How your support will help

Ledgard Jepson specialises in branding, marketing and digital and has worked with high-profile clients across the UK and abroad.  David has worked closely with Barnsley Museums since he rebranded them in 2013 creating temporary exhibitions, publications and signage. His clients in the heritage sector also include English Heritage, Historic England, Birmingham Museums Trust, Doncaster and Wakefield Museums. Passionate about the success of his home town, David has visited our heritage sites with his father as a child and is proud to now be a trustee and helping safeguard them for future generations. 

I have worked for Barnsley Museums for 7yrs, working over all of our magnificent sites, my background is based in Archaeology, Horticulture and visitor services, these experiences have furnished me with a greater understanding of how to protect and promote our heritage, whilst also h engaging and inspiring visitors .

To come away from a site and want to return and to help safeguard these treasures is a powerful tool.

I have been passionate about history since the day my father took me to the Jorvik centre on a trip to the UK in 1984…I was mesmerised, emersed and lost in its otherworldliness, that feeling is what I want others to feel every time they visit one of our sites.

As a new Trustee I will endeavour to work alongside the wonderful BMHT to promote, inspire, support and fundraise to ensure our unique museum sites are enjoyed for many more generations.

Graham Walker is a multi-award-winning journalist and commercial content editor for Johnston Press. His responsibilities often take him all over the county, but he describes Barnsley as home. Graham currently represents over 50 titles, including The Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Evening Post and The Star in Sheffield.

Ian is poet-in-residence for The Academy of Urbanism and Barnsley FC. He presents The Verb every week on BBC radio and is regularly on BBC Breakfast, Coast, Pick of the Week, You & Yours, Last Word and The Arts Show.

Lee is responsible for HSBC’s major corporate clients across the South Yorkshire Region having worked for them for 25 years.  Born and brought up in Barnsley, Lee is keen to maintain free at the point of access cultural and educational recreation within the borough and spotlighting Barnsley, its economy and its culture as a destination. He is a member of the Barnsley Economic Partnership and also a season ticket holder @ Barnsley FC.

Matthew is a career civil servant. He spent over a decade at HM Treasury advising government ministers on business and tax policies. He is currently a senior leader improving how the taxes on the things we buy fund public services and support objectives such as the environment and public health.

Born and raised in Barnsley, Matthew splits his time between the town and London. His outside interests include current affairs, design and architecture. He strongly believes that heritage and culture can raise aspirations and enrich the education of both children and adults.

“I signed up to be a trustee for BMHT through college whilst I was studying for my A-levels. The trust was looking for a representative for students and young people from Barnsley. I was born in Barnsley and my Grandad had a local butcher’s shop when I was growing up. Studying in the town centre, walking in Cawthorne Park and around Worsborough mill reservoir, I’ve seen places evolve over the last few years and I was excited to be a part of that and learn a bit more about how trust sites are managed. Meetings involve discussing where funding should be funnelled and what conservation work needs undertaking. I’m no expert on paintings or history but I have a love for Barnsley and am proud to help in whatever way I can. We are hoping to reach more people who love Barnsley so we can have a board who can share all perspectives when it comes to what’s best for our community.”

Rachel was born and brought up in Barnsley, regularly visiting local museums growing up. She followed her passion for all things historical, graduating from Leicester University with a degree in Archaeology and has previously participated in local digs in the Barnsley area. Rachel also has a keen interest in family history and is proud to have traced family living in Barnsley back to the 18th Century. 

Rachel has worked for Lloyds Banking Group for 13 years and currently works in the Chief Operating Office, leading a team of risk specialists

Rachel is looking forward to supporting the Trust and bringing more awareness to the museums and history we have in our town

Tracey Johnson is a creative and digital business strategist, project director and founder with many years of experience in the digital, technology and creative industries. She leads the Digital Media Centre in Barnsley, a landmark hub for the creative and digital industries and home to over 50 businesses, as well as a range of programmes to support sector growth. Tracey is also part of the award-winning Enterprising Barnsley business growth team at Barnsley Council.