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Our
people
Our
people
Image Credit: ‘Brimscombe Port c.1795, unknown artist. STGCM 1961.24 © Museum in the Park, Stroud’
Patron
The Rt Hon The Lord Janvrin of Chalford Hill GCB GCVO QSO PC
Robin Janvrin has lived in Gloucestershire since birth. Both his parents were from Gloucester families (of Huguenot origin on his father’s side), and he has lived in a weaver’s house on Chalford Hill since he was a small child. The house dates from the 18th century and still retains a large weaver’s attic. From 1998 to 2007 he was Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, subsequently being appointed to the House of Lords as Lord Janvrin of Chalford Hill. His choice of title celebrates his connection to this area, and we were delighted when he accepted the Trustees’ invitation to be Patron of the Trust.
Trustees
Trevor Ford
Chair
Trevor initially trained to be a chartered accountant, before abandoning the security of a desk to go to the Royal Academy of Music, after which he enjoyed the unpredictable life of a professional freelance flute player. This kept him remarkably busy for more than 30 years, during which time he also worked as an orchestra manager, sat on the boards of several illustrious musical organisations, chaired various committees, edited books and magazines and still managed – in his spare time – to run an accountancy practice for musicians.
Trevor still works almost full time in the music business, running his own concert promotion company, lecturing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and acting as a board member or trustee for several high-profile charities within the profession. In addition to various honours bestowed by musical bodies, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Marianne Barton
Publications
Marianne’s professional expertise lies in event management and editing within the music business, but the two skills transfer happily to the needs and workings of the Stroudwater Textile Trust.
For many years she combined work as a professional pianist and private teacher with administrative and editorial work, but the piano keyboard was eventually superseded by the computer keyboard, and she now runs concerts, summer schools and choirs, and uses her writing and editing skills on everything from funding applications to programme notes and newsletters.
For STT, Marianne edits the Trust’s annual magazine Warp & Weft and our bi-monthly Gazette, gets involved in risk assessments and health and safety issues (someone has to!), and generally helps out at events.
Jane Ford
Education
Jane trained in Theatre Design and worked in theatres, designing and making both sets and costumes. She then taught at Dartington College of Arts. On moving to the Cotswolds, she made batik scarves and, for ten years while bringing up three baby girls, was a regular stall holder at the Cirencester Craftsman’s Market. She is a founder member of Stroud Embroiderers’ Guild and continues to produce work for their exhibitions and workshops. She has returned to theatre, designing the Archway Musicals and productions at the Cotswold Playhouse.
She has been involved with the Stroudwater Textile Trust from its earliest beginnings and, in 2001, staged the first Textile Festival which became a bi-annual event. (This is now run annually by Stroud International Textiles.) Jane is education co-ordinator for STT, chairs the management committee of Dunkirk Mill Museum and is an occasional wire-brusher of old machinery.
Julia Harrison Place
Treasurer and Company Secretary
Julia was brought up in Cheltenham, went on to study German and Philosophy at Oxford, and then to train as an accountant in London. After qualifying, she spent most of her career in the voluntary sector. Like most charities, her employers’ ambitions exceeded their resources and, to stretch those further, she found herself in charge of everything from residential care-home budgets and funding, to HR, insurance, risk management, property, governance and IT — all much more interesting than just keeping the books!
Julia returned to Gloucestershire in 2017, and loves living in Stroud, a town where people make things and you’re never far from a gorgeous view. She has sheep, the Frome, the canal and Lodgemore Mill all within ten minutes’ walk of her home. As the Trust’s Treasurer and Company Secretary, she is excited to be helping the Trust preserve and put people in touch with Stroud’s textile heritage, past and present.
Ian Mackintosh
History and Research
Ian is a retired history teacher who has over 30 years’ experience of working in voluntary groups. He was a founder member of the Stroud Preservation Trust, being particularly involved in researching the history of buildings to be restored. He then became involved in saving textile machinery, and was a founder member of STT. He helps with the daily running of the Trust, leads walks and gives talks. He is particularly concerned to promote awareness of the historical background to the story of the local mills, the local environment and the people involved. This has meant extensive research, and has led to a number of publications for the Trust.
Ian’s historical knowledge of the textile-related history of the Stroud Valleys is second to none. He has an answer for every question, either directly from his own phenomenal memory, or by referring to an extensive archive accumulated over many decades.
Ann Taylor
Workshops and Education
Ann worked as a teacher in local secondary schools before starting a new career in the museum world, joining the Museum in the Park, Stroud as Learning & Programmes Officer in the autumn of 2005. She developed and delivered museum education sessions and an outreach programme for schools, and was involved in a number of funded projects to create new resources and experiences for learners of all ages.
From early beginnings in 2009, Ann also was part of the team taking on the exciting project to rescue the derelict walled garden at the Museum, seeking funds to create the modern Learning Pavilion and helping to create a space for the visiting public to enjoy.
Now retired, Ann is a trustee and volunteer with the Stroudwater Textile Trust, helping to deliver dye workshops and sessions for groups and schools at Dunkirk Mill Museum.
