Meet the LGB Members

I was elected as Chair of Whitfield LGB in September 2017

My desire to be part of Whitfield LGB derives from a genuine interest in school improvement at all levels and a deep rooted belief in the importance of education for all. My own background is embedded in teaching, having taught in the primary sector for over thirty years. I have also been Head Teacher of two primary schools, one in Carlisle and until i semi-retired in July 2017, Gilsland C of E Primary School in Cumbria.

Although semi-retired, I continue to work as a school improvement officer for both Carlisle diocese and the Good Shepherd MAT. I am also chair of Cumbria teaching schools and the Rural Learning Alliance Teaching school.

When not working I enjoy my leisure time walking my three dogs and spending time with my four grandchildren. All this keeps me very busy but in touch with both young people and their education.

I feel privileged to be Chair of this dynamic and inclusive school and promise to do my best to support the staff, LGB members and families to ensure Whitfield C of E Primary School is the best it can be.

I live locally and have two daughters at Whitfield C of E Primary School. I am an artist filmmaker, community activist and academic.

I became an LGB member during the transition to Good Shepherd MAT, and was a governor previously during our campaign to save the school. I am vice chair of the LGB, and chair of the Premises and Wider Community subgroup, which focuses on checking that school is well-resourced, safe, and has strong relationships to our local community and beyond. I love being able to play a part in my local primary school, working with music, film, drama, Friends of Whitfield activities and enrichment. Being a member of the LGB enables me to contribute to the continuous improvements at school and represent parents and friends thoughts and ideas. I am proud of what we have achieved together in the last couple of years, with the woodland classroom, the Lapwings extension, the Brundibar play and our positive SIAMS report, as well as brilliant teaching.

I like alot of things! Playing music, mending and building things, watching world cinema, growing food, and helping run the Star and Shadow Cinema in Newcastle, of which I am a founder member. I am also really interested in co-ops and ways of working together sustainably to share resources.

I've lived in Ninebanks for 20 years. Having globe-trotted around the world as an army officer, my husband and I decided to settle in Ninebanks with our two young sons. I joined a construction company and over the years built 28 new schools, working with children throughout the construction phases. I retired recently and wanted to continue working with children, I visit school regularly and listen to children read and assist the school in any way that I can.

My wife and I moved to a smallholding in Mohope in 2017 where we have Alpacas, rare-breed Coloured Ryeland sheep and honey bees together with our 5 dogs. 

I retired from the Royal Air Force in early 2019, after 40 years service, and settled full-time in this beautiful part of Northumberland. We both wanted to integrate fully into the local community and so I volunteered to both become a member of the LGB for Whitfield C of E Primary school and to also become a member of the St Mark's Ninebanks with Holy Trinity Whitfield Parochial Church Council. 

I have experience of being a School Governor within my past being actively involved with both primary and secondary education at schools in North Yorkshire and acting as a Governor at a middle school in Cambridgeshire. I am also a qualified Management Accountant and was frequently called upon to participate in both mathematics and economics curricular activities, where i was happy to offer my experience. 

In my spare time I volunteer at the Solway Aviation Museum at Carlisle Airport where, because of my aviation background, I am the Cold War expert including leading guided tours of the resident Vulcan bomber. 

Following my university degree I ran an art gallery in the West End of London. I have always enjoyed exhibitions as well as painting in watercolour. Over the past 10 years I have been involved in running the gallery at the Allendale Forge Studios where i have also exhibited my paintings.  I was brought up in Sussex but moved to Whitfield from London in 1989 with my husband and 9 month old daughter. I have now lived here for over 30 years which has gone in a flash. Our three children attended Whitfield C of E Primary School and I was a governor there for 10 years during this time. Over the years I have helped in school when I had the time and have tried to attend the wonderful plays and Nativity performances the school put on. It is a unique place and has so much to offer in every way. I look forward to being able to attend these performances again and to helping out when COVID rules permit. 

My name is Christine Black, my husband and I have lived in Whitfield for 7 years. I previously lived in Munich, Germany for close on 20 years, my children and grandchildren still live and work there which means we travel back and forth throughout the year. I am a retired Montessori teacher/directress, I worked at a Montessori English speaking preschool in the heart of Munich, I still have a passion for the Montessori method "Help me to help myself" I still practice Montessori in my daily life, but I have also dabbled in Steiner and Reggio and I'm happiest in the woods and forests as nature is so giving throughout the year. I feel I still have more to contribute and share my experience of working with children and parents over the years. I am currently the President of Whitfield WI (women's institute) and we try to help our community the best we can, young and old. When I have spare time you will find me crafting or gardening, I try and learn a new craft or face a new challenge when the opportunity arises. I enjoy organising events as I do for the WI and one of my hobbies is to wander through the woods taking photos of the flora and fauna.