Mr John Bateson

John was born in Oxenholme to parents Ken and Trudy, both locals. He attended Kendal Grammar School and studied politics and economics at the Co-operative College  in Bradford. His career was primarily in community development, but also in hospitality. He was Mayor of Kendal in 2009/ 2010 and joined the Civic Society the following year, he has held many past committee roles including Chairman and  Guided Walks leader . He is pleased to resume the Chairmanship at what he feels is an important time of change in Kendal.

Mr. Robin Yates

As Treasurer of the Society, it has been satisfying to have managed some of the Society’s projects over the years as well as ‘keeping the books’. I believe it is crucial we work in close partnership with other organisations, such as the national ‘Civic Voice’, and local authorities to help ensure there are planning structures in place that achieve our aims of preserving our heritage without stifling sympathetic economic development.

Mr. Richard Pealing

Richard grew up in Wrexham,North Wales. He graduated with a Post
Graduate Diploma in Town Planning from Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham and moved to Kendal in 1977. He worked for Cumbria County Council for over 30 years, firstly in the Planning Department and then in Economic Development before retiring in 2011. He has a keen interest in the built environment and coordinates South Lakes U3A Architectural Appreciation group and is the treasurer of the Fellside and Greenside Neighbourhood Forum.

Mr Tom Macan, MITG

An economics graduate from Sussex University, I grew up in, and retired to the Hawkshead valley, moving to Kendal in 2023. My professional career (1969-2006). was in the UK Diplomatic Service, including postings as Ambassador to Lithuania and Governor of the British Virgin Islands. With a longstanding, albeit amateur interest in history and architecture, I am a Blue Badge Tourist Guide for Cumbria and lecture on Viking Ocean cruise ships.

Mr. Jon Robinson

He originally trained as a Town & Country Planner at Newcastle University but then moved into digital mapping and GIS and then general ICT. He has a particular interest in the practical use and promotion of lime and other traditional materials in historic buildings. He also thoroughly enjoys local history research, photography, collecting local postcards and pictures, open water swimming when he can and a bit of community emergency planning.

Mr. Ian Gibbard

Ian qualified as an architect in 1981 and worked in the private sector on schools, housing, churches, leisure and commercial projects throughout the UK. He has a passion for urban design and loves to spend lazy Summer days in Italy mapping and sketching hill towns. Retired from directing his own architectural company, he now makes music and loves painting, history, reading, astronomy and anything that runs on two metal rails!

Mrs. Toni Yates

In addition to my role as the Membership Secretary I enjoy looking after the Civic Society memorial garden on Blackhall Rd and the planters in Police Office yard.

I have always been taken by how much interest is shown by both locals and visitors to the history, the culture and the heritage of our town and so I am pleased to be able to support the aims of the Society.

Mrs. Jenny Wilson MITG

Born in Kendal to Harry and Peggy Wilson ,Jenny was educated at Dean Gibson School, Kendal High School and the Universities of York and Sheffield. She had a career in teaching Music and Drama in schools in Cumbria, Dubai, Jordan and Oman. After retirement she retrained as a Cumbria Blue Badge Guide and now leads our Guided Walks Programme. She has a keen interest in all things Kendal as well as promoting Cumbria through her tourist guiding.

Mr. Tony Rothwell

Tony has been a long serving member of the Committee and has a vast knowledge of Kendal and its history. He was a Town Councillor and was Mayor of Kendal in 2003. He is also the Society’s ‘handyman’ and undertakes many tasks, not least of which is the installation of the Society’s information plaques around the town. For many years he represented the Society on the Town Council, Kendal in Bloom Committee.

Mr. Paul Crosby

Paul is a conservation accredited architect, SPAB Lethaby Scholar and director of Kendal based Crosby Granger Architects with 30 years’ experience specialising in the sensitive conservation and adaptation of historic buildings. He is also a technical advisor for The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings giving advice to homeowners and professionals throughout the country. The historic environment and its importance within the present day are vital to Paul’s view of Kendal.

Dr Rob David

Rob is an historian who has written extensively on Arctic history and on refugee history.  He has been President of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, Chair of Friends of Cumbria Archives, Chair of the Cumbria Industrial History Society and Chair of Ambleside Oral History Group.  He is one of the 'concerned citizens' of Kendal who in 2025 established the Kendal Heritage Partnership to bring together organisations and individuals interested in promoting the town's heritage.  

Mr. Danny Clahane

Danny is a sculptor, trained at Canterbury college of Art and Wimbledon school of Art.Carving a variety of stones including marble, limestone and slate for numerous public and private commissions and exhibitions. He has a particular interest in using sculpture and decorative detail in the public realm.