Candidates standing for election/re-election at the AGM on Tuesday 26th August at 7pm: CCDT AGM 2025
Ross Johnston (Current Chair)
I’ve lived in Stirling for 36 years since I came to the university to do research on birds. Since then I’ve held a variety of environmental jobs in Scottish Natural Heritage, NatureScot and Scottish Government including being the SNH operations manager covering Stirling. For the last 25 years I’ve lived in Grampian Road with my partner and two sons. I’ve been involved in St Ninians School Board and the setting up of the St Ninians Out-of-School Care scheme. I’ve been a Trustee for 4 years and I’m keen to help the Trust to deliver as much as possible for local people.
Richard Norman (Current Treasurer)
Born and bought up in the West Midlands I spent some time I Liverpool where I met my wife. We both moved to Stirling and eventually Cambusbarron in 1997 where we started our family. My village life started with getting involved with the toddler group at the community centre and I have taken part in a wide range of village activities as my 4 children have grown up. I began work as a firefighter in Liverpool and moved work to Glasgow when we were first in Stirling. Now retired from full time work with the fire service I enjoy studying and keeping my hand in with part time projects. I have been involved with Cambusbarron Community Development Trust for many years and have spent some time as Chair. We have built on the success of others and I am very proud of our achievement in buying some of Gillies Hill. As we work to develop the asset we have in Gillies Hill I also enjoy delivering services to the community. I particularly enjoy helping others to get involved and see their ideas come to fruition.
Ann Finlayson (current Trustee)
Born and brought up on the Gillies Hill. The woods were my playground. My dad had what we would probably now call an allotment in the walled garden and the use on of the original greenhouses. I remember the Dark Wids being planted and the sawmill working along with the castle ruins before they were demolished and the lake with water lilies before it was drained by the quarry workings. When my children were small we regularly walked the woods on a Saturday morning usually having more than just my three and sometimes as many as ten. They still stay in the village and regularly take their children and dogs up for walks. The only founding member of the CCDT to have continued on the Board since its inception 10 years ago. The Trust was formed in 2010 with the main aim to purchase and protect the woodland. Now we have reached our goal of purchasing the hill I now look forward to developing it into an area for all to use, look after and enjoy.
Stewart Lennon (current Vice-Chair)
I’ve lived in Stirling since 1994 when I studied at Stirling University. We moved to Cambusbarron in 2017 and discovered the wonderful woodland on our doorstep and have enjoyed exploring the woods ever since. I have been a trustee for several years now providing administration support for the running of the trust and volunteering for projects within the woodland that provide benefit to the overall community. I will continue to support the trust in the same manner as I have been doing over the past years.
Alan Hunter (current Trustee)
I have been a Trustee for five years after joining during the Covid pandemic. I grew up in Stirling and as child I always used to play at the castle and in the woods. I have a keen interest in the woods and good knowledge of the history of the castle; and I take great pleasure in bringing the castle gardens back to life and encouraging people to enjoy them . There is still lots more to uncover.
As a fully qualified joiner I have taken great pleasure in making the memorial benches that local people have donated to the Trust. I have a passion for the castle gardens and would love to see out the whole project and get more people to help uncover more history and make memories for people.
Andy Stratton (current Secretary)
My wife and I have lived in Cambusbarron for three years. Before that we lived and worked in Dorset. I have volunteered in the community woodland for 18 months, working many Saturdays in the area around the Lily Pond. It is hard work but very rewarding in so many ways. I believe it is very important that we do all we can, both individually and as a community, to help mitigate the effects of climate change and to increase biodiversity. I know this can be done successfully at a local level. In addition I am a keen runner and outdoor enthusiast and have spent many happy hours exploring the local trails. I appreciate the benefits to physical and mental well-being of being outdoors. If I were to be elected as a Trustee I would want to work to ensure that the woodland is enjoyed in multiple ways by all sectors of the community. I am also keen to be involved in other aspects of community development and involvement.
Voting procedures:
Members must select any candidates that they wish to see on the CCDT Board.
There is no max or min number of candidates that you can select.
To be elected onto the Board candidates need to be supported by at least 50% of those members who vote.
In-person voting: At the AGM you will be given a list of candidates and asked to mark against all those you wish to see on the Board.
In-proxy voting: All members will have received an email detailing the Candidate Profiles and proxy voting instructions. Proxy Votes must be received by midnight on Sunday 24th August.
If you attend the AGM after voting in-proxy you will not be given a voting slip. If you wish to vote at the AGM instead please inform us on the night and your proxy vote will be discounted.