Board of Trustees
Lincs Inspire Limited is overseen by a Board of Trustees; independent members from the community and business sectors who share their expertise to guide the company forward.
Supporting the company in a voluntary role, they approve our annual report and accounts, which look at our performance over the past year.
Malcolm Towle - Chair of the Board
“The work of Lincs Inspire provides such a major contribution to our community and to the health and culture of individuals in and around Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham that I am delighted to offer my support and expertise in defining and delivering its objectives.
I was first drawn to the area to take up a productivity post in the frozen food industry and later in fish merchanting. I went on to work as an associate director within the NHS for 10 years, developing skills in health and safety, governance and litigation management. Most recently I set up a risk management function within local government with involvement in emergency planning, compliance and insurance management.
Outside of work I was chair of governors at a local secondary school for 14 years, and I have been chair of the local quiz league since 1975. I have just completed a master’s degree in law which has made room for me to sign up to the fantastic over 55 walking football sessions which Lincs Inspire run twice a week at Bradley Football Development Centre.
I hope my experience will be of value in the future development of Lincs Inspire.”
Alan Bird
“I am recently retired after working for 19 years at Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education where I was Director of Finance.
At the Institute, as a member of the Senior Management Team, I attended the governor committees and as a result, I appreciate the role and benefits that an independent director can bring to help Lincs Inspire achieve its objectives.
I have a great interest in many sports and therefore becoming a board member of Lincs Inspire seems a natural fit for me. I believe that engaging in sports can give young people, especially, a discipline and sense of team spirit that can help them in a work environment and combined with a healthy lifestyle, remain with them for life. For my sins, I have also been a Grimsby Town season ticket holder for more years than I care to remember! As well as an interest in sport, I enjoy different styles of music and frequently attend concerts both locally and nationally.
Fortunately, although now retired, I am fit and active and hope that I can help Lincs Inspire reach out to more people in North East Lincolnshire. I would like to think that I can be a useful, supportive and understanding director of the Company.”
Mark Hodson
Mark joined Lincs Inspire’s board of trustees in October 2021. An important time for businesses following the temporary closures and disruption due to COVID.
“There isn’t a more relevant organisation dealing as it does with sport, leisure and culture in a post-pandemic environment, being invaluable in preserving people’s mental and physical wellbeing.
We have all awakened to the importance of our own health and wellbeing with issues concerning mental health being more important than ever. What I’d like to do is to help raise Lincs Inspire’s profile and encourage people to help themselves through cultural pursuits, sport, leisure, whatever it may be.”
Irene Keal
Irene joined the board of trustees in September 2022.
Director of family firm Sylvester Keal and chair of the Chamber of Commerce for North East Lincolnshire, Irene Keal is a welcome addition to Lincs Inspire’s Board of Trustees, playing a vital voluntary role in driving the company forward.
“Lincs Inspire is here for the community, making a difference to so many lives. This is one of the reasons I’ve decided to join the organisation to help make a difference to the area, to be involved and to be part of its future.
The timing of my joining the board of trustees is great because we’ve just come out of covid, everything is happening and starting to evolve. It’s brilliant because it’s in a local community and it’s accessible for everybody- that’s the crucial point of it. It’s great to be part of that.”
Ian Reekie
Ian, who joined the Board of Trustees in April 2024, had a background in theatre and entertainment management before developing his career in local authority leisure management. He served as Director of Leisure for both Scunthorpe Borough and North Lincolnshire Councils before retiring to Cleethorpes.
Since his retirement Ian has pursued his interest in population health as a Non-Executive Director in the NHS and as a lay member of various National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) committees. Ian is currently the Northern Lincolnshire & Goole Foundation Trust’s Lead Governor.
“I am particularly keen to utilise my leisure management and health service experience to support Lincs Inspire in maximising the already significant contribution the organisation makes to improving health and wellbeing in North East Lincolnshire.”
