Trustees

John Wood, Chairman

John attended Penrice School and went to Cornwall Technical College. Thereafter, he qualified as a teacher in Reading. He returned to Cornwall some 40 years ago, living in a hamlet just outside the village of Roche, with his Cornish wife, Jean. John has served as Chairman of Cornwall Council and is currently a Cornwall Councillor.

“Living in the heart of the ‘Clay Country’ with clay very much in the community veins, I have always been interested in its evolvement from humble beginnings to the billion pound industry it is today. I care passionately that we work to ensure that future generations do understand and appreciate how their ancestors worked so hard to create much of the wealth that we enjoy today.”

Chris Varcoe

Chris Varcoe worked in the china clay industry for 44 years and retired in 2015. He has held many roles in the industry, including managerial positions in surveying, mineral planning, continuous performance improvement, the environment and finally as Imerys’ Mineral Services Manager, where he had responsibility for public relations, facilities, restoration, landscaping, mineral planning and security. Chris was also a Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying.

Malcolm Bell

Malcolm became Chief Executive at Visit Cornwall in January 2010. His previous appointment was as Chief Executive of South West Tourism. Prior to this, he was Director of Economic Development for Devon and Cornwall. He is the Chairman and a non-executive director of South West Lakes Limited and other appointments include membership of the Forestry Commission’s Regional Advisory Board.

South West Lakes Trust, Corporate Trustee

In April 2010, Wheal Martyn was taken over by South West Lakes Trust, which became the charity’s Corporate Trustee.  This allowed Wheal Martyn to retain its own charitable status, whilst enabling it to achieve a sustainable future. South West Lakes Trust is the South West’s largest combined conservation and recreation charity and was established in 2000.  The Trust was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2010 and 2014.

The two charities have complementary charitable objects; South West Lakes Trust’s work extends over a wide range of activities including conservation of the natural environment and built heritage, sustainable recreation, provision of safe public access and education across 50 sites in Devon, Cornwall, West Somerset and Dorset.

Wheal Martyn Enterprises Ltd

Wheal Martyn Enterprises Ltd. (company number 02599839) is the charity’s wholly owned trading subsidiary which operates the café, gift shop and conference facilities. Profits are gift aided to the charity.  John Wood is a Non-Executive Director and chairs the subsidiary. John is joined on the board of the subsidiary by Chris Varcoe, Colin Vallance (also Managing Director) and the following non-executive directors:

Evelyn Stacey

Evelyn was Chief Executive of South West Lakes Trust from 2000, where she was responsible for managing over 50 inland waters across the south west and was instrumental in successfully securing external funding in excess of £12m to further the work of the charity.  Evelyn is a past member of the Institute of Directors and of the Tourism Management Institute/Tourism Society.  She served as a member of the RDA-sponsored Regional Woodland and Forestry Framework group, and on the South West Forest Project Committee. She also chaired Exmoor Tourism and the very successful HLF-funded West Somerset Mineral Railway project.  She is currently a Secretary of State-appointed member of Exmoor National Park and remains actively involved in heritage matters as a member of the England, London and South committee for the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Jacky Swain

Jacky is the Communications and Site Manager for the Carlyon Bay development, a prestigious new seaside resort proposed in Cornwall. Jacky chairs the Aspire Academy Trust, is a Board Member of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, sits on the Management Committee of St Austell Bay Chamber of Commerce and is a Director of St Austell Bay Economic Forum. Jacky moved to Cornwall some 22 years ago and when she’s not working she enjoys walking her Labrador in the fabulous Cornish countryside and getting out on the water at St. Austell Bay.

Patrons

Jacqui Edwards