Malcolm Boswell recently retired from his role as Director of Acas West Midlands, where he had responsibility for dispute resolution and business consultancy services. He has worked on a number of Government projects to design and deliver support packages, to promote business growth. He is currently a member of the Advisory Board at Keele University Business School and the Board of Trustees at Friends of the Lake District.
He has considerable experience of running a community business, having been Secretary and Vice Chair of Stafford RUFC, where he continues to be a Trustee. During this time, he worked with a small team to transform the Club by securing its relocation from its old premises to a modern £6.5m community sports facility.
Although only moving to Ireby three years ago, he has for the last twenty years spent his free time enjoying all that the Lakes has to offer from his static caravan in nearby Ouse Bridge, using the Black Lion as his local.
Steve Proctor moved to the village of Ireby 3 years ago with his wife and family, and is a regular at the Black Lion as both client and resident quizmaster. He is also a trustee of the Globe Hall.
Steve is an independent IT Consultant working mostly in Fashion and Sports Retailing advising clients on various IT related topics. Such as Finance, Logistics, Financial Services, and E-Commerce
He enjoys the surrounding countryside and enjoys fell walking the Wainwrights and wild swimming (in the summer). He is also a keen amateur musician and likes to try his hand at most things DIY.
Andrew Knights is a retired rural GP and has always been very much involved with his village community. He lives in Ireby with his wife, Janet, and labrador, Nancy. Their daughter and granddaughters live just over the road.
He enjoys fell walking (all 214 Wainwrights) and running – running or volunteering at Whinlatter Parkrun most weeks. He is an Ireby school governor and volunteer minibus driver, and volunteer at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.
Laura Crane is Business Operational Manager at Castlehead Medical Practice in Keswick. She has always worked in the health service. She has lived in Ireby for just over two years. She has two daughters and a Labrador, Nora.
She is an active member of the PTA of Ireby School and a trustee of The Globe Hall.
In her spare time she enjoys paddleboarding and fell walking.
Richard Ellison lives in Boltongate and is a Friday night regular at the Black Lion. He moved into the community in 2019 along with his wife and disobedient terrier Purdey. Richard is an Executive Director of the Cumberland Building Society.
Richard’s career after an interesting start in the wine trade has been in financial services. Richard spent 14 years at PwC in Scotland, overseas and in London as an auditor before moving to Clydesdale Bank which he helped take public in UK and Australia in 2016. Subsequently he was Interim Finance Director of Newcastle Building Society before joining the Cumberland.
Richard is actively involved in Christchurch Cockermouth and having hung up his rugby boots during the pandemic is outside most weekends with country sports or exploring the fells with Purdey.
Denise Lives with Husband Tim in Ireby after moving there from south lakes. Previously working for the Progressive employee- owned company Savant as a senior software configuration controller. This involved the control, processing and logistics of all blood products in the NHS blood service.
She now enjoys working in the Galleries with Tim as business partner as well as having a keen interest in interior design, Horses, Gardening and walking 4 dogs. With 7 Grandchildren too she has a busy and interesting life.
Tim has lived with Wife Denise in Ireby for 6 years. He has been in business for over forty years and currently has 2 successful retail art Galleries in the Lake district along with holiday cottages here and Yorkshire.
He has extensive experience in small business start up mentoring. He also has a keen interest in local country activities, Horses, farming and enjoys the grandchildren coming to stay in the holidays.
