Trustees

John Harris is currently the Chairman of RBPT and has lived in Richmond for over 40 years. After retiring from teaching as Head of Biology at Richmond School, he was elected as a town and district councillor the Richmond East ward. He stood down from the district after 12 years but has continued as a town councillor. During that time, he has been an active supporter of the CAB, the RSVCI [the local economic partnership], the Walking and Book festival and the Friends of the Friary Hospital. John is also a member of a local writers group and in 2017 was awarded an MA degree in Creative Writing.

Robin Casson is currently the Operations Director of RBPT. After a Yorkshire Dales upbringing, Robin’s career in education has spanned more than 40 years. He was Director of Education and Skills for Northumberland County Council for 8 years, which followed 7 years as Headteacher of Prudhoe Community High School in Northumberland. He was also Visiting Professor in Enterprise at the University of Northumbria.

He joined the Board of Directors of the University of Cumbria in 2016 and then joined the executive team as Director of Growth and Partnerships to develop degree apprenticeships, enterprise and external partnerships. He finally retired in 2019 to return to Richmond, having taught at Richmond School from 1981-87.

He has wide and varied experience at Board level, including Chair of an FE College Board, membership of a University Board, and of several Community Interest Companies. He was Vice Chair of Hexham Business Improvement District and a founder of the Blyth Tall Ship Heritage Project.

He has a particular interest in the development of enterprising rural communities through a focus on the growth of enterprising skills, qualities and attributes through experiential learning.

Stephen Ibbotson is currently the Finance Director of RBPT. Stephen trained as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant with Ernst Young in London where he worked in audit on a diverse range of companies before moving into a career in industry. In his business career Stephen gained broad experience in transformational initiatives including restructuring, outsourcing and major IT systems implementations. He spent the majority of his career with Avon Products Inc including ten years based in New York city latterly as GVP Corporate Controller. He was then the Director of Commercial and Business at the ICAEW; in this role he was the spokesman for the ICAEW on business matters and was interviewed on both the TV and radio numerous times. His last business role was VP Controller at Venator Material PLC, an international chemical company based in the North-East of England.

Stephen also serves on the advisory board of Newcastle University Business School and volunteers as an advisor for Citizens Advice. 

James is a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Business Administration and a Chartered Public Accountant. He spent 30 years in Local Government before running his own interim management and consultancy business for six years. He has been chief executive of three district councils and a director of several more. 

He was born and brought up in Coventry, graduated from Kings College, London and moved to North Yorkshire in 1975. After spending 27 years in Northumberland he retired to Richmond with his wife Barbara in 2008.

James is passionate about providing efficient quality services and about Richmond. He is a keen cyclist and walker and has been a member of Swaledale Outdoor Club since 1975. He is also the Treasurer and Book Event organiser of Richmond Walking and Book Festival which he has been involved in since 2010.

James became a trustee of Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust in 2009 and was Chair of the Trust between 2010 and 2015. Between July 2015 and July 2023 he was the Trust’s Director of Finance and since that date he has been Chair of the Trust’s trading company RBPT Enterprises.

Lin moved into the area in 1979 as the wife of a serving soldier. She trained as a Registered Nurse at the Friarage hospital gaining a Bsc in Health Studies at University of York. She worked at the Friarage before moving to the Royal College of Nursing where she has held various roles and continues to provide employment relations advice and support; during this time Lin was awarded a Bachelor of Law at University of Teesside.

After a couple of years in Cheshire, Lin moved back into the area and was thrilled to see how The Station had developed as a community asset through the work of RBPT.  She is keen to ensure it is valued by the community now and in the future.

With a working career now spanning 50 years, Phil's career path has generally focused on technology based areas including electronic design work, Information Technology sales, implementation and project management through to software development and solutions for the advertising and creative business sectors.

Phil is co-founder and Managing Director of Purple Creative Studio (PCS), a business formed in 2009 that has grown to become a major digital agency in the region.

The business provides website solutions, creative design and print services, digital marketing and social media support as well as working with cloud technologies through a partnership program with both Google and Microsoft.

Phil has helped the Trust from its earliest days until the present time both in a voluntary capacity and providing business services. Phil enjoys being closely involved in the workings of the Trust.

In his spare time Phil is a keen motorcyclist riding his re-vamped Triumph Bonneville around the Dales and further afield. He is also a musician and plays drums with local band – The Messengers.

Father of 4 (+ step children) and Grandpa to 8, Phil has a variety of experience that proves useful in his role as a Trustee as well as a small potential family army to bring in later!

John Yates is a chartered engineer and businessman. He has provided assistance to the Board of the RBPT since 2008 and has been a trustee since 2015. He and his wife Nora have lived in Richmond for 38 years, and brought up their six children there. John is passionate about RBPT, and about ensuring that local people and visitors to Richmondshire gain from the huge voluntary effort which has enabled RBPT to make the Station such a success, and which hopefully will enable other heritage buildings to be restored and put to good use.

Bryan Johnston was raised and schooled in North Yorkshire and returned with his wife, Wendy, to live in Richmondshire in 2020.

Between leaving North Yorkshire and returning, Bryan had both a military and a legal career. His military career started at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and ended as a Major commanding an infantry company during Gulf War I.  His legal career started at The University of Westminster and the School of Law and ended as a Solicitor and Managing Partner of a law firm.

Bryan was also involved in the arts as a Director and Trustee of a regional theatre for six years.  Bryan sat on the Employers' Panel of the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST). He has been, among other appointments, Chair of a charity and Chair of a Chamber of Commerce. Bryan is a trained Mediator.  

Bryan’s hobbies include writing, theatre, sailing, golf, trekking and skiing. 

Could you be our next Trustee? 

Email us on: info@richmondshirebpt.co.uk