The Board

Eleanor Lohr (Chair)  - Independant Board Member

Eleanor has worked in social housing for almost 30 years, with experience in both local government and housing associations. She has notably been involved in setting up and supporting black and ethnic minority housing associations.   

Gordon Johnston (Vice Chair) - Independant Board Member   

 

Gordon is employed as a deputy Chief Executive in a large local authority and has been involved in housing and related matters for 30 years. He has experience of a range of local authority services including housing, planning and environmental health. He is actively involved in multi-agency partnership working across a range of initiatives.

Bill Davidson – NHDC Nominee         

Bill worked overseas for 18 years and was last employed as Deputy General Manager of a large dredging company in the Gulf.  Since retiring, he has spent four years as a District Councillor for Royston, two in which he held the portfolio for Waste Management and Ground Maintenance.  He is currently a Trustee/Chairman/Committee member for various local groups as well as being a school Governor and Police volunteer.  

Cara Gelston - Independent Board Member 

Cara is a qualified solicitor with extensive experience of Housing Law. She works for the Peabody Trust so has practical experience of many of the operational issues relating to the running of a housing association. She has a particular interest in the development of policies and customer satisfaction.

Ann Gilligan - Tenant Board Member    

 

Ann Gilligan is a tenant board member, who lives in Baldock. She believes pensioners need a voice, and has strong links with Letchworth as her father was born and bred there.  

David Kearns - NHD Nominee     

 

David is a long time Letchworth resident and has been a local councillor for 28 years. He is a governor of North Hertfordshire College and chairs their audit committee. He works in the engineering industry and is an active union member. He is married and has a teenage daughter. 

Douglas Kell - NHDC Nominee         

Doug is now retired, having spent over 40 years in Corporate and International Banking, undertaking a variety of roles including a period of secondment to the Department of Trade and Industry. He has lived in North Hertfordshire since 1982 and has direct involvement with the Scout and Guide movement in the area.

Ralph Kitchener - Tenant Board Member    

Ralph brings to the Board over 50 years of experience in industry and management. He is now semi-retired and in his spare time enjoys sport, DIY and gardening. He is also vice-chairman of the governors of Grange Junior School. 

Howard Marshall – NHDC Nominee

 

Before he retired, Howard was the managing director of a national distribution company, serving the construction and water supply industry. He still acts as the non-executive chairman of an iron foundry business. He is an elected member on North Herts District Council and is a freeman of the City of London.
Patricia Marshall - Independent Board Member    

Patsy brings to the Board knowledge she gained through working in various jobs from home help to senior management in social work. Since her early retirement she has researched older people in Hertfordshire to gain an MA and PhD. She lives in Letchworth Garden City and is currently the Chair of North Herts CVS. 

Lynda Needham - NHDC Nominee   

Lynda worked as manager of a fashion house before following a career in banking. She has been a district councillor for 15 years and had responsibility for the housing stock for the five years leading up to the successful transfer to NHH. She is a member of the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation Board and the Letchworth Civic Trust.  

Santok Takhar - Independant Board Member      

 

Santok is a practising solicitor, specialising in property work. He has a good understanding of tenant concerns through caring for elderly relatives who are NHH tenants and is keen to be involved more widely in the local community.

Jackie Thomas - Tenant Board Member     

Jackie is tenant board member for Royston. She is semi-retired but worked for many years in the hospitality industry, running a pub, managing a hotel. She believes that as a tenant she has a particular insight into issues connected with service delivery. She is particularly interested in the provision of affordable housing for younger people. 

Pauline Walker - Tenant Board Member    

Pauline has been a tenant for 41 years and attends resident meetings. She works part-time in a local school and in her spare time, enjoys gardening, reading and spending time with her grandchildren.

Heather Wright - Tenant Board Member     

 

Heather works as an Independent Personal Advocate for a local charity. She previously worked for another charity helping those who became homeless because of a drug or alcohol dependency. Heather believes that both her professional and personal experiences will stand her in good stead whilst serving as a tenant member on the Board of NHH.