Friends of Broomfield Park Trustees
We are a dedicated volunteer group committed to preserving and enhancing Broomfield Park in Palmers Green, North London.
Trustees
TRUSTEES
Finula Cilliers –Co-Chair and Treasurer As an active member of FoBP and its executive, I have been involved in decisions on fundraising and expenses for the park and providing up to date information about finances. As co-chair, l take an active role in chairing meetings and keeping abreast of the different strands of activity within the park and the Friends Group.
Since April 2022, as FoBP treasurer, I am responsible for maintaining accurate financial records and for the FoBP bank account. I ensure that payments are made in a timely manner and that the bank account is reconciled with financial records. I am an experienced chair having co-chaired a committee for Insight Investments for eight years and have been dealing with board committees for over 25 years. I have a background of 30 years in finance in the banking sector and am skilled banking systems. I am a team player, good listener and willing to share my views.
David March – Co-Chair I have been an active volunteer in Broomfield Park since 2009, when I helped to set up the Community Orchard. I have developed, and support programmes which provide opportunities for volunteering for young people (Duke of Edinburgh award scheme), for teenagers with learning disabilities (Enfield Mencap), and an NHS Wellbeing Group with the local mental health trust. As Co-Chair I have worked hard to establish a positive working relationship with council officers, as demonstrated by the recent bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the ‘Unlocking Broomfield Park for the Community’ project. My background is in managing multi-disciplinary teams for two local authorities in urban design, town planning, building conservation and landscape. I am a good team worker and get on well with people and really enjoy working with volunteers. Last and not least, I love Broomfield Park and care about it.
Penny Austin – Membership Secretary As FoBP Membership Secretary, I have set up a new membership scheme.and keep members in touch with developments through a newsletter twice a year. I also volunteer at events.
I come from a sports and teaching background but also have administrative experience from working in the insurance sector for a number of years. I have played an active role in stopping destructive events taking place in the park and feel passionately that the park should be available to the whole community to enjoy.
David Williamson – Secretary I have served as Secretary of Friends of Broomfield Park since 2019, also leading on the organisation of events and supporting Richard with the website and communications. More recently, I have contributed to the process of establishing Friends of Broomfield Park as a registered charity.
My professional background is in education, where I worked as a teacher, schools inspector, and held leadership roles within a local authority. I bring strong organisational skills to FoBP and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of people and community groups.
My main interest is in creating opportunities for people to come together through the arts. In 2012 I founded Talkies Community Cinema with a group of friends as a way of bringing local people into shared cultural experiences. More recently, I have also been developing open-air music, theatre and family events in Broomfield Park. In 2023, working building on the great work pre-pandemic, I helped re-establish the Palmers Green Festival contributing to its role as a much-valued community celebration.
Kim Lumley – Apiary and Habitats I have been an active member of FoBP for the past eight years and was co-chair from 2018 to 2023. I have been involved in a wide range of park activities starting with a role as beekeeper in the apiary with a particular focus on developing and managing the natural environment and habitats within the park and working with young people in groups along with other volunteers. As previous co-chair I have taken a lead part in re-organizing and rebranding the FoBP as an effective volunteer organization and worked to develop a broad volunteer base with a wide range of park activities. My areas of interest are the apiary, wildlife, habitats and trees. This will include an active role in managing and developing the Growing Space, Wildlife Pond, Wildflower Meadow, Wetland, and lakes. My background is in health care working as the senior partner of a local General Practice and in medical education in developing a teaching and training practice. I have experience of leadership roles and can work well with other people and groups. I have practical skills and abilities that I can apply to work in various park environments projects and offer a hands-on approach alongside other volunteers.
Richard McKeever – Communications I have recently retired from a green space charity, where I led on Communications, including press and PR, website, social media and commissioning films and photography. So I have recent knowledge and experience from the UK parks sector. I have a background in management of charity and voluntary organisations where my focus has been on communications, research, policy development and dissemination. I have contributed to projects researching the wellbeing value of parks, an analysis of the unequal distribution of green space across the UK. In addition to this paid work, I have been involved as a volunteer on projects within the Bowes Park and Bounds Green community over several years.
Helen Mitchell – Education Lead I have been an FOBP committee member since 2016. I have played an active part in a wide number of activities and events, but I have a particular role in developing school visits from local primary schools and developing new activities to engage 11-18 year olds . I participate with school visits focussing particularly on the wetlands and am also supporting the development of a larger team of new volunteers to assist with all of the school groups. I regularly volunteer at the Palmers Greenery Community Café which offers an excellent opportunity to meet the local community as well as other volunteers in the park. My background is in education and, as a senior manager in schools, I can draw on my wide experience in working collaboratively with people to inspire children’s learning. I am currently a governor of a primary school in Enfield. I have a particular expertise in working with children with learning difficulties – including those with a wide range of language and communication needs.
Elena P – Lakes Team I volunteer with the Broomfield Park “Lakes Action Team”. We regularly care for and monitor the waterfowl, water quality and natural environment. Having an interest in the natural sciences from a young age, I believe it is crucial that we look after our green spaces and help the natural biodiversity to thrive, which provides a healthy and rich natural environment for all to enjoy. I have experience in animal rescue and mental health/wellbeing. I enjoy a proactive approach to working and developing working relationships with external organisations on projects to improve the park and engaging the local community to improve general wellbeing and connection with nature. My experience can help park users to enjoy the park whilst looking after natural spaces and keeping wildlife healthy and safe.
Andrew Polycarpou – Special Projects I have previously volunteered on primary school visits to Broomfield Park. More recently I have helped the organsation to become a charity. Also, I have led the Boating Pond restoration project with the co-chairs.
I am a management consultant in the construction sector with c30 years’ experience in the procurement of large-scale projects. I am a chartered purchaser and have a degree in mathematics. These skills enable me to ensure my clients secure the best and most accurate value for money when spending funds. My work requires high level organisational, expediting and collaborative skills that I can bring to the FoBP charity.
Jean Thomas– Deputy Treasurer As a parent of primary school children, I became an active volunteer helping with organising and leading the FoBP school visits and supporting other lead volunteers. I am keen to explore how families can be engaged and more involved in the work of FoBP.
I am also confident with finances and accounting and use these skills in supporting the treasurer and co-chair. I have extensive experience in contracting professional services in tech, financial services, and hospitality sectors. I work with cross disciplinarily teams and can offer good project management and organisational skills. I’ve also got young children and can offer suggestions/feedback on FoBP activity from a parent perspective. I’m passionate about engaging with schools and how we can offer enrichment activities for children outside of their school environment. I was Vice Chair at Walker Primary PTA from 2019-2021 and an active volunteer in 2022 and 2023. In my role as a PTA committee member at Walker school, I led multiple fundraising activities which helped with creating an outdoor classroom and purchasing equipment for the new school playground. My professional work and experiences can be used to share some of the treasurer’s workload.
Deborah Dalgleish – Nominated trustee. "I grew up in Southgate and spent many happy hours in Broomfield Park as a child and teenager. I qualified as a lawyer in the City, practised for a few years and then spent the remainder of my career working with and for lawyers in various capacities including recruitment, training and inclusion.
I have been involved with the Palmers Greenery Community Café since the very beginning, serving as a volunteer for almost 11 years now and, for the last few years, as a member of the Steering Group. All funds raised by the Palmers Greenery are ring-fenced for Park projects and it is in this capacity that I have become a trustee - working to ensure that available funds can be transferred to projects needing support as smoothly and efficiently as possible, and with maximum transparency for all volunteers - both those contributing to the upkeep and development of the Park and those working in the cafe. I have also been involved with the programme of local school visits to the Park."
Colin Younger - Heritage Lead. "I’ve lived near Broomfield Park for 50 years, long enough for both our children to have used the Broomfield House clinic. My professional background was in international relations, though this involved both recruitment and training. Post-retirement my focus became local. I chaired the Lakes Estate Conservation Area group from its formation, which gave me a seat on the (late lamented) Enfield Conservation Group which had an Enfield-wide remit. My concern moved to Broomfield House, and I Ieft the Lakes Group, becoming a Broomfield House Trustee in 2013 and Chair in 2016.
After four fires, the way ahead is not through Broomfield House restoration in any form, but its wider “memorialisation” and the improvements to the surrounding area. I know a lot about the history of the house and park, which I can contribute to the current project. This also applies to future discussions about the stableyard, which could be a major community asset. I continue to press for a proper display of the restored Lanscroon “Minerva panel” which the Trust managed and funded."
