As per the constitution each of the current trustees will retire at the conclusion of the annual general meeting but may be eligible for re-election at that annual general meeting along with any new nominees.
If would like to join the committee and become a trustee you must be nominated by another member of the Friends of Hyde Park Picture House.
If you would like to nominate someone please contact us or send your nomination in writing directly to the Picture House. If you would like to be considered but do not know anyone within the Friends, please get in touch to discuss this further.
All nominations must be received by Tuesday 2nd May.
Nominees
The following existing trustees have all agreed to stand again in 2017:
- Paul Betts
- Jessica Brown
- Stephen Brown
- Peter Chandley
- John O’Hara (TBC)
- Ian Sanderson
- Bill Walton
- Keith Withall
Wendy Cook has agreed to continue as the appointed trustee representing Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd.
Election Statements
2017 Statements
Stephen Brown
Since moving to Leeds in 2001 I’ve been a regular visitor to the Picture House (thanks to Letterboxd.com I know I’ve seen over 250 films here since 2013). In the past I enjoyed attending the Friends’ Film Club meetups and hope we can start organising more social events to meet and discuss film with other members.
I joined the Friends committee in 2012 because I wanted to help support the cinema. In 2015 I help set up the Friends’ new website and currently manage and contribute to the site. I am happy to continue on the committee, manage the website and contribute to the exciting future of the cinema.
Ian Sanderson
Ian Sanderson has been a member of the committee of the Friends of the Hyde Park Picture House since 1997. He was Chairman for over ten years & has always regularly attended committee meetings. Ian is strongly committed to maintaining the Hyde Park as an historic cinema showing a wide variety of interesting, classic, historic, foreign-language & off-beat films.
Bill Walton
I feel fortunate to live within walking distance of the historic Hyde Park Picture House … so many good films, a beautiful setting, plus the contribution the cinema makes to the wider community.
Through the Friends’ Committee I can actively support everyone involved with the Picture House to build on the centenary celebrations. An exciting time! Our new charity status, website and Heritage Lottery funding will help the cinema adapt and thrive in the years ahead.
Keith Withall
I was a member of the Friends Committee in the 1990s. I have been on the current Committee since 2013. In 2014 I took on the role as acting Treasurer until the position was appointed to Paul Betts in 2015.
I am a regular for Hyde Park Picture House screenings, and frequently contribute to the new Friends HPPH Blog.
I am familiar with the new Constitution and the aims and practices of the Friends. I am currently Minute secretary on the Committee.
2016 Statements
Paul Betts
I have been visiting the HPPH for over 15 years and for the last 6 years I have been a Friends of HPPH member. It is undoubtedly my favourite place to be in Leeds! I wanted to be involved in the Friends committee due to my love of films, my love of the Hyde Park cinema itself and because I thought I had a contribution to make. I am an accountant by profession and I have taken on the role of treasurer and I am responsible for monitoring and administering the finances of the organisation. I joined the committee in 2015 and I look forward to helping the friends and the HPPH as an exciting future is being planned to protect and enhance the long term future of the cinema.
Jessica Brown
I have volunteered at the HPPH since 2014 and have found it to be hugely rewarding. I enjoy working with the staff, the volunteers, meeting the customers and am eager to get involved more and help out in new ways.
I currently work with committees, offering fundraising support and advice, in a large charity. I understand their importance within a charity and the impact that their work, support and advocacy can have. I am skilled in project management (I love working with spreadsheets and data), I am confident negotiating and planning change and improvements. I can bring all this skills along with my charity background to the group.
It is important, now more than ever, to be active and vocal within the community and I would like to give my time and energy to the picture house and it’s committee. I am eager to see it thrive for another hundred years.
Peter Chandley
I am now the only remaining founder member of the Friends since 1984. In that time we have seen many changes and over the years I have had various roles, duties and responsibilities which have included helping to produce the programme, acting as secretary and now as chair as well as typing up reports, minutes and other item as needed. I have been proud to work over the years with every manager from Geoff Thompson to Wendy Cook as at present.
The aim of the Friends has always been to support, encourage, develop and promote to cinema, but not to try to run it. We have had a proud role in often difficult times and I feel that we have achieved much over years with the help of many people. I am happy for now to continue to stand again for being on the committee in whatever role is needed and whilst we have come a long way in recent times we must not take for granted, but work together to make sure that this wonderful cinema that we all love so much goes from strength to strength and to make sure that that we go on for the next 100 years.
Thank you for all your support and we really couldn’t do it without you and again thanks to all those who have helped in so many ways, and so let us all work together to ensure a bright future awaits.
John O’Hara
I have been a Friend of HPPH for many years and a member of the committee since 2013. I enjoy watching a variety of films at the HPPH and as a father with a young family this includes the Saturday “Hyde and Seek” matinees. As someone who is Leeds born and bred I believe the HPPH is an essential element of the Leeds and Yorkshire cinema, arts and cultural fabric. As a member of the committee I will always keep this in mind with the objective of securing the the HPPH for the enjoyment of future generations.
Appointed Trustees
Wendy Cook (representing the LGTOH)
I have worked at the Picture House for more than twelve years and General Manager for in excess of nine. It is fair to say I never intended to stay so long but a combination of the wonderful staff, amazing customers, the amazing building and the never-ending stream of great films have ensures that I have a hard time imagining myself working anywhere else. As a member of the Friends of Hyde Park Committee I will endeavour to ensure the relationship between the Picture House and the Friends is always positive.
Friends of Hyde Park Picture House 