Greenwich Heritage’s newest trustees include two Greenwich councillors, a King’s College teaching fellow, and a heritage sector influencer
CHARLTON, ROYAL GREENWICH – Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust’s Board of Trustees has grown by four. Heritage campaigner Henrietta Billings, King’s College history fellow Nigel Fletcher, and Charlton’s two newest councillors Lakshan Saldin and Jo van den Broek are set to help guide the eight-year-old heritage trust in its work to conserve Greenwich’s extensive history.
“We are over the moon to be welcoming new members to our Board with a wealth of knowledge in heritage, archival work, risk management, and charity development,” chief executive Tracy Stringfellow says. “We’re already enjoying the additional experience Henrietta, Nigel, Lakshan, and Jo bring to our board.”
Henrietta Billings (MRTPI, FRSA) has been the director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage since 2016. She has worked in the planning and heritage sectors for over ten years. Previously, she was Senior Conservation Adviser for the Twentieth Century Society. Billings is a chartered town planner with extensive experience in private sector consultancy and a background in journalism.
Says Billings: “I’m delighted to join the board of Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust as a trustee and look forward to supporting the work of this important charity and playing a part in its continuing and future success.”
Dr Nigel Fletcher is a teaching fellow at King’s College London, where he lectures in Politics and Contemporary History. He currently serves on the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives, the statutory body which advises HM Government on matters relating to official records, and has also been appointed as one of its representatives on the Forum on Historical Manuscripts and Academic Research. He lives locally, and was a councillor in the Royal Borough of Greenwich for 13 years.
Says Fletcher: “Having been a long-standing supporter of the Trust since its foundation, I am honoured to be joining as a Trustee to support its important work and help preserve and celebrate our rich shared local heritage.”
Lakshan Saldin is a chartered engineer and works as an advisor providing technical, project, and risk management services to range of industries. In addition to Greenwich Heritage, he is also a current trustee of the Greenwich Winter Night Shelter locally, and a past trustee of the Museum of the Broads in Stalham, Norfolk. Saldin has lived in Charlton for over 25 years and is a councillor for Charlton Hornfair.
Says Saldin: “I am very excited to be joining the Trust and playing my part in preserving and bringing to life the great history of our borough.”
Jo van den Broek (BA Hons, PGCE, MBA) is one of the councillors for Charlton Village & Riverside. She is currently business director of a small charity which teaches counselling & psychotherapy, and worked for many years with a national local government organisation.
Says van den Broek: “Having lived in Greenwich for over 40 years and remembering the old library at Charlton House as my local library, I’m excited to be working with the team and using my experience to help the Trust meet its aims and develop into the future.”
Billings, Fletcher, Saldin, and van den Broek all became trustees in the autumn. Key to their mandate over the next few years will be advisory work on the Trust’s planned exhibition spaces at the 400-year-old Charlton House & Gardens.
ROYAL GREENWICH HERITAGE TRUST
Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust is a registered charity, formed in 2014 to look after key structures, objects, and historic records within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Assets in the Trust’s care include Charlton House & Gardens, Charlton Assembly Rooms, Tudor Barn, and the Museum Collections & Archive of the Royal Greenwich, as well as memorials across the Borough. Its aim is to ensure the future of the Royal Greenwich’s rich heritage whilst bringing that heritage to life for everyone, through exhibitions, tours, walks and activities.
CHARLTON HOUSE AND GARDENS
Charlton House is a Grade 1 listed Jacobean manor house situated in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London. Built between 1607 and 1612 for Sir Adam Newton, tutor to James I’s eldest son, Henry, Prince of Wales, the House has a rich and colourful history and is now in the proud care of the Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust.
