Scottish Civic Trust welcomes new trustees

Scottish Civic Trust welcomes three new trustees, Ian Leith, John Mason and Jane Masters

Scottish Civic Trust is pleased to announce that Ian Leith, John Mason and Jane Masters have taken up their new roles as Trustees of the Scottish Civic Trust Board as of the 4th June 2020.

Scottish Civic Trust was founded in 1967 to help people connect with their built environment and to take a leading role in guiding its development. As new Trustees, Ian Leith, John Mason and Jane Masters will be guiding the ongoing hard work of Scottish Civic Trust staff, including taking Doors Open Days 2020 digital with online virtual tours and talks, strengthening our outreach into diverse communities and implementing a new Climate Crisis response.

Ian Leith is the current chairman of the Wick Heritage Society, a post he has held for the past 4 years. Interested in the preservation and promotion of Caithness and the North of Scotland, Ian sits on the Boards of the John O’Groats Development Trust and the John O’Groats Mill Trust. He is also a qualified genealogist and runs Baseline Research, a company that conducts historical research projects across all geographies and most historical periods. Ian is Vice Chair of the Caithness Family History Society and executive member of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies.

New Scottish Civic Trust Trustee, Ian Leith said:

“Being a Trustee of the Scottish Civic Trust will enable me to represent the heritage interests in the North of Scotland. I am most looking forward to collaborating and sharing knowledge and information with a broad spectrum of people and interests.”

John Mason held various planning roles in local and central government in England before moving to Scotland in 1990 to join the then Scottish Office and later the Scottish Government. While working for the Scottish Government, John held senior roles in the housing, business, culture and environmental sectors, and was the Private Secretary to two First Ministers. He piloted Scotland’s initial climate change legislation through the Scottish Parliament, saving shipyards and steelworks from closure. John was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2015 for his role in attracting major events like the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Gleneagles Ryder Cup to Scotland and effectively managing their delivery. Since retiring in 2016, John has become Chair of Linlithgow Burgh Trust and is on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scottish Committee.

New Scottish Civic Trust Trustee, John Mason said:

“I have always cared passionately about the built and natural environments. In particular, my educational background in geography and town planning has ensured that the importance of place and community has underpinned much of what I have done at both a professional and personal level.

Becoming a Trustee of the Scottish Civic Trust is an important part of that continuing interest and fits well with the other volunteering I undertake at Board level. In particular, given my involvement with the local Civic Trust in Linlithgow, I hope that I will be able to bring knowledge of grassroots issues into the future thinking of the Scottish Civic Trust.”

Jane Masters is an experienced heritage professional with a background in public and private museums and heritage organisations, including National Trust for Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and National Museums Scotland. Her passion lies in interpreting Scotland’s built, natural and cultural heritage for all audiences, and connecting our heritage to the way in which we live, learn and work today. Jane is currently Head of Heritage & Development for New Lanark Trust, where she is responsible for the strategic development and interpretation of New Lanark World Heritage Site for its diverse audiences. She sits on the Board of Lanark Community Development Trust and works extensively with partners ranging from local groups to universities, both nationally and internationally.

New Scottish Civic Trust Trustee, Jane Masters said:

“I am delighted to be joining the Board of the Scottish Civic Trust. I sought to join as I am passionate about engaging people with heritage, and am looking forward to supporting the excellent work the organisation carries out in relation to celebrating Scotland’s heritage, and encouraging community involvement at all levels.”

Chair of the Scottish Civic Trust, Colin McLean said:

“I am excited for Ian, John and Jane to bring dynamic, new perspectives to the Scottish Civic Trust and to support our ongoing ambitious work to celebrate Scotland’s built environment, take action for its improvement and empower its communities. Ian’s expertise in Northern Scottish heritage will deepen our national reach; John’s experience with climate change will inform our new Climate Emergency response; and Jane’s extensive knowledge of diverse community engagement will support our Diverse Heritage project. I am pleased to welcome them all to the Board.”

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More information on our Trustees and governance structure can be found on Scottish Civic Trust’s website.

For images and interviews please contact Erin.Burke@scottishcivictrust.org.uk

Notes for editors:

About Scottish Civic Trust

Scottish Civic Trust’s Mission is to celebrate Scotland’s built environment, take action for its improvement and empower its communities. The Vision which drives this is thriving, beautiful and well cared for buildings and places, which help to support and sustain a high quality of life.

Founded in 1967, the Scottish Civic Trust exists to help people connect with their built heritage and take a leading role in guiding its development. In its infancy, it successfully campaigned for the restoration of Edinburgh’s New Town and can also claim credit for saving New Lanark – both now part of Scotland’s network of six World Heritage Sites.

In addition to these major milestones, the Scottish Civic Trust initiated Doors Open Days, now the largest free festival of architecture in the U.K. Doors Open Days celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019.

About Doors Open Days

Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates heritage and the built environment, new and old. Every September you can explore hundreds of fascinating buildings across Scotland for free. The purpose of Doors Open Days is to enable everyone to enjoy our shared built and cultural heritage by accessing places, spaces and activities not usually open to them.

Due to COVID-19, Doors Open Days 2020 will be primarily an online event, with venues creating virtual tours, online lectures and more. Doors Open Days 2020 online offerings will be accessible through the Doors Open Days website during September 2020.

Doors Open Days is supported by Historic Environment Scotland, and is part of European Heritage Days.

Further Information

For further information, images and interviews please contact Erin Burke, Scottish Civic Trust Communications and Events Officer, at Erin.Burke@scottishcivictrust.org.uk.

The Scottish Civic Trust
The Tobacco Merchant’s House
42 Miller Street
Glasgow G1 1DT

www.scottishcivictrust.org.uk