Ceris Timms
Chair
Ceris is an expert in Alternative and Independent Education, focussing on environmental conservation. She has a diploma in Youth & Community Education and over 15 years of experience in her field, working with young people and adults with additional needs in a variety of settings. Her work has included building and leading Environmental Studies & Horticulture (ESH) programmes, running programmes for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and delivering numerous NHS contracts to support health and mental wellbeing through interaction with the natural environment. She is currently Director of the Eden Society, a CIC whose work is rooted in care recovery, social reintegration, the extra curriculum, educational attainment, holistic therapy, occupational therapy and pastoral care. Ceris has been a Director of Mickle Trafford Mill Trust since July 2015, and is responsible for the overall management of the site and the ongoing restoration project. This year she aims to make significant headway with finding a viable use for the Mill, as well as getting people back to Mill for tours and workshops.
Gill Spencer
Secretary
Gill has a background in administration, having worked for a number of different organisations before her retirement in 2006. Gill graduated with a Personal Assistant qualification with a Diploma in French and is fluent in business French. She went on to work for Marconi Radar in Chelmsford for several years before having the first of her three children. When they were still young, she joined the committee of a local playgroup, becoming Chair for 2 years.
In 1989, she joined a Merseyside medical practice as the Practice Secretary where she worked until 2006. During this time, she became a member of the Parent Teacher Association at Rainhill High School and was heavily involved in the organisation of fundraising events. She then took on the role of Chair of the association for 4 years. Gill joined the Mickle Trafford Mill committee in 2016 and was asked to take on the role of Secretary. She is responsible for all the charity administrations and maintaining all records and correspondence. Gill officially became a Trustee of the Charity in 2023.
Kate Spencer
Trustee
Kate is a Heritage Conservation Consultant and Archaeologist with 18 years of professional experience. She has been involved with the Mill since 2013 as a volunteer and later became a Trustee of the new charity. As part of the Mill team, she works on community engagement and is Project Manager for the restoration project. Throughout her career she has worked with charities, local authorities, professional developers and private home owners to deliver a variety of heritage projects. She was the Local Listing Project Officer for Greater Manchester and was also head of Heritage Management and Historic Buildings at the Centre for Applied Archaeology at the University of Salford. Kate is passionate about heritage education and believes that community engagement is essential for all restoration projects. Over the years she has carried out a number of community consultation events at the Mill and delivered sessions to local primary schools about the history and future of the site.
Dick Hodgkinson
Trustee
Dick is a retired building contractor with specialist knowledge of historic building conservation. He has worked both nationally and extensively in the Cheshire area on Listed Buildings over the course of his career. He has been involved with the Mill for over ten years and is an invaluable member of the team. He wears many hats; from undertaking expert building repairs to the historic structure, to taking guided tours and helping to deliver community events.
Dick is currently a Trustee and as part of the team he is the lead advisor on matters relating to the restoration of the structure.
Jason Briggs
Trustee
Jason is an award-winning specialist in fundraising insight and intelligence. He is the Co-Founder of Pyro.Solutions, Consulting Partner for BWF Europe and Fellow for Halpin Partnership.
Throughout his career, Jason spent years as the Director of Development at Cavendish Cancer Care, was a Consultant at Graham-Pelton, Head of Research & Insight, and Member of the Senate’s Academic Research Ethics Committee at The University of Sheffield, and Development Coordinator at Learning for the Fourth Age. A passionate advocate for positive change achieved through charitable services and education, he also has extensive experience across Higher Education and the Third Sector, receiving awards from National Startup, CASE and CIOF for his contribution. Jason has joined the Mill as a Trustee to be the lead advisor on fundraising for our ongoing restoration project.
