The Board

Councillor Howard Blagbrough (Co-Chair)
Calderdale Council

As a local Councillor for Brighouse, I am delighted to be on the Brighouse Town Deal Board and be part of a team which is putting together some exciting plans to spend £19.1m awarded by Government to Invest in Brighouse Town Centre. As well as serving on the Brighouse Town Deal Board, I am a Director of the Brighouse BID, a group working to encourage Tourism to the area. The Investment will really help to regenerate Brighouse and shape its future for years to come.

David Whitehead (Co-Chair)
Private Sector

I am honoured to be involved with Brighouse Town Board as a Co-Chair. I have travelled to a number of towns over the years. Some of them are instantly forgettable and are visited out of necessity or convenience, not from choice. Others have struck me as having the right combination of features and inspire me to wish to revisit time and time again; quality paving, together with traditional style lighting, pedestrian friendly streets, colourful planting and architecturally impressive buildings. I am committed to doing my utmost to play my part in helping to improve Brighouse town centre (together with a very talented board) so that it can be a place we can be all proud of, and one that high numbers of visitors will want to return to often, and not just for the 1940s weekend!

Lesley Adams
Private Sector

I am the owner of Simply Flowers and live in Brighouse Town centre. I am a founding member and chair of Brighouse Business Initiative organising events such as the Olympic Torch weekend. I was on the steering committee for the Brighouse BID and I am now co-chair after a yes vote. I am excited with the opportunity the town deal gives us to future-proof the town’s ongoing vibrancy.

Lorraine Bailey
Community & Voluntary Sector

Councillor Geraldine Carter
Calderdale Council

Anne Colley
Private Sector

I have owned Brighouse Books since 2020 after working for the previous owner for nearly 18 years. I am a founding member and chair of Brighouse Business Initiative organising events such as the 1940’s weekend. I was on the steering committee for the Brighouse BID and, after a successful yes vote, am now a director. It is an exciting time and I’m looking forward to seeing where all our ideas will take Brighouse.

Josh Fenton-Glynn
Member of Parliament

Colin Gordon
Private Sector

Having owned businesses in Brighouse, including the café in Brighouse Open Market, for many years I am honoured to be involved with the Brighouse Town Deal Board. I gained extensive experience of programme and project management during my long career, within the UK and European commercial lighting market. I am keen to volunteer my time and experience to help shape the future of our town. Brighouse should be a place that we can all be proud of with a bustling high street and a thriving market; a place that people want to live, work and visit.

Richard Mitchell
Community & Voluntary Sector

I was elected as a community representative to the town board at its concept. Born and educated in Brighouse with my working background in engineering, Chairman of Brighouse Gala for over 23 years, now President, past Chairman for the SRB grants, Brighouse Regeneration Association (BRASS). I bring to the board knowledge of the town, its organisations, development and changes in the town from my childhood to now that will benefit the projects the board has planned.

Councillor Brenda Monteith
Calderdale Council

Louise Reed
Community & Voluntary Sector

I am the Founder & CEO of Brighouse charity Focus4Hope which was set up in 2016 and supports the homeless, isolated and vulnerable across West Yorkshire. Focus4Hope is proud to be a part of the Brighouse community and we are always so grateful for the incredible support of people across the town for the people we provide with a helping hand. We are proud to be a key part of story of our town, and excited to be helping write what happens in the next chapter.

Malcolm Silkstone
Community & Voluntary Sector

I work in my own business as a stocktaker in licenced trade. I am delighted to be part of the Brighouse Town Board and have 42 years experience in local community work, including as the founder of the community centre, Friends of the Memorial Park and residents’ group and the Royal British Legion’s Remembrance Sunday in Bailiffe Bridge.