Executive Committee

Glennis is our Child Protection Officer and has a deal of nursing experience, having worked at Colchester Hospital for 10 years in various departments from A. & E. to Geriatric Nursing. This was followed by 21 years with Gloucestershire Area Health Authority.
Glennis has six children and six grandchildren.

Nine years ago she was appointed as School / Boarding House Matron at Cheltenham College School, During this time she has kept up-to-date with courses covering many aspects of child care including Drugs / Eating Disorders / Emotional Needs.

Glennis recently updated her skills further by attending a Child Protection & Safeguarding Training Course run by the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Born in Congleton, Ernest was educated at Congleton Boys Secondary School and then worked in the local textile industry, becoming firstly a Director of Berisfords Ltd., and then later of International Trimmings plc. He and his wife, Brenda, now live in Astbury.

Through the Rotary Club of Congleton, he has been involved with the Youth Orchestra since its inception in November 1994.

He has been a Rotarian since 1988 and was President in 2000/2001. For his work in the local community he was recently awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Sylvia has spent most of her working life with Royal Doulton, rising to the position of Factory Accountant. During her time at Doulton's she was the treasurer of the "Doulton Benevolent Fund" as well as a member nominated trustee of the Pension Fund. She took early retirement/voluntary redundancy in 2002..
She took a part time position working for Holdcroft Renault in Hanley before Doulton's asked her to return to work in their Pensions Dept. on a part- time basis and
she is now based at the Wedgwood Factory in Barlaston
following a takeover of Doulton's.
Sylvia was invited to become a Trustee in 2004 and quickly became a valuable member of the team. As Treasurer she keeps us on the straight and narrow.
She is married and lives in the Potteries, but spends a lot of
time inCongleton, which is almost her second home.
Sylvia has a lively sense of humour.

Helen was born near Stone, Staffs and moved to Congleton with her husband and daughter in 1983.

Before her marriage she was Secretary to the Hospital Administrator of the City General Hospital. Following her marriage she worked as Personal Secretary to the Professor of Veterinary Anatomy at Liverpool University

Helen was the Co-Founder of the Orchestra in 1994. She has been involved ever since. Her daughter Anna was a founder member of the Orchestra and still plays at their concerts on a regular basis.

Helen was awarded the Rotary Cub of Congleton "Vocational Service Award" in December 1998 and was also presented with a Silver Salver at the 10th Anniversary Concert in Congleton Town Hall in recognition of her outstanding service to the Orchestra.

Douglas Parker was born in Stoke-on-Trent and has lived in Buglawton for 39 years He is married to Hilary and has two daughters, Katrina and Victoria and two grandchildren, with a third due in 2007.
He is a Councillor on Congleton Town Council and Congleton Borough Council and has also been Congleton Town Mayor and Borough Mayor. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Congleton.
He was the proprietor of a building/shopfitting firm, but has now retired.
He has been involved in the scouting movement for 55 years. He is a member of many local organizations and is a fundraiser for many of them, including the Orchestra.
He is also the Congleton Town Crier.

Andrew became involved with the Orchestra from its inception in 1994. His daughter Victoria was one of the founder members and played at the Inaugural Concert in March 2005. Older daughter Michelle also joined and both girls still continue to play and support the Orchestra from time to time.
He was our Treasurer for eight years and is our representative for Making Music.
Andrew is also Chairman of Congleton Art Society.

Paul was invited to become a Trustee of the Orchestra in 2005. His daughter Rachael was a past Leader of the Orchestra and a Founder Member. She still keeps in touch and plays at the occasional Concert.
Paul is our "Mr. Fixit" when anything breaks, or instruments are required to be moved to a different venue. He is always cheerful and nothing is too much trouble for him.

Helen is a Parent Representative and has been on the Committee for 3 years. Her role is to organise catering arrangements for either social events or refreshments during the concert intervals.

Her daughter, Genevieve, is a clarinettist in the Orchestra and Helen also played the clarinet for 7 years while at High School but regrets having never continued playing.

She has lived in Congleton for 7 years and works for a local firm of Accountants.

Diane is our Recruitment Officer. She has spent most of her working life in the Health Service, latterly as a director in an NHS Trust. She took early retirement in 2003
.
Diane has been involved with the orchestra for many years, her daughter Lydia played the flute and was one of the early members.

As part of her Recruitment duties Diane liaises with the local Schools. She also produces eye-catching noticeboards which tour around the local Libraries from time to time.

The new Parental Representative, Phil Boardman, was elected at the A.G.M. on Saturday 20th October 2007.

Phil has two children in the orchestra; Emily who plays Trumpet and Tony who is one of our Percussionists and also plays Trombone.

Phil feels that the Congleton Youth Orchestra provides its young members with a wide variety of high quality experiences, and has joined the team to help to maintain these high standards. Phil lives within Congleton Borough, in Alsager, and works as a Business Consultant for an IT Services Company.