The Trust is managed by the volunteer Board of Trustees who contribute a wide range of professional expertise, local knowledge and practical experience. They are supported by specialist advisers and work collectively to care for the Trust’s historic buildings, develop its museum and collections, and ensure that its work benefits the communities of North Craven.
To contact a trustee or adviser, please use our contact form and your message will be forwarded to the appropriate person.
Trustees
Heather Lane
Chair
Heather has been the Trust’s Honorary Curator since 2019. Formerly Librarian and Keeper of Collections at the Scott Polar Research Institute, she established the Polar Museum and chaired the University of Cambridge Museums Steering Group. As a cultural heritage consultant and expert advisor to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, she was interim Chief Executive of Scarborough Museums Trust, worked on the Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City bid and managed the renovation of the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. She is a keen gardener and lives in Littondale.
Simon Myers
Vice-Chair
Dales born and bred, Simon practised as a barrister for nearly 30 years before taking over his family’s long-established antiques business in Gargrave. As Deputy Leader of Craven District Council, he oversaw the £4 million refurbishment of Skipton Town Hall and Craven Museum. He is now North Yorkshire Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing. Simon has a lifelong interest in art, architecture and conservation and has known The Folly since childhood. He lives in Malhamdale, keeping rare-breed cattle and unruly dogs.
Richard Greenhalgh
Hon. Treasurer
A retired Chartered Accountant, Richard has been Honorary Treasurer of the Trust and a Director of its Trading Company since October 2020. He worked predominantly overseas, developing large tropical sugar estate projects with Tate & Lyle, but he and his family have lived in the Settle area for over 30 years. Originally from Leeds and still a strong Leeds Rugby League supporter, he is pleased to be able to use his skills and knowledge in the ongoing development of The Folly and especially the Zion Chapel and Dr Buck’s House.
Lynn Northrop
Trustee and Minuting Secretary
Lynn is a registered architect who works part time, from home, for an architectural practice that specialises in conservation architecture. She has been responsible for alterations to many of the local and Dales churches and listed buildings. She became Trustee in 2015. Lynn is a founder member of the Craven Community Land Trust. She has lived in Giggleswick for more than 20 years.
Ged Benn
Trustee
Ged joined the Board in December 2021, having been a valued member of the volunteer garden team for several years. He is an experienced caver with an interest in the history of caving and its photography. He takes a particular interest in the maintenance of the buildings and grounds in the Trust’s care.
Emily Coulthard
Youth Trustee
Emily was elected to the Board in October 2021. She works as a Documentation Officer for English Heritage. Emily was formerly Dynamic Collections Officer at Preston Park Museum, having previously worked at the National Railway Museum in York as Collections Hazards Officer and at the Thackray Museum in Leeds. She is a member of our Marketing Working Group.
Pippa Doran
Trustee and Disability Lead
Pippa joined the Board in 2022, bringing 35 years’ experience in secondary education as a teacher, leader and senior education officer. Specialising in English, diversity and inclusion, she has advised national education bodies and other organisations, published textbooks and developed educational strategy and resources. Since retiring, Pippa has volunteered with recovery, refugee and careers charities and studied art history. Her interests include books, theatre, opera, food and knitting.
Steve Garland
Trustee and Accreditation Lead
Steve is a museum and heritage consultant, entomologist and ecologist with around 40 years’ experience in curatorial and senior management roles across the UK. He chaired the Stories in Stone Landscape Partnership and is Chair of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. His previous roles include Trustee of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, member of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West Committee, Chair of Museums, Libraries and Archives North West, and member of the Museums Association National Committee and Museum Accreditation Expert Panel.
Clare Littlejohn
Trustee
Clare is a retired GP with a lifelong interest in buildings. Recently, she studied Architectural Conservation at Edinburgh University. This cemented her belief in a ‘fabric first’ approach to old buildings. She has spent the last two years in hands-on restoration of two local properties, using sustainable methods. Clare has been a trustee at The Folly since 2022 and is delighted to be involved in an organisation that showcases sustainable heritage for the community.
Helen Noble
Trustee
Helen joined the Board in October 2023. She is a renowned consultant in sustainable development, environment and heritage, having been Chief Executive of the South Pennines Park, Executive Lead of the World Parks Congress, Chief Executive Officer of the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust, and Head of Strategy and Policy for the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. She knows North Craven well, having been Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Yorkshire Dales Society, based in Settle.
Caroline Rosier
Trustee and Visitor Engagement Lead
Caroline is a retired University Lecturer specialising in Education, Training and Development..She has training in Country House Studies and conservation and has undertaken consultancy in management and organisational development. Caroline has worked Craven Museum in Skipton and at George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia, USA. She has been a volunteer at The Folly since January 2020, working with the Collections team and on the Admissions desk. As visitor engagement lead, she is responsible for the training and development of front of house volunteers.
John Tiernan
Trustee
John joined the Board in 2026.
Simon Whitaker
Trustee
Simon joined the Board in 2024. After training in technical stage management at LAMDA, he worked in theatre before founding Stage One Creative Services in 1982. Since retiring, he has directed major technical projects worldwide on a number of high profile live events, including work for the 2012 Olympics. A former Settle Stories trustee, he also volunteers with the Yorkshire Dales National Park, repairing footpaths, gates and drystone walls. Simon is particularly interested in the work at The Folly and returning Zion Chapel and Dr Buck’s House to community use.
Advisers
Liz Haestier
RIBA AABC
Architectural Adviser
Associate Architect with Overton Architects of Ilkley, Liz joined Wales, Wales and Rawson in 2004 from Woodhall Planning and Conservation, becoming an associate in 2010. Liz has experience in both conservation and new build community, schools and residential projects. Liz is a member of the Art and Architecture Committee and Historic Churches Committee for the Diocese of Leeds.
Nigel Howard
FCA
Financial Adviser
Nigel is an independent Director of NCBPT Trading Ltd, the Trust’s wholly-owned trading subsidiary. He was an accountant with Touche Ross, Silverstone Circuits and Cranks (Company Secretary); Accountant and Company Secretary, Newell and Sorrell Design; Finance Director, Cranks (co-led management buyout); Finance Manager, BPTW Architects.
Shantanu Subramaniam
Built Heritage Adviser
Shantanu is a Partner and Principal Heritage Consultant with London-based firm Fuller Long Heritage Architecture Ltd. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Mumbai; an M.A. in Ancient Indian History and Culture & Archaeology from Deccan College, and an M.Sc. in Architectural Conservation from the University of Edinburgh.
How the Board works
The Board meets quarterly with forward planning sessions in March and September. It is supported by committees and project panels that provide focused oversight of the Trust’s governance, buildings, development and museum activities.
The Board has four sub-committees:
- Building Preservation Committee : Meets as necessary
- Governance Committee : Meets as necessary
- Development Project Board : Meets monthly
- Museum Transformation Project Panel: Meets quarterly