Members Profiles

Jim Bailey (Chair)

Runs a family farm in the Park and believes that a strong, full local community is essential for the wellbeing of the natural and social environment of the Park.  Represents Ampleforth Ward on Ryedale District Council. Mr Bailey is Chairman to the Authority.

Malcolm Bowes

After more than 30 years experience in local and regional government, most recently as Deputy Chief Executive at the North East Assembly with responsibility for planning, transport, housing and sustainable development he recently took early retirement.  He is Chairman of Bilsdale Midcable Parish Council and represents the National Park Authority on the Yorkshire Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership.  He lives in Raisdale.

Brian Briggs

Retired publican with a construction background. Member of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council since May 2003 and Skelton & Brotton Parish Council Member since 2001. Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland 2009-10 and chair of the Council's Main Overview & Scrutiny Committee between 2007 and 2009. Also a member of Cleveland Fire Authority where I chair the Audit & Governance Committee. Governor of two Primary Schools in the local area and President of both Skelton Junior Football Club and the Redcar & Cleveland Twinning Association. Previously a convenor for UCATT and still an honorary life member.

Mrs J Frank

Born and brought up in Farndale, Janet has lived and worked within the National Park all her life.  She represents the Dales Ward on the Ryedale District Council.  Her leisure interests include gardening and walking her dog and she is also a member of Appleton WI.

David Hugill

A farmer from Scugdale, David has long standing links with the Authority .In the mid eighties David’s farm was one of the first to enter the NYMNPA Farm Scheme. A decade later saw David become involved in the Moorland Scheme Lamb Marketing Group. This led to him being selected for a Nuffield Scholarship on the marketing of hill lambs. David has also researched a paper looking at the carbon footprint of upland farming. Following a number of years representing the NFU at Local, Regional and National level David was elected to Hambleton District Council as Ward Member for Swainby.

David Jeffels

Scarborough Borough Council member since 1973 and Cabinet member for Tourism, Leisure and Community Services for the past four years.  He is former Chairman of the British Resorts Association and of the York and North Yorkshire Playing Fields Association, Trustee and Council Member of the National Playing Fields Association, Vice Chairman of the Yorkshire Rural Community Council, and represents the Borough Council on the Board of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, North York Moors National Park Authority, the Yorkshire Tourist Board Council, Yorkshire Moors & Coast Tourism Partnership and on the North Yorkshire Cultural Partnership.  A journalist working for regional newspapers, he was born and educated in Scarborough.  He lives at West Ayton and is married to Marilyn and has two children, Lyndon, a barrister and a daughter Siobhan, a solicitor in York.

Mr M Knaggs 

A County Councillor with 40 years experience in the agricultural industry and working in the National Park.  Ex-playing, ex-president, member of Malton and Norton Rugby Club, served in the RAF for five years. Keen interest in environmental services, education and employment. Supports country pursuits. Ex-President, Ex-Chairman of Malton Show.  Past Chairman North Yorkshire County Council.

Mr T Lawn

Philip Lawson (Deputy Chair)

Experience of local authority work in the areas of all four northern National Parks.  Trustee and Vice Chairman of Rural Action Yorkshire.  Chairman of Yorkshire Village Awards Committee.  Judge for Calor Village of the Year Regional Competitions.  Vice-President/Trustee of Thirsk Museum.  Member of the Thirsk Community Woodlands Group.  Chairman of West Yorkshire Quality Parish Council Accreditation Panel.

Jane Mitchell

Married with 3 children, Mrs Mitchell has over 25 years experience working in education, teaching languages in secondary schools and Information Technology in higher education establishments. She is founder and Chair of the 'Friends of South Cliff Gardens' in Scarborough and has a keen interest in environmental issues.  Mrs Mitchell now runs the Volunteer Centres in both Scarborough and Whitby.

Ted Sanderson

Retired farmer, married in 1965, two daughters, two grandsons.  Born in Ruswarp near Whitby where his father was a gardener.  Served in the RAF for 9 years.  Travelled widely, taught in Kenya in the 60’s. 

Steve Scoffin

Druridge Bay Development Manager for Northumberland Wildlife Trust on behalf of the wider Druridge Bay Partnership, and a consultant with 30 years experience in countryside management.

A member of both the Tees Valley and the County Durham Local Access Forums, interests include social inclusion, countryside recreation and access, wildlife, archaeology and cultural heritage, and a strong support of protected landscapes and the rural economy.  A Voluntary Ranger with the North York Moors National Park Authority, and an Accredited Assessor for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award on Dartmoor and the North York Moors.

Caroline Seymour

A councillor since 1985, a member of North Yorkshire County Council since 1989. Represents Stokesley and the park villages of Ingleby Arncliffe, Swainby, Faceby, Carlton and Chop Gate and Bilsdale. Member of the North Yorkshire Combined Fire Authority since 1996 representing them on the local Hambleton Crime Partnership. A member of Hambleton District Council 1985-2007. Member of Local Government Association for 12 years until 2007.

Married to John a local farmer and in partnership with son Tom in a sheep and cattle. business. We farm in and around Stokesley and also farm within the Park. I was a teacher in local sixth forms for 12 years. I have 4 children and 8 grandchildren

Hawson Simpson

Mr B Suthers

Mr Suthers is the Guisborough Ward Councillor on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and is also a Guisborough Parish Councillor. He is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Teesside University and has published in the field of public transport, recently in relation to Moorsbus. His current research interests include the social and economic impacts of walking particularly in relation to the "happiness agenda".

Helen Swiers

Mrs Swiers has lived at Broxa, near Hackness for 35 years, where she farms (dairy, sheep and arable) in partnership with her son John. She is a former NFU County Chairman and a former President of the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers and a Regional Director of NFU Mutual Insurance.  A founder Member/Chair of Country Watch.  My daughter, Elizabeth, works in the NHS as a children’s occupational therapist based at both Scarborough and Whitby Hospitals.

Richard Thompson

Employed by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Freeman of Alnwick. Chairman of Newby and Scalby Parish Council. Vice Chairman of Scarborough Rural Area Forum. Committee Member Scalby Fair, Scalby Village Trust. Scalby and Newby Twinning Association Committee Member.  Roads Liaison Committee Member.  Newby in Bloom Group Committee Member.  Public Governor NEY Tees. Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation Trust. Interests include amateur dramatics, golf and bowls.

Herbert Tindall 

Mr Tindall is a retired farmer and a Member of North Yorkshire County Council Esk Valley Ward, Scarborough District representing Danby Ward, also Danby Group Parish Council and Danby Court Leet.  He is School Governor for Eskdale, Whitby and Chairman of the Coastal Forum Executive Committee.      

Philip Wheeler

Dr Wheeler is a lecturer in ecology at the University of Hull Scarborough Campus. He has research and educational interests in the interactions between people and wildlife particularly in moorland, farmland and tropical forest ecosystems. Current research projects are in the North York Moors, Peak District, Central America and South East Asia. He volunteered for several years providing educational support for disadvantaged young people in inner city Manchester.

Mrs G L Byron 

A solicitor who worked in local government for 16 years, most recently as a District Solicitor and Monitoring Officer within North Yorkshire and is currently employed as the in-house solicitor at the University of Hull.  Has a wide ranging background knowledge of the functions of a National Park Authority, together with first-hand experience of the introduction of Codes of Conduct and preparation for the introduction of the ‘new’ system of Standards Committees.  Her duties as University Solicitor include membership of the University Ethics Committee.

The Rt Reverend David Smith

Archdeacon of Lindisfarne 1981-87.  Bishop of Maidstone 1987-92.  Bishop to H M Forces 1990 – 1992.  Bishop of Bradford 1992-2002.  Chair of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Standards Committee for 2½ years from its inception.  Sitting Member of the House of Lords 1997-2002.  Lives in Dunnington.

Mrs H Gilbertson 

Working partner in farming and landfill business.  Member of the Selby Bench and York/Selby Family Court.  Member of Independent Monitoring Board for HMP Askham Grange.  Member of Lord Chancellors Advisory Sub-Committee for North Yorkshire.  External Member of Ethics Committee at York University.  Independent Interviewer for Independent Monitoring Boards.  Chairman of Courts Board for North & West Yorkshire.

Mr C Langley