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Anne has been a Wylam “Activist” for many years.

·         Cubs’ leader.

·         Parish Councillor (3 years as Chair).

·         Holding Trustee of Wylam Community Playing Field Association.

Anne is a Trustee of The Torch Centre, Hexham and was previously a Trustee of Tynedale Hospice at Home for 9 years (4 years as Chair). This time improved her knowledge of strategic planning, organisational change, voluntary organisations, and a range of communication skills.

Anne brings enthusiasm and commitment to the local community and recognises the potential value of The Institute to Wylam. She also envisages that her current and past experience as a Trustee will be an asset as it “moves forwards”.

Chris has been a trustee and Chair of Wylam Institute from May 2024 and is passionate about offering great community facilities to benefit the area and bring people together. Born in Northumberland and having lived in Wylam for over 30 years, Chris is a former Human Resources and Organisational Development senior practitioner with 30 years’ experience working with Directors and departments on leadership, workforce planning, engagement, organisational change and culture.  She hopes her skills and experience will support the Institute to be a thriving community hub long into the future.

Denise has recently become an Institute Trustee, she is retired and lives in Wylam. The Institute needs to change and adapt to embrace its future, meeting the needs of the local community. She hopes that her knowledge, skills and experience gained through her work in Central and Local Government and as a former Non Executive Director of a local Housing Association will help the Institute succeed as a great venue for social and community activities.

Jacqueline Haigh. Lived in Wylam since 1971. Graduate of London and Northumbria universities in Sociology and Applied Sociology. Was secondary school teacher then managed her husband’s dental practice. A member of Board of Visitors and Independent Monitoring Board at Castington and Frankland prisons and has experience of working with many types of people.In recent years has been active member in village activities including indoor bowls and Women’s Institute, as well as being a trustee of Wylam Institute.

John moved into Wylam in 2024 to be nearer to his family after living 50 years in Riding Mill.  He is also a member of the Parochial Church Council of St Oswin's.  John is Emeritus Professor in Newcastle University where, as Deputy Vice Chancellor, he led its role working with the community locally and globally.  He hopes the insights gained over many decades on how to build community partnerships in places will be of value to the Institute as it develops its role, working with others, as a community hub for the citizens of Wylam.

Julian has lived in Wylam for 40 years. He became a trustee and Treasurer of the Institute in early 2020, coinciding with the beginning of the Covid lockdowns and his own retirement. He had worked in the non-ferrous metals industry in London, Chester and Newcastle and in the mid-1990s he became a freelance editor. Experience in a previous voluntary role as a Governor at Wylam First School for 12 years did not fully prepare him for the sheer number and diversity of challenges that being a trustee of one of the largest village halls in Northumberland has to offer.

Karl has lived in Wylam since 2000. He has seen how his children have benefited from the village community. Now retired from 40 years of working in education. In his last position as Virtual School Headteacher he was responsible for overseeing the education of Newcastle's children in care.

Karl is committed to developing The Tute as a community asset, exploring new ways in which this unique resource can widen it's horizon and maximise it's 21st century potential.

Marg is responsible for all of the hiring and invoicing at the Institute, as well as maintenance contracts and repairs.  Having lived in Wylam for over 30 years and worked at the Institute for over 15 years, Margaret has exensive knowledge of the building and contents and has a wealth of information at her fingertips.

Chris Wilkinson (Chair)

Robin Piette 

Denis Peel

Julian Bates

Margaret Anderson

Fiona Oomes

Viv Smith

Jacqueline Haigh

Helen Rafferty

John Goddard

Anne Francis

Denise Gillie

Julie Hardy

Karl Harms

Marian Stromsoy

The Parish Council has an observer on the Institute committee: Colin Percy

Viv has lived in the village for 44 years and been on the Institute Committee for over 30 years. Viv has been very involved in village life through children, husband's football and cricket , teaching at Wylam first school and being a past president of Wylam WI. The Institute has played a large part of Viv’s life either attending or running classes or helping to organise events such as a wedding, cricket dinners, quiz nights, charity fund raising as well as performing on the stage. She is delighted and excited to be part of the future development of this vital facility that benefits all ages in the village.