Our People

In this section

The Society is managed by a Council of up to fifteen unpaid trustees, who act both as directors for Companies Act purposes and trustees for Charities Act purposes.

A third of the Council members retire by rotation at every Annual General Meeting, when new trustees can be proposed. The officers of the Society, all of whom are trustees, are the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers are elected by and from the Council every year.

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Current Officers

President

Martin Staniforth

  • Member since 2021, Council member from 2022, President from 2024, Chair of Grants Committee
  • Retired Department of Health civil servant
  • Chair of Friends of University Art and Music
  • Interests: music, art, literature, walking and cricket

Vice-President

Eric Blair

  • Member since 1990s
  • President 2019-2023, Grants Committee
  • Professor of Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Leeds: viruses & cancer; gene therapy; cancer therapy
  • Interests: Music, reading, motor sport & travel

Hon.Secretary

Jane Mitchell

  • Joined 2022, Hon. Sec from 2024, Museums Committee, Grants Committee
  • Fine Art Picture Specialist at Bonhams Auctioneers 2007-2022
  • Currently Freelance
  • Interests: art, sculpture, architecture, music, walking, gardens and gardening and sport – mainly tennis

Hon.Treasurer

Helen Kemp

  • Member since 2024
  • Hon Treasurer since 2024, Grants Committee
  • Chartered accountant and history graduate
  • Previous CEO of Leeds Mind. Currently a member of Mind Retail Board and West Yorkshire Police Joint Independent Audit Committee. School governor.
  • Interests: art, theatre, reading, walking, gardens and supporting LUFC

Other Council Members

Christine Holdstock

  • Member since 2019, Events & Communications Committee from 2023 – Chair from 2024
  • Colour Scientist
  • Chartered Colourist, Fellow of the Society of Dyers and Colourists
  • Teacher of Colour Science at the University of Leeds, 1994-2016, focusing on human colour vision, history of colorants, colour measurement, and textile dyeing and processing
  • Interests: colour, family history, singing, local history

Brian Selby

  • Joined 2020, Council Member from 2020, Chair of Museums Committee
  • Retired elected member of Leeds City Council – Lead member for Galleries & Museums
  • Retired Tribunal Judge

Anne Braithwaite

  • Joined 2025, Council Member from 2025
  • Retired solicitor and mediator
  • Interests: reading, gardening, walking, photography

Alex Brooksbank

  • Member since 2020, Events & Communications Committee from 2024
  • Finance Assistant at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science
  • Writes and performs poetry around Leeds
  • Interests: reading, music, theatre, film, competitive gaming

George Sykes

  • Member since 2023, Events & Communications Committee from 2024
  • Software Engineer working on subsea robot control systems
  • Interests: technology, politics, disability, gaming

Caroline Allison

  • Member since 2024, Museums Committee
  • Recently retired biology teacher
  • Interests: all aspects of the arts, education, environmental biology and padel tennis

Society officials

Events Secretary

Rachael Unsworth

Portrait of Rachael Unsworth with glasses and wearing orange coat, standing in front of a stone wall
  • Member since 2019, Events & Communications Secretary since 2021
  • Lecturer in Geography, University of Leeds, 1994-2013
  • Researches, writes and broadcasts about Leeds including ‘21st century Leeds: geographies of a regional city’ (2004) & ‘Leeds: Cradle of Innovation’ (2018)
  • Runs ‘Leeds City Walking Tours’, taking groups of locals, visitors & professionals on a range of tours; online presentations

Assistant Treasurer

Pat Bourke

Assistant Secretary

Nicola Staff

Previous Presidents of the Society

2000s
  • 2004-06 M. R. D. SEAWARD, M.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc., F.L.S.
  • 2007-09 C. J. HATTON, B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Phys., F.Inst.P.
  • 2010-13 A. C. T. NORTH, B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Phys., F.Inst.P.
  • 2014-16 J. M. HILL B.A., D.Phil., D.Univ., F.E.A., F.R.S.A.
  • 2016-20 C. J. HATTON, B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Phys., F.Inst.P.
  • 2020-23 G. E. Blair, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S.B., F.L.S.
  • 1900-02 J.H. WICKSTEED, President Inst.M.E.
  • 1902-04 ARTHUR SMITHELLS, B.Sc., F.R.S.
  • 1904-06 J.E. EDDISON, M.D.
  • 1906-09 E. KITSON CLARK, M.A., F.S.A., M.Inst.C.E.
  • 1909-11 REV. J. R. WYNNE-EDWARDS, M.A.
  • 1911-12 C. T. WHITMELL, M.A., B.Sc., F.R.A.S.
  • 1912-14 P. F. KENDALL, M.Sc., F.G.S.
  • 1914-17 REV. W.H. DRAPER, M.A.
  • 1917-19 JAMES E. BEDFORD, F.G.S.
  • 1919-22 SYDNEY D. KITSON, M.A., F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
  • 1922-24 ARTHUR J. GRANT, M.A.
  • 1924-26 WALTER GARSTANG, M.A., D.Sc., F.Z.S.
  • 1926-28 EDWIN HAWKESWORTH
  • 1928-30 F. W. BRANSON, F.I.C.
  • 1930-32 E. O. DODGSON
  • 1932-34 A. GILLIGAN, D.Sc., F.G.S.
  • 1934-36 R. WHIDDINGTON, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.
  • 1936-39 HUGH R. LUPTON, M.C., M.A.
  • 1939-46 W. M. EDWARDS, M.C., M.A.
  • 1946-48 E. A. SPAUL, D.Sc., Ph.D.
  • 1948-50 W. L. ANDREWS
  • 1950-52 J. N. TETLEY, D.S.O., LL.D.
  • 1952-54 TERRY THOMAS, M.A., LL.D., B.Sc., Ph.D.
  • 1954-56 H. C. VERSEY, D.Sc., F.G.S.,
  • 1956-58 H. S. VICK, J.P.
  • 1958-60 H. ORTON, M.A., B.Litt.
  • 1960-62 SIR GEORGE MARTIN, LL.D., J.P.
  • 1962-64 E. J. WOOD, M.A.
  • 1964-66 R. D. PRESTON, D.Sc., F.R.S., F.Inst.P.
  • 1966-68 J. LE PATOUREL, M.A., D.Phil.
  • 1968-70 G. P. MEREDITH, M.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D.
  • 1970-72 J. G. WILSON, M.A., Ph.D., F.Inst.P.
  • 1972-74 J. TAYLOR, M.A.
  • 1974-76 H. HENSON, D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.E.S.
  • 1976-78 P. R. J. BURCH, M.A., Ph.D.
  • 1978-81 R. REED, M.Sc., Ph.D
  • 1981-83 LORD MARSHALL OF LEEDS, M.A., LL.B.
  • 1983-85 B. R. HARTLEY, M.A., F.S.A.
  • 1985-87 D. COX, B.A., A.L.A.
  • 1987-89 B. COLVILLE, M.B., B.S., F.R.C.G.P.
  • 1989-91 I. S. MOXON, M.A., B.A.
  • 1991-93 R. F. M. BYRN, M.A., Ph.D.
  • 1993-95 MRS J. E. MORTIMER, B.A.
  • 1995-97 A. C. CHADWICK, B.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc., C.Biol., F.I.Biol., F.R.G.S.
  • 1997-99 O. S. PICKERING, B.A., B.Phil., Ph.D., Dip.Lib.
  • 1999-03 P. J. EVENNETT, B.Sc., Ph.D., Hon. F.R.M.S.
  • 1820-26 JOHN MARSHALL
  • 1826-28 REV. W. H. BATHURST, M.A.
  • 1828-31 MICHAEL THOS. SADLER, M.P.
  • 1831-33 WILLIAM HEY
  • 1833-35 JAMES WILLIAMSON, M.D.
  • 1835-37 REV. JOSEPH HOLMES, M.A.
  • 1837-40 REV. RICHARD WINTER HAMILTON
  • 1840-42 ADAM HUNTER, M.D.
  • 1842-45 JOHN HOPE SHAW
  • 1845-50 REV. WILLIAM SINCLAIR, M.A.
  • 1850-51 WILLIAM WEST, F.R.S.
  • 1851-54 REV. CHARLES WICKSTEED, B.D.
  • 1854-57 JOHN HOPE SHAW
  • 1857-58 JAMES GARTH MARSHALL, F.G.S.
  • 1858-59 REV. W. F. HOOK, D.D.
  • 1859-61 REV. ALFRED BARRY, M.A.
  • 1861-63 THOS. PRIDGIN TEALE, F.R.S.
  • 1863-66 REV. THOS. HINCKS, B.A.
  • 1866-68 CHARLES CHADWICK, M.D.
  • 1868-72 JOHN DEAKIN HEATON, M.D.
  • 1872-74 REV. CANON WOODFORD, D.D.
  • 1874-76 J. I. IKIN, F.R.C.S.
  • 1876-78 REV. J. H. McCHEANE, M.A.
  • 1878-81 T. CLIFFORD ALLBUTT, M.D., F.R.S.
  • 1881-83 REV. JOHN GOTT, D.D.
  • 1883-85 J. E. EDDISON, M.D.
  • 1885-86 EDWARD ATKINSON, F.L.S.
  • 1886-89 THOMAS MARSHALL, M.A.
  • 1889-92 THOS. PRIDGIN TEALE, M.A., F.R.S.
  • 1892-94 REV. J. H. D. MATTHEWS, M.A.
  • 1894-96 REV. CHARLES HARGROVE, M.A.
  • 1896-98 EDMUND WILSON, F.S.A.
  • 1898-1900 NATHAN BODINGTON, M.A., Litt.D.

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