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Trustees

The main role of the PHM Trustees is to assist Chair Bernard Donoghue in meeting the Board’s Charity Commission and Companies House responsibilities, as well as the funding requirements of Arts Council England, as a National Portfolio Organisation, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Current trustees

Bernard Donoghue, OBE – Chair of Trustees

Lord Steve Bassam – Vice Chair

Kay Carberry, CBE

Councillor Adele Douglas

Steven Lindsay

Dave Luckin

Victoria Phillips

Matilda Quiney

Katherine Savage

Suzie Thompson

Bernard Donoghue, OBE

Chair of Trustees

Bernard Donoghue OBE, Chair of Trustees, People's History Museum

Bernard Donoghue OBE has been the CEO of the UK’s Association for Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) since September 2011 following a career in advocacy, communications, and lobbying, latterly at VisitBritain. ALVA is the principal advocacy body for the most important and significant museums, galleries, palaces, stately homes, cathedrals, heritage sites, gardens, zoos, performance venues and visitor attractions.

In 2017, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, appointed Bernard to be the Mayor’s Ambassador for Cultural Tourism and a member of the Mayor’s Cultural Leadership Board. He is Co-Chair of the London Tourism Recovery Board, tasked with the sustainable recovery of London’ s visitor economy, created in February 2021.

He was Chair of LIFT, the award-winning London International Festival of Theatre between 2010 and 2021, and was a board member from 2005.  He was appointed Chair of the Board of the Bristol Old Vic, the oldest continually working theatre in the English-speaking world, in June 2021. In November 2021 he was elected Chair of People’s History Museum, the national museum of democracy, having been a Trustee since 2018.

In January 2022 he became Chair of the London and South East Regional Advisory Board of the National Trust, the Trust area with the most members and most properties, 1,300 staff and 11,000 volunteers.

He is a former trustee of The Museum of The Home, London; the Heritage Alliance; Kids in Museums; and Centrepoint, the youth homelessness charity. He was a founder trustee of the international LGBTQ Kaleidoscope Trust. He has been an appointed member of the Cathedral Council of St Paul’s Cathedral, London, since 2009.

He has been a member of the UK Government’s Tourism Industry Council, advising Ministers on all matters relating to domestic and inbound tourism, since 2016.

In 2020 Bernard was named by Blooloop as one of the world’s 50 most influential people in museums, and in July 2021 won the public vote for the COVID Special Recognition Award from the UK Museums and Heritage Awards for his service to, and leadership of the museums and heritage sector in the UK during the pandemic.

Image of 0D7CCDB0 D8C3 4766 8C68 05158A9585AE

Collection favourite

Universal Suffrage or the Scum Uppermost cartoon by George Cruikshank, 1819

Mine is a political cartoon, which I collect, and I covet this one.  It’s by the fantastic, sharp, political cartoonist George Cruikshank and is entitled ‘Universal Suffrage or the Scum Uppermost‘ and was created in 1819.

It was commissioned by the influential London print shop owner George Humphrey in July 1819, just one month before the Peterloo Massacre of August 1819, and its message is to warn of the dangers of radical reform and potential revolution.  Humphrey’s customers were mainly wealthy upper class men, many of whom were anxious about the growing demands from the working class for the vote. 

For me it’s the equivalent of the worst aspects of Twitter or Tik Tok today; polemic, provocative, propaganda and designed to scare and suppress the demands for suffrage and rights.  It’s a reminder to me that no rights have ever been given freely, they have all had to be argued for, fought for, and won by people power.  That’s as true in 2020 as it was in 1819. 

Where can you see this item or find out more?

Not currently on public display.  Contact collections@phm.org.uk to arrange to view the object.

Previously on display in Disrupt! Peterloo and Protest exhibition (23 March 2019 – 23 February 2020).

Read PHM Mark Wilson’s blog putting the spotlight on this 200 year old treasure in PHM’s collection, revealing why fake news is old news.

Lord Steve Bassam

Vice Chair

Steve Bassam has spent most of his working life as a servant of the labour movement as a politician and official. He worked for Camden Council and then the Greater London Council (GLC) as a senior researcher from 1983 until 1986, he also worked at London’s Strategic Policy Unit. For ten years he worked for the AMA and then the Local Government Association (LGA) as an Assistant Secretary. He briefly worked for KPMG and Capita prior to joining the government in 1999.

Lord Steve Bassam

From 1983 until 1999 he was a Councillor for Brighton and Brighton and Hove City Councils. For 13 years he was local political leader and led the creation of the successful unitary council in 1996. During his time as leader the city was transformed and Brighton and Hove regenerated into the vibrant city by the sea it now has a reputation for. He unsuccessfully contested Brighton Kemptown in 1987.

Steve was created a life peer in Tony Blair’s first peers list in 1997 and became a minister in 1999 and Labour’s Chief Whip in the Lords in 2008. He has been a member of the Shadow Cabinet since 2010 and has helped develop Labour’s effective use of the Lords in opposition.

Educated at Clacton Secondary Modern School, Colchester Technical College and Sussex and Kent Universities, Steve has a History degree and an MA in Social Work. He has a lifelong interest in labour history.

Image of Dagenham Ford sewing machinists strike and Equal Pay Act commemorative plate, from around 1984. Image courtesy of People's History Museum.

Collection favourite

Dagenham Ford sewing machinists strike and Equal Pay Act commemorative plate, around 1984

The plate struck to celebrate the victory of the Dagenham Ford Women strikers. 

During the 1960s my mother was a farm worker in north east Essex and part of a largely female workforce who picked soft fruit in the summer and during the rest of the year grew and prepared plants for packaging and sale.  The business was highly profitable.  They had a long standing grievance, namely that male workers were paid on a higher rate even though it was their work that contributed to the success of the business. 

The Equal Pay legislation that followed on from the Ford Dagenham equal pay dispute directly benefitted my mother and other women workers and made them less dependent on the state for support.  They didn’t get rich, but it helped make life a little easier and improved what were poverty pay levels and stopped farmers from seeing women employees simply as working for ‘pin money’.  I think it also think it enhanced their sense of worth and personal dignity at work.

Where can you see this item or find out more?

On display in Gallery Two.

Did you know?

Barbara Castle, who was the Secretary of State for Employment (1968-1970) met with the striking women at Ford’s Dagenham plant to help negotiate a settlement that would lead to the Equal Pay Act (1970).

Kay Carberry, CBE

Kay CarberryRetired, Assistant General Secretary, Trades Union Congress (TUC)

Kay Carberry was Assistant General Secretary of the TUC until March 2016. During her career at the TUC Kay worked across a wide range of policy areas and served on a number of government advisory bodies and commissions on equality, education, training and employment. These included the Women and Work Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, and Equality and Human Rights Commission. She is currently a Commissioner of the Low Pay Commission, a board member of Transport for London, a director of TU Fund Managers, an alternate member of the Takeover Panel and an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh’s College, Oxford University.

Kay was awarded a CBE in 2007 for services to employment relations.
In the late 1980s, together with former TUC General Secretary John Monks, Kay was responsible for the TUC’s role in the process that led the People’s History Museum (then the National Museum of Labour History) moving from London to Manchester.

Image of Thomas Paine’s desk, late 1700s. Image courtesy of People's History Museum.

Collection favourite

Thomas Paine’s desk, late 1700s

My favourite object is Thomas Paine’s writing desk.  It symbolises People’s History Museum’s radical purpose and values.

It takes me back to the National Museum of Labour History in the late 1980s when I was working with the TUC General Secretary John Monks and the NMLH Trustees, who included Michael Foot, to bring the collection to Manchester.  Michael Foot wrote, ‘Thomas Paine was the most far-seeing Englishman of the 18th century.  He remains the major philosopher of democracy and representative government’. 

Where can you see this item or find out more?

On display in Gallery One.

Which radical are you?  Could it be Thomas Paine?  Take our fast and fun quiz to find out, and help us match your interests to what’s on offer from PHM.

Councillor Adele Douglas

Manchester City Council

Councillor Douglas is nominated by Manchester City Council as a Trustee on PHM’s Board.

Steven Lindsay

Kay Johnson Gee

Steven is an adopted Mancunian originally from Glasgow. He is an accountant by training and a corporate finance advisor by profession, most recently with Kay Johnson Gee in Manchester.

Steven Lindsay

Steven is a lower league football fan, lapsing football player and ardent music gig attender. He has been involved in organising music based fundraising events for People’s History Museum, Salford Lads Club, Amnesty International, Musicians without Borders and Women’s Aid. He is also a Trustee at Omega Research Foundation and Vice President at Forever Manchester charity.

Steven is Chair of PHM’s Audit and Risk Committee.

Image of visitors enjoying the juke box in the Time Off? section in Gallery Two at People's History Museum.

Collection favourite

Juke Box, around 1960

My favourite item in the museum is the juke box.  It is the core item in the music activism section, and as an frequent gig go-er makes me smile. 

Where can you see this item or find out more?

On display in Gallery Two.

Dave Luckin

Dave Luckin

Head of Community Funding & Impact, The Co-operative Group

Dave leads development and delivery of community investment at the Co-op – one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, with sales of £11bn+ and more than 4 million members.

He is responsible for £25m+ annual investment, ranging from more than 4,500 grants to local community organisations, to major community partnerships and fundraising for Co-op’s national charity partnership to support mental wellbeing with Mind, SAMH & Inspire.

Dave’s career spans the private sector, community sector and academic research and he has leadership experience in diverse fields including community investment, sustainability reporting, member and community engagement, and responsible business consultancy.

He was awarded a PhD in sustainable development and environmental taxation from Nottingham Trent University.

Dave is also a Director of PHM’s Trading Company.

Image of There Is No Planet B placard, 2019 (front & reverse). Image courtesy of People's History Museum.

Collection favourite

‘There Is No Planet B’ placard, 2019

As a dad to two teenage climate strikers this one’s got real personal resonance for me.

It highlights the museum’s role perfectly by documenting history in the making, and gets right to the heart of a live, crucial and intensely political issue.

Where can you see this item or find out more?

Not currently on public display.  Contact collections@phm.org.uk to arrange to view the object.

On 27 October 2019 there was a ‘There is no planet B’ creative disobedience day, at the museum which put the environment in the spotlight.  Read ten year old youth activist Lillia’s guest blog about what’s at stake and how she is standing up for climate justice.

Did you know?

In 2019 PHM and many other organisations, including Tate and Nottingham Contemporary, declared a climate and ecological emergency.

 

Victoria Phillips

Victoria Phillips

Previously Head of Employment Rights (Client Relations), Thompsons Solicitors LLP now retired

In 1921, Harry Thompson stood with Poplar Councillors against unfair tax and launched a law firm dedicated to campaigning for social justice and reform. One hundred years later, Thompsons Solicitors still campaigns for social justice and acts for many of the major trade unions and their members.

Victoria worked for Thompsons from 1994 – 2022 specialising in trade union and employment law. She was involved in a number of leading cases involving the law of industrial action, working time and transfers of undertakings.

She previously worked for the Labour Party as National Women’s Officer (1988-1993) and was President of the National Union of Students (1986-1988).

Victoria lives in North London and is a Trustee of the Park Theatre.

Image of 'The Journey We Made Across Land and Sea, To Build a Country Not Made for Me’ banner, 2021. image courtesy of People's History Museum

Collection favourite

The Journey We Made Across Land And Sea, To Build A Country Not Made For Me banner (2021)

My ‘favourite’ changes every time I visit.

So my current favourite is the banner made as part of the Migration project showing the contribution of migrant workers to society.

It is not only a beautifully made banner, it contains a very powerful political message – like all the best banners. 

Where can you see this item?

On display in the 2024 Banner Exhibition.

Browse two floors of galleries – with the banners interspersed throughout – as well as a unique viewing window into the specialist Conservation Studio; where each banner has been expertly cared for prior to hanging.

Matilda Quiney

Matilda Quiney

Head of Management Services Administration, TUC

Matilda is Head of MSAD, the Department of the TUC responsible for support services and the Congress Centre.

Matilda worked in the Research Department of the GMB between 1993 and 2003, becoming Deputy Director of Research in 1997. She lobbied for improvements to employment rights and supported reps seeking to improve on the law in the workplace. Matilda then moved to the civil service, working in various departments as a senior civil servant.

She worked on the Women and Work Commission, Fuel Poverty and as PPS to the Leader of the House of Commons as well as in various corporate roles. She also spent a year working on secondment for British Gas.
Matilda moved to the Labour Party in 2013, working for the deputy leader of the party. She undertook some consultancy projects before coming to the TUC in 2015.

Collection favourite

The Journey We Made Across Land And Sea, To Build A Country Not Made For Me banner (2021)

I love the banners – the scale, the history and the craft that goes into making them is breath-taking. 

I like to see new things each time I come, and on my last trip I spied the new banner celebrating the ‘journey we made across land and sea to build a country not made for me’ with beautiful embroidery showing the different sectors where migrant workers have made such a contribution.

Where can you find out more?

‘The slogan on the banner ‘The Journey We Made Across Land and Sea, To Build a Country Not Made for Me’ speaks about the hostility migrants face when coming to the UK the narrative told in mainstream media and the poor treatment, not just as workers, but as people.’ Seleena Laverne Daye

Read our guest blog, The art of banners, by the maker of the banner, Textile Artist Seleena Laverne Daye to discover the significance of banners in the fight for change.

 

Katherine Savage

EY Partner, Financial Services People Advisory Services

Katherine has extensive experience creating effective reward and HR strategies across leading FS global organisations. A large proportion of her career having been spent within emerging markets and organisations in periods of unprecedented change/crisis management.

She has significant experience in working with Boards and Executive Committees, bringing deep expertise of understanding evolving regulatory expectations. 20+ years of leading in HR in Financial Services, managing Organisation Design, transformation, learning, regulatory alignment, reward and cost optimisation.

Currently her main focus is on the creation of Talent & Reward Strategies, building capability frameworks aligning to Work Reimagined and Future of Reward. Encompassing the need to better consider societal purpose and long term value creation. She enjoys leading and being a disruptive voice on Diversity & Inclusion, working with clients to accelerate their focus on developing a culture driven by inclusive leadership behaviours to leverage differences to achieve business results.

Suzie Thompson

Suzie ThompsonDirector of Development and Alumni Relations, University of Liverpool

Suzie Thompson is Director of Development and Alumni Relations for the University of Liverpool having previously held that role at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester for seven years. Suzie has been a fundraiser for over fifteen years and is passionate about the role philanthropy can play in changing lives and widening access. At the RNCM she was a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Student Awards Committee and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Forum.
Her various volunteer roles include trustee of People’s History Museum and a volunteer coach for Queen Bee Coaching.

Suzie is a Fellow of the British American Project.

Image of The Manchester suffragette banner

Collection favourite

Manchester suffragette banner, 1908

My favourite item in the collection is the Manchester suffragette banner.

I was a Trustee at The Pankhurst Centre for over seven years, and was honoured to meet Helen Pankhurst a few times while I was there.  One very special memory was getting to introduce my mum to Helen as part of the 2018 centenary celebrations of some women getting the vote, she was thrilled and said it was ‘like shaking the hand of history’.

So I pick this banner, for my mum who taught me to be a feminist, and for women in so many places and spaces who are still fighting for equal rights.  It is an enduring symbol to me that when people unite they can achieve amazing things

Where can you see this item or find out more?

The Manchester suffragette banner is currently in our museum stores. It cannot be permanently on display because one of the major things that causes objects to age or wear out is damage caused by light.

The banner made a special appearance in the final episode of Channel 4’s series Britain’s Most Historic Towns with Professor Alice Roberts. You can watch it again online in Series 3, Episode 7.

The Manchester suffragette banner is one of PHM’s ten treasures; ten pieces picked out by the museum team that they believe capture the ethos, spirit and importance of the museum’s collection

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