Our Governance
Cambridge Preservation Society was founded in 1928 and registered as a charity (no. 204121) in February 1962. We are also a private company limited by guarantee (company number 0239835).
In 2009 we changed our name to Cambridge Past, Present & Future.
Our governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association (click here to view), which was first adopted in 1929 and last updated on 14 July 2009.
Our governing body is the Board of Trustees, comprising the Trustees (the Company Directors) who have full decision-making authority on behalf of the charity’s members.
The charity has a number of committees and working groups. The Trustees and members of committees are all volunteers.
We report annually to the Charity Commission and to Companies House. We hold an Annual General Meeting to which all members of the charity are invited, this usually takes place in the autumn.
Board & Trustees
Our governing body is the Board of Trustees, who have full decision-making authority on behalf of the charity’s members. All Board members are volunteers.
The Board of Trustees is elected by the membership at the charity’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Board members are elected for a period of four years and serve as trustees of the charity and as directors under the Companies Act. Mid-year vacancies are filled by co-option. Co-opted members stand for election at the following AGM. The maximum number of trustees allowed by our governing document is 10.
Board members are given induction and offered training which is appropriate to them given their personal qualifications and experience and the particular role that they play within the charity.
At all meetings of the Board and committees, if any of those present have a possible conflict of interest it is declared and, if necessary, that person is excluded from discussion on the relevant matter.
The Board meets quarterly (but also conducts its business by email or additional meetings when necessary).
Current Board of Trustees:
Karen Rothwell (Chair)
Read About Karen
Karen was most recently Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Greenpeace UK, where she led a strategy that almost doubled the number of donors and income in 5 years.
She has spent most of her career in conservation and environmental charities, with 10 years as Marketing Director at the RSPB and in a number of consultancy roles.
She’s equally happy out and about in nature (ideally in or on the sea) or exploring built heritage, art galleries and busy cities. She lives in Huntingdon with her family and two lurchers.
Lesley Thompson (Treasurer)
Read About Lesley
Lesley studied for a BA Hons in German and Philosophy in Manchester and for an MA in Anglo-German Literary Relations in Leeds. Following professional training, she was admitted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1988 and is now a Fellow of the Institute. She has over 30 years of experience of working at a senior level in the Arts, Health and Higher Education sectors, particularly in regional East of England roles, including for Eastern Arts Board and The Open University. Most recently, Lesley was Bursar at Lucy Cavendish College (2010-2023). She served on numerous bursarial and University committees and was Secretary (2019-2021) and then Chair of the Bursars’ Committee (2021-2023). Lesley has lived in Cambridge since 1989 and was previously a school governor for 17 years and chair of trustees at Cambridge Community Arts (2017-2021). Lesley is now an Emeritus Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College and has been a trustee of the Association for Cultural Exchange, based at Stapleford, since July 2023.
Brian Cleary
Read About Brian
Brian worked in the Planning Department at South Cambridgeshire District Council from 1979 to 1993. During that time he specialised in Planning Appeal and Public Inquiry work and has a very good knowledge of the countryside and villages surrounding Cambridge.
Brian then joined the RSPB and eventually headed up the Society’s Casework Team. The RSPB responds to many development proposals throughout the UK and Brian was responsible for coordinating this effort and any related campaigns including several successful high-profile cases. He worked with a number of UK and international NGO partners to assist their casework efforts.
A keen birder – his other interests include aviation history (he is a volunteer at Duxford’s Imperial War Museum) and playing acoustic music with local bands.
David Coomes
Read About David
David is an ecologist working at the University of Cambridge, where he leads the Forest Ecology and Conservation group.
His research focuses on the development of new remote sensing tools for monitoring woodland change and using those tools to understand the processes driving change. Before coming to Cambridge he worked for a research organisation in New Zealand, advising the government there on how to manage invasive deer and developing a national system to measure forest carbon as part of the country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
He spends his weekend enjoying the wildlife on his doorstep provided by Coton Reserve, accompanied by a very enthusiastic dog and somewhat enthusiastic son.
Dame Polly Courtice, DBE, LVO, DL
Read About Polly
Polly was Founder Director of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (1988-2021) and has been the recipient of numerous awards for her contribution to sustainability. She is a member of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and a Non-Executive Director of the British Standards Institution (BSI). She is a sustainability Advisor to Terra Firma Capital Ltd and a member of the judging panel for the King’s Award for Sustainable Development.
Polly is Chair of the Faculty Board of Engineering, University of Cambridge, and is a Deputy Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire.
Dr Cordelia Langford, FRSB
Read About Cordelia
Cordelia Langford, PhD, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. At work, Cordelia has spent most of her career involved in developing and applying new technologies in a genomics research environment. As Director of Scientific Operations at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cordelia leads a department of 300 scientists, researchers and technical experts working together to advance our understanding of biology and life on Earth with equality, diversity and inclusion as core principles.
A personal member of Cambridge Past, Present & Future and the Wildlife Trusts Cordelia has a passion for nature, and is fascinated by the organisms (large and small) that cohabit with us and the role they play in the natural environment. A regular visitor to Wandlebury, sometimes accompanied by a watchful dog, Cordelia aspires to contribute towards the provision and upkeep of biodiverse spaces to positively impact our lives as well as those of our environmental ecosystems.
Caroline Stenner
Read About Caroline
Caroline is a solicitor and partner at Birketts LLP, specialising in trusts and succession planning. Caroline has been a member of Cambridge Past, Present & Future for a number of years and became more closely involved with the charity when a client made a significant legacy to it. Caroline has wide experience of trust and charity governance and finance. Caroline and her husband are renovating a cottage beside the River Cam in Fen Ditton and are currently involved in a project with Wildlife Trust BCN to improve the biodiversity of their meadow by reducing fertility and reseeding to allow a wider range of grasses and flowers to flourish. Caroline feels strongly about the creeping urbanisation of our rural environment. Caroline is co-opted onto the board and will be nominated for election at the next Annual Meeting.
Dr Kelcey Wilson-Lee
Read About Kelcey
Kelcey is a historian of Britain, its material culture and heritage. She is Director of Programmes at the Architectural Heritage Fund, the UK’s leading social investor promoting the conservation and adapted reuse of historic buildings, where she oversees grant making, evaluation and communications. Prior to this, she worked as a major gift fundraiser within the Development Office at the University of Cambridge for eight years. Kelcey’s research focuses on commemorative culture, medieval women and historic spaces, and she sits on the Church Commissioners’ Committee for Sculpture and Furnishings. She has lived in Cambridge since 2006 and is a regular at Wandlebury and Coton Reserve, often accompanied by her two young sons. Most of the rest of the time, she can be found in an old church lifting up carpets to see what is underneath.
Committees & Working Groups
Our governing body is the Board of Trustees who have full decision-making authority on behalf of the membership. The Board has established a number of specialist committees and working groups to help carry out the work of the charity, each has its own terms of reference.
At all meetings of the Board and committees, if any of those present have a possible conflict of interest it is declared and, if necessary, that person is excluded from discussion on the relevant matter.
The Finance Committee
The Finance Committee advises the Board on matters relating to the financial management of the charity and its investment and property assets.
Current members: Lesley Thompson (Chair), Paul Chapman (Chairman), Karen Rothwell, Sally Adelman, John Moore.
The Planning Committee
The Planning Committee provides advice to the Board on planning issues and large-scale development plans impacting on the greater Cambridge area. It concentrates on safeguarding heritage, landscape, green spaces and other public amenities.
Current members: David Adamson, Dinah Brooks, Brian Cleary, Baroness Janet Cohen, Patsy Dell, Donald Douglas, Edward Leigh, Dr Robin Pellew, David Stewart, Richard Townley and Bill Wicksteed.
The Heritage Watch Group
The Heritage Watch Group provides advice regarding protecting the heritage and historic buildings in the greater Cambridge area. It also leads on specific heritage projects and campaigns, such as Cambridge Market Square and Conservation Area Reviews.
Current members: Wendy Andrews, Michael Goodhart, Dr John Gray, Lucy Gray, Penny Heath, Prof Peter Landshoff, John Preston and Alexander Whiscombe.
Cambridge & District Blue Plaques Committee
Cambridge & District Blue Plaques Committee carries out the work of selecting, erecting, celebrating and maintaining the blue plaques.
Current members: Jonathan Barker, Tom Bygott, Julia Eisen, Corine Garvey (South Cambs Council), Penny Heath (Chair), Jonathan Hurst, Glenys Jackson and Honor Ridout.
Annual Reports & Finances
We report annually to the Charity Commission and to Companies House. Our financial year is 1 April-31 March. Our accounts are independently audited and presented at our Annual General Meeting.
We produce a statutory Trustees Annual Report & Accounts and also a shorter, more informal annual review. You can download the most recent reports via the links below.
If you would like to see a copy of earlier reports please contact us.
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