Date: 24th March 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
New Chair of Council
Bradford Cathedral is pleased to announce the appointment of Derek Twine CBE as the new
Chairman of Cathedral Council. He will be commissioned at the meeting of Council at Choral
Evensong at 5.30pm on Monday 19th May.
Mr Twine was Chief Executive of the Scout Association, the UK’s largest youth movement for
young people with over half-a-million members, from 1996-2013. He led major organisational
transformation: re-clarification of mission and strategy, growth of adult volunteering and youth
membership, stronger and more diversified financial resources, greater presence in inner cities and
with challenged communities, and increased engagement in public affairs.
Active in wider public life, Mr Twine is Chair of the Commission on Governance in the Third
Sector; a Trustee and Vice-Chair of the Church Urban Fund, addressing poverty in our inner cities:
founder member of the board for Youth United, a UK initiative chaired by the HRH Prince of
Wales; Member of the British Youth Council’s Strategic Advisory Panel; and a Council member of
the National Trust
After studying at Bangor University where he gained a First Class Honours degree, he went on to
post-graduate research, and then was on the academic staff. He then moved through a career in
the third sector. He is an alumnus and visiting speaker for the Windsor Leadership Trust.
He has held voluntary posts with the National Youth Agency (Trustee), National Council for
Voluntary Organisations (Commission on the future of Volunteering), National Council for
Voluntary Youth Services (Youth Involvement Programme) and the National Trust (Youth Theatre).
He has written widely, presented evidence to Parliamentary Enquiries and Select Committees,
lobbied governments on key issues, and he represents youth work and the wider voluntary sector
in the media. He has commercial non-executive director experience, and is approved by the UK
and the Guernsey financial regulators.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and
Development, and a Freeman of the City of London. In 2007, HM The Queen appointed Derek a
CBE for services to young people.
In 2013 Derek moved to West Yorkshire with his wife, Rhoda, who is a competent tennis and golf
player, and recently-retired hockey-player and PE teacher. Both their son and daughter have
“married into Yorkshire” and live in Eldwick and Baildon respectively, together with the
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grandchildren. Before moving, Derek worshipped and was active for over thirty years at All Saints
Woodford Wells, on the London/Essex border. Derek is licensed for communion administration,
and supported men’s breakfasts, luncheon club for the elderly, etc. He was also Vice-Chair of
Governors for Davenant Foundation School, a Christian ecumenical academy for ages 11-18. He
and Rhoda now attend All Saints Ilkley.
Mr Twine said: "This is an exciting time for our Cathedral, both in the City and across the
Diocese. There is still much to be done towards our mission, especially with those who are
marginalised and in poverty, but there is a renewed sense of energy and optimism in the air.
Professor Arthur Francis, my predecessor, will be a hard act to follow, but with fellow Council
members we commit ourselves to support Dean Jerry and to give value-added.”
The Very Revd Jerry Lepine, Dean of Bradford said: “It is really good news for Bradford Cathedral
to have someone of Derek’s calibre as our new chair of Council. He will bring a national
perspective as well as huge experience in charitable governance, strategic thinking and
understanding of God’s mission. I am really looking forward to working with him.”
Mr Twine replaces Professor Arthur Francis who retired at the end of March after fourteen years
in post.
END
Photograph attached.
2
YOURS : FAITHFULLY
info@bradfordcathedral.org
www.bradfordcathedral.org
Bradford Cathedral, Stott Hill, Bradford, BD1 4EH
T: 01274 777720 F: 01274 777730