The Trustees of Lands Village Hall Management Committee
We are Lands Village Hall Management Committee Trustees. The committee consists of twelve trustees, including a chairman, secretary and treasurer. You can contact us through the website or the email addresses below.
Executive Committee
(Vacant), Chairman (chair@landsvillagehall.uk)
This position is currently vacant. If you are interested in becoming the chairperson, please contact Alison Deakin below.
Alison Deakin, Secretary (secretary@landsvillagehall.uk)
Alison moved to County Durham from Cheshire 16 years ago to support her elderly father. Before retiring, she worked in the community around Teesdale, Weardale and Derwentside.
Since retiring, Alison has worked as a volunteer at Stray Aid in Coxhoe and as a Parish Councillor. Alison is passionate about natural history and the environment. She walks most days with her dog, Dusty and loves walking along the Gaunless. Consequently, with Dusty’s help, she tries to keep the environment tidy by picking up litter wherever they go.
David Dodd, Treasurer (treasurer@landsvillagehall.uk)
After retiring from teaching and engineering, subsequently, David moved to Lands a few years ago. He has many interests, such as walking on the Fell, DIY and working on motorbikes and cars.
He likes living in the village: the people are friendly and helpful, fostering a true community spirit.
Management Committee and other Trustees
Gerard Gaynor, Management Committee Trustee
After completing his schooling at St. Francis Xavier School, Richmond, which he hated passionately, he left with twelve O’ Levels because he wasn’t going back.
At this point, he started the “Atomic Disco” with a friend. The disco ran very successfully for fifteen years alongside his day job.
Gerard considers himself lucky to have served a 5-year apprenticeship with the MOD. He went on to work for a Race Tech company, building F1 and rally car engines to a world-beating standard.
After many happy years, he subsequently moved on to an engineering company, Agricultural Industrial Hydraulics. Here he was a chargehand, foreman and technical problem-solver. Unfortunately, this company went into receivership, and consequently, the employees faced the dole.
As a result, five of those employees took the plunge and started A5 Hydraulics thirty years ago. During its time, A5 Hydraulics has achieved Small Business of the Year. It also acquired work from many big companies, including GSK, Northumbrian Water, ICI, and British Steel. These days, there are only two of the original five left. Meanwhile, their motto remains, “Say what you do and do what you say.”
Gerard is very passionate about community and the preservation of the countryside. Therefore, he hopes to help Lands Village Hall remain a valuable asset in the local community.
Elaine Harrison, Management Committee Trustee
Elaine moved to High Lands in March 2021 with her husband, Philip and two cats, Daisy and Sammy. On Saturdays, she works in Barnard Castle at a shop selling clothing and outdoor wear.
Elaine’s hobbies include reading, crafting, and sewing. Also, she hopes to teach herself watercolour painting. She also attends a Zumba® class regularly.
She describes herself as “jolly enthusiastic” with good people skills; undoubtedly, these traits will be valuable as a member of the Management Committee and a Trustee of the hall!
Doreen Metcalfe, Management Committee Trustee
Carol Suddick, Management Committee Trustee
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