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 other members of the Friends of Hyde Park Picture House. Please take a look at the nomination form page for more information.
This year we are looking for more people to join the committee who better represent the diversity of the membership and can help us at this exciting time in the cinema’s history.
All nominations must be received by Sunday 2nd June to be considered at the 2019 AGM.
Nominees
The following existing trustees have all agreed to stand again in 2019:
- Paul Betts
- Stephen Brown
- John O’Hara
- 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
Paul Betts
I have been visiting the HPPH for over 15 years and for the last 8 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.
Stephen Brown
Since moving to Leeds in 2001 I’ve been a regular visitor to the Picture House. 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.
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.
Ian Sanderson
I have been a member of the committee of the Friends of the Hyde Park Picture House since 1997. I served as the Chair for over ten years and have always regularly attended committee meetings. I am strongly committed to maintaining the Hyde Park as an historic cinema showing a wide variety of interesting, classic, historic, foreign-language and 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. I have been both acting treasurer and minute secretary for a period.
I am a regular at Hyde Park Picture House screenings, and I am a regular contributor to the Friends of HPPH Webpages.
I am familiar with the Constitution and the aims and practices of the Friends and with the requirements by the Charity Commission for Trustees of Registered Charities. I regularly attend the Committee Meeting. I see part of my role as both preserving the traditions of the Friends and as a Trustee ensuring we follow the guidelines of the Charity Commission.
Appointed Trustees
Wendy Cook (representing the LGTOH)
I have worked at the Picture House since 2002, first selling sweets, then tickets before being lucky enough to land the role of General Manager in 2006. It is fair to say I never intended to stay as long as I have but working every day in such a beautiful building and spending my time surrounded by wonderfully kind and interesting people is something that never gets old so I’m pretty well bedded it. That’s before I even start to think about the films . 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 and constructive.
Friends of Hyde Park Picture House 