Ailsa Bearpark - Chair
It’s now 25 years since Ian and I moved to Pool-in-Wharfedale and the time seems to have flashed by. I was born in the northeast, raised in the deep south (Essex) and then moved to Stirling in Scotland. We were ready to step into a new adventure in Yorkshire when Ian joined the team at Tetley’s in Leeds and to our great delight discovered beautiful countryside and a thriving community to get to know. I soon joined the Citizens Advice Bureau in Otley and quickly realized what a good service it offered. I worked in Otley and Leeds City Centre offices for 20 years. During this period I served over 10 years as a Parish Councillor in Pool and still act as secretary to Pool Recreation Ground Trust. We have two grown up children who live in London. I took redundancy when the Otley Citizens Advice office closed in 2015 and still miss working with wonderful colleagues, we manage to meet up now and then. I took up golf and became a member at Otley Golf Club. 60+ is a bit late to start and I won’t be turning professional for a while however it’s good to be out in the fresh air and enjoy the friendship the club offers. Along with golf, walking and reading are my main hobbies and a bit of travel when possible. I joined the board of Otley Action in 2015 and became Chair in 2020. It’s been a joy to see how the organisation goes from strength to strength and to be part of a team that works tirelessly to offer such great support to the people of Otley, Pool and Arthington.
Frank Jordan - Secretary
I walked into Otley Action for Older People in Bay Horse Court and asked if I could help with anything. I could not have known then that 11 years later I'd still be helping. I have predominantly been a bus driver over the years but have also worked in the kitchen in both Otley and Pool, built furniture for people, done shopping, taken folk to hospital visits and taken some fascinating people on holiday to Lytham St Annes. My working life was spent being the accountant in a number of manufacturing and service businesses. Now retired I am happy to say that I remain on the Board helping with secretarial matters, and anything administrative that needs doing. And yes, I continue to drive the bus and help with whatever is needed.
John Eveleigh - Director
I have had a long association with OAOP, indeed, no one has had a longer connection because I was amongst the group who established the organisation and was the first Chair of OAOP – a position I held for about 18 years, and I remain a very active member of the Board of Directors. I have lived in Otley for 43 years and was elected to Otley Town Council in 1995. The following year, I was elected to Leeds City Council which is where the OAOP connection came about. Not long after my election, two people approached me and said it was about time that Otley had an older people’s neighbourhood scheme like other areas in the Leeds City area had. I set about lobbying Social Services for the funding to set up the scheme and in 1996 this was forthcoming and OAOP was able to employ its first Project Manager. In those early days, the project was established in Room 3 of the Otley Civic Centre. The very first thing we did was to arrange a coach trip to see a pantomime in Halifax, which was a huge success and OAOP was born! Like all Directors of OAOP, I am enormously proud of the organisation, and everything that has been achieved over the years. I continue to be amazed by the tremendous innovations of all the staff and volunteers – they really make OAOP stand out as a ’can do’ organisation. I am now retired, having worked for over 42 years in the NHS, the last 34 of those within the Leeds Teaching Hospitals. I am married to Hilary and have three children and four grandchildren. I am secretary at the Bridge Church in Otley.
Pam Gill - Director
I first came to the management committee (as it used to be called) 24 years ago as representative for Otley Town Council. I then started helping with lunches and, when I left the Council, decided to become a volunteer. I have worked as a Passenger Assist, was our Secretary for a while and a valued helper at Tuesday lunch club. I have loved my years volunteering with OAOP. I am married to Raymond and have two grown up children and 2 grandchildren. I worked for 10 years at Otley based Wm Sinclair’s as a book binder.
Gill Chapman - Director
I have been on the Board of OAOP since 2016, having retired after 33 years working in Health and Social Care with Leeds Social Services and Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, where I managed services for older people and worked with the Leeds Neighbourhood Networks. I am an active volunteer, working as a Passenger Assist on a regular basis and helping our Volunteer Community & Engagement Officer with interviews of prospective volunteers.
Pauline Padden - Treasurer
I first joined OAOP as a Director in 2019 and was very happy to do so after having some experience of the orgnaisation when I had my 95 year old Father living with me. The work undertaken is so important for the well being of our older community and I was keen to do something to support its work. I live in Otley with my husband and I have 2 children in their 30's and 2 grandchildren who all live nearby. The majority of my time is happily divided between seeing them regularly and playing golf, which I love. I have a background of working in the NHS, having qualified and worked as a Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor in Leeds. After 20 years of clinical work, which I loved, I became involved in Child Health research and decided to switch to full time research work, initially working at York University. After 5 years, an opportunity arose for me to put together all my experience and interests at Bradford Royal Infirmary in maternal and Child Health research, where I worked as the Programme Manager setting up the 'Born in Bradford' project - a birth cohort study. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Now I have retired, I spend a few hours each week at OAOP which is such a friendly place to be. I have just taken up the post of Treasurer, so I am learning lots of new skills and trying to live up to the challenges this poses for me!
Nigel Gill - Director
I have been a Director on the Board of OAOP since 2015 having previously volunteered at lunch clubs, been a passenger assist on trips and helped with administration. I really enjoy being able to contribute to the continuing success of this wonderful charity.
Andy Hinton - Director
I have lived with my family in Otley since 2008, and in Yorkshire since 1970. Born in London, I feel as though I am getting close to being accepted in God’s own country……. Once I became (virtually) retired two or three years ago, I began to volunteer with Otley Action and have worked as an escort on the bus for lunch clubs and trips; delivered meals; provided transport for hospital visits; and helped to run the Community Café. Prior to virtual retirement, I worked in the public sector, the utilities sector and for the last 30 years, I have owned and run small and medium sized businesses, mainly in the environmental and property sectors. I have also been a Trustee and active supporter of a number of charities over the last twenty years. My last remaining work interest is part ownership of a hotel in Borrowdale in the Lake District which we refurbished and now run successfully. I am married to Sarah (who also volunteers with Otley Action and with Bradford Baby Bank) and have 5 children and two grandchildren. Our youngest two were brought up in Otley, went to Prince Henry’s school and are now in full time education. I quickly came to recognise that Otley Action is a super organisation that provides valuable support for elderly people in Otley who remain living independently. I was happy to accept an invitation to become a Trustee in the summer of 2024