At its Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 9th November, the Vintage Carriages Trust (VCT) elected a new chairman and secretary.

The new chairman is Debbie Cross, aged 41, a museum professional who has worked for Bradford Industrial Museum and currently works for North Yorkshire Council as its Heritage Regeneration Delivery Officer for the South and West.

Debbie’s involvement with the Vintage Carriages Trust began in 2014 as an Audience Development Officer and later became a trustee.

The Trust’s previous chairman was Trevor England, who held the post for 30 years after serving several years as Treasurer.

During Trevor’s stewardship, the Vintage Carriages Trust prospered, particularly in his efforts to reduce the average age of the Trust’s Committee by recruiting much younger members when older ones retire.

The work that Trevor has put into the Vintage Carriages Trust is much valued, and he will continue in a supportive role while Debbie becomes familiar with the chairman’s role.

Retiring at the same time as Trevor is long-serving Secretary Dave Carr.

His replacement is Dr Katherine Carlton, another museum professional who has worked for several museums, including the Science Museum and the National Coal Mining Museum.

Katherine is also the secretary of The Friends of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, the charity that supports the work of the railway.

The railway is closely associated with the Vintage Carriages Trust which has its museum at Ingorw on the railway and where has it also held book sales,.

Dave Carr was Secretary of the Vintage Carriages Trust for 13 years. Secretarial work is never the most glamorous of roles, but Dave performed them extremely well. The Trust wishes him well in his retirement and is very grateful to him for all his work.

“Over the years Trevor and I have spoken about me taking over from him as the Chairman of VCT and I am truly honoured to have the opportunity to carry on his amazing work over the last 30 years. As a voluntary organisation we are heading into uncertain times as retirement age rises and the cost-of-living increases. We are at a point where it is important that we work strategically and plan for the future. I believe that the skills I have developed over my career in strategic planning and museum development will help guide the organisation through this period. I am also very fortunate to have an incredibly strong board of trustees to support me. Trevor is leaving some incredibly large shoes to fill but I will do my absolute best to fill them and make sure that the future of this wonderful organisation is secure for the next generations. I am eternally grateful that he will be by my side over the next few years as one of my Vice Chairmen.”

Debbie Cross, newly elected chairman of the Vintage Carriages Trust