home to Berwick upon Tweed. Being married to an Army Officer (also now retired) their lives have been fairly nomadic. Evan having lived and worked in many beautiful places - Salisbury, Cambridge, Edinburgh and rural Perthshire, Berwick upon Tweed is where we decided to eventually settle as we both love the town. Joan is passionate about everything that Berwick upon Tweed has to offer and hopes her enthusiasm for the town will add a little something to the great mixture of Trustees. My other interests are walking our two dogs and I am also Steward of the Books by the Sea Little Free Library!
Alan Bowlas
Trustee
Alan is our longest standing Trustee and his career history involves some 30 years in management roles in sales, marketing and retail operations in the oil industry with ESSO -Cleveland and British Petroleum, now retired from full time employment is actively involved in the Town and is a former Town Councillor and currently the Mayor of Berwick-upon-Tweed and in 2008/9 was Sheriff with the old Berwick Borough Council. Currently Alan was a Board Member at Borders College and chair of the Audit committee having served for the maximum of two full terms. He continues in an advisory capacity to BC consultants the business arm of the College, is currently a Governor at the Community High School a position he has held for many years. Main outside interests time permitting are, collecting art, fly fishing, shooting, gardening and bowling as a member of Berwick Bowling Club.
David Harper
Chair
David joined the Trust in 2018. He qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and Chartered Town Planner and has held senior positions in the Public, Private and Consultancy Sectors specialising in the extractive, waste management and energy industries before establishing his own Planning, Property and Environmental Consultancy in 2012. He has also worked with the voluntary sector, having been a Director of Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN) an organisation responsible for the management and distribution of Landfill Tax Credits for charitable purposes. David is also a Justice of the Peace for Lothian and Borders.
Colette Harper
Trustee
Colette is currently the Company Secretary for a small private Consultancy. Prior to this she worked in the Mortgage and Financial Services sector for a considerable number of years before returning to education as a mature student, obtaining a degree and becoming a teacher.
After living for 14 years in the Scottish Borders she moved to Berwick upon Tweed in 2018 when she joined the Board of Trustees. She brings a variety of experience particularly of dealing with people of all ages from all walks of life and believes that this and other transferable life skills are useful to the Trust in helping it to achieve its objectives.
John Fisher
Trustee
2017 John has worked for 30 years in Financial Services in the North of England, with a brief sojourn to London to work for the FSA following the financial crisis of 2008. He moved with his family to Berwick five years ago when he took the role as Commercial and Credit Risk Director for Tesco Bank, based in Edinburgh. The Community Trust is his first venture into the voluntary and charitable sector, except for previously acting as advisor to a credit union in Merseyside. Outside of work and a couple of children at school means his free time now tends to focus around U18 rugby, university open days and various transport duties, but when possible, he does have an abiding interest in history and antiques.
Sally Holborn
Trustee
Sally retired in 2019 after spending 18 years working as the Finance & Facilities Manager at Sure Start Children's Centres North for Northumberland County Council. During this time she was heavily involved in the development of the Children's Centres in Berwick, Wooler, Alnwick, Seahouses, Rothbury and Hadston. She is a past member of the Institute of Management and the Association of Accountancy Technicians. Sally is a native of Berwick upon Tweed and joined as a Trustee in September 2019.
Keith Siseman
Trustee
Keith has been a trustee since 2016. He previously had a 30 year career in advertising supporting a number of familiar household brands. He sat on the London board of a major international agency and was a member of the institute of marketing. Keith has long standing ties with Berwick and has always viewed it as his spiritual home. He recognised that the Community Trust was a driving force for change in the town and wanted to use his marketing skills to it's benefit.
David Purvis
Trustee
David is a craftsman who has ran a stained glass design and manufacture business for 27 years, the last 20 in Spittal. He has taught classes in this field both privately and for the mental health charity Mind, has worked part-time as an adult education organiser and ran various projects for local organisations including Surestart. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2019, with particular interest in the food bank (as he had volunteered there for the previous few years, and worked in a soup kitchen in Bradford in the 90's).
Mike Crawford
Trustee
Mike grew up in Berwick and returned to live here in 2017. He works remotely for a research project at the University of Bristol. He has broad IT, data management and information security skills as well as accounting experience from his previous career. He has worked in the charitable and private sectors, as well as being a volunteer and trustee with charitable organisations in the past. Most recently he worked with the 'A Better Hospital for Berwick' campaign. He's a passionate believer in the town and its amazing spirit and feels it's important that everyone is included in any improvements.
Daniel Inglis
Trustee
Born and bred in Berwick upon Tweed, Dan is a successful local business owner sand joined the Trust in 2021.
Catherine Handley
Trustee
On arriving in Berwick eight years ago Catherine was very grateful for the support given by the Trust, and specifically by ‘Here for You’, as she looked for employment. She was lucky enough to spend her first summer working for the Tourist Information Centre, which gave her an invaluable insight into this fascinating town and its people. She now works in a senior school teaching ICT and supporting pupils with special educational needs, and is also a school governor at a local first school. In her spare time she manages and maintains a local charity’s website but also enjoys dragging her husband out for walks along the beautiful coastline and up and down mountains!
Joan Montgomery
Trustee
Joan retired in 2019 from 40 years as a Primary Teacher and returned home to Berwick upon Tweed. Being married to an Army Officer (also now retired) their lives have been fairly nomadic. Evan having lived and worked in many beautiful places - Salisbury, Cambridge, Edinburgh and rural Perthshire, Berwick upon Tweed is where we decided to eventually settle as we both love the town. Joan is passionate about everything that Berwick upon Tweed has to offer and hopes her enthusiasm for the town will add a little something to the great mixture of Trustees. My other interests are walking our two dogs and I am also Steward of the Books by the Sea Little Free Library!
Becoming a Board Member
Do you have a few spare hours a month to attend regular board meetings? Would like to have your input on services that we provide? or even have an idea for a new project that you think the trust may be interested in? Then we would love to hear from you,
New board members are always welcome so if this is something that you are interested in please get in touch with Ann Turner or Becci Murray on 01289 303366 or email aturner@nullberwicktrust.org.uk or bmurray@nullberwicktrust.org.uk and they can have a chat about what’s involved.