John Hamshere

John became a Trustee at the inception of the Trust in 2015 and took the Chair in October 2023. John retired in 2017 after a career in developing and managing heritage sites and museums. He spent the majority of his career in Sheffield, first as the founding Executive Director of Kelham Island Museum Ltd in 1994, an early pioneer in taking local authority museums into trust status, and then as CEO of the enlarged Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust in 1998 with the addition of Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Shepherd Wheel. John was active in countywide organisations in Yorkshire including the then Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Committee. It was such activities that led to his involvement with Barnsley Museums, becoming a particular enthusiast for the internationally important Newcomen Engine at Elsecar and for the industrial heritage in which it is set. John, in his spare time, now enjoys undertaking many DIY projects, watching rugby and cricket, walking, theatre and spending time with his family.