Martyn Wade | After informally supporting Innerpeffray Governors for a couple of years I became Board member in 2013 having been captivated by this wonderful Library and its special location. A librarian with over 40 years’ experience, most recently as Chief Executive of the National Library of Scotland, I particularly focus on supporting the practical operations of the Library, cataloguing and funding. I continue to work with libraries, librarians and heritage bodies nationally and internationally and was awarded an OBE for services to Scottish culture. It is both rewarding and a pleasure to work with the Keeper of Books and fellow Governors to support the work and development of the Library of Innerpeffray. |
Stewart Donaldson | I became a trustee after being elected as one of the three ward councillors for Strathearn in 2017, and was nominated by Perth and Kinross Council. Prior to that I worked for many years in investment and financial services. One of my roles at the Library is with finance / investment matters. I was also very much involved with the recent review of the Innerpeffray constitution. There I think we struck the right balance between modernity and the historic nature of the Library. I’m also active with outside bodies such as Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust and the Heritage Trust. The first time I came across the Library was when I was brought up in Crieff in the 1970s. For some reason then I never went inside! That’s changed a bit over the last few years! I very much see Innerpeffray not just as a national, but also an international treasure.” |
Peter Parke | After a career in management consulting and holding managerial positions in IT companies Peter retired to Strathearn. He joined the committee of the Friends of Innerpeffray Library (FOIL) in 2015 where he served for three years including one year as Convenor. In 2018 he resigned from the FOIL committee and became a volunteer at the library where he has provided practical assistance most notably in managing the project to refurbish the schoolroom and in working with the Keeper of Books to create and launch a new website in early 2020. He became a governor in May 2020 |
Angelica Haldane | Italian by birth, Scottish by heart. I joined the Library as a trustee in 2020 shortly after marrying James whose family has a longstanding love story with the library, John Haldane of Gleneagles having been the son in law of the founder. My background is in International Business Law. From 2013 to 2015, I was an international consultant at Deloitte, then moved to Brussels to work for the European Commission and later became an associate at Linklaters, Lisbon office. More recently, I worked for a London-based geopolitical consultancy. I speak Italian, English, Portuguese and French and I hope to use these skills to leverage the library’s international exposure, while fostering its deep local roots. |
Steph Haxton | I am an historian, author, former FE lecturer and for 20 years worked for English Heritage, first as freelance historical education consultant and latterly as Education Manager for Cornwall. Commissioned to establish workshop facilities at a number of heritage properties and museums across Cornwall, I also ran in-school living history sessions. More recently I have been running creative writing workshops for adults as well as working with the Young Walter Scott Prize team on the Imagining History project- encouraging young writers to engage with history in the landscape. I discovered the Library of Innerpeffray last year and as writer, historian or reader, am now completely smitten with this unique place. Since a Haxton family are readers in the historic registers, it seems history is repeating! |
Marian Gerry | I began volunteering four years ago having been captured by both the borrowers register and the generosity of Lord Madderty. I am now undertaking research on the library and literacy in 19th century Muthill and Crieff. By profession a social worker I worked as a Family Therapist in the NHS, Child and Adolescent Mental Health services. I completed a MBA in 1995 with an interest in organisational structures, social marketing, and managing change. In 2001 I began a period of freelance work involving academic research, organisational consultancy and training. From 2012 I was the strategic lead of a training organisation providing a Clinical Masters in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice |
John Jackson | My love of older books grew out of holidays on the Island of Arran from which I began to collect books about the island, and now have over 250 volumes dating from the eighteenth century onwards. When I first came across a leaflet about Innerpeffray Library it became a ‘must visit’ place and has not disappointed. Professionally I have spent most of my working life in the charity sector, first with Tearfund, a Christian development organisation then as Scottish Director of Interserve another overseas Christian agency, and finally in a senior management position with the Church of Scotland. In my retirement I have served on the Boards of three different charities. These commitments have come to an end or lessened now, and so I am able to bring together an absorbing hobby and some appropriate experience to further the development of this most excellent initiative. |
Ronald Milne | A librarian by profession, I returned to Perthshire after a wide-ranging career in the UK and overseas. I worked most recently at Yale-NUS College, Singapore’s only liberal arts institution. I came to Southeast Asia via New Zealand, where I held senior positions at the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand and the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Prior to moving to New Zealand, I had a regular career in research libraries in the UK and worked at a number of institutions with rich documentary heritage collections, including the University of Glasgow, Trinity College Cambridge, the University of Oxford and the British Library. I have a strong interest in the development and active use of library and archival research collections. During early visits to Innerpeffray, I was struck by the depth of knowledge of staff and volunteers and the willingness to allow visitors to examine individual collection items. I regard these as very positive attributes. I believe the Library of Innerpeffray is a very special institution with a remarkable story to tell. As a Governor, I hope, amongst other things, to contribute what knowledge and expertise I have in managing collections and act as an advocate and ambassador for the Library. |
Robin Baxter | While my family’s roots are in Angus, after returning to Scotland from America in 2011, my wife Lucinda and I decided to settle in Perthshire. I am retired from an international career in the Defence and Oil & Gas industries and now devote time to the voluntary sector. When first visiting the library over ten years ago, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The library has a magical and captivating air to it, fostered, preserved and enhanced by a remarkable team of staff and volunteers. I wish to help secure and strengthen the future of the library for the next 350 years with a continuing emphasis on education. I remain fascinated by history on a local, national and international level. I am a countryman and an unashamed petrolhead. |