Our Trustees are elected by members at the AGM.
Steve is from Nottingham and studied agriculture at his local university, despite having no family connection with farming. After working on several farms, and a short spell selling climbing equipment, he joined the Grassland Research Institute, based in Berkshire but doing surveys and studies throughout England and Wales. He switched to advisory work in the mid 1980s and his work evolved towards the impact of farming on the environment and measures to mitigate it and restore biodiversity. From 1998 until retirement in 2017 he worked for Natural England and predecessor bodies. He moved to Ilkley in 2000. Steve’s wife Carol worked in the Grove Bookshop until January 2021. They have three grown-up
children.
steve.peel@climateactionilkley.org.uk
I have lived in Ilkley for over 20 years. I worked as a GP until retiring in 2015. I am a keen allotmenteer and have had an allotment in Ilkley since I moved here, using the no dig method to grow my vegetables and fruit. I have been vegetarian since a teenager but over the past 2 years I have become vegan. I became increasingly interested in environmental issues and climate change and felt the need to become involved in taking action to tackle climate change, encouraged by my 4 grown-up children. I have no particular expertise in this field but feel strongly that everyone needs to get involved, not only experts. I also enjoy yoga and walking on the moor
I am semi-retired Professor of Earth Sciences at Leeds University. I also have business
experience from creating and acting as Chairman of a large international geoscience
consultancy company. I moved to Ilkley in 1995 and both children attended local Primary
and Secondary Schools. I have been a member of the CAI Operations Committee since its
formation. I maintain my research in rock deformation and serve on Committees of the
Geological Society of London, where I am helping to co-ordinate awareness of the role of
geosciences in the energy transition. I also spend time promoting the understanding of the
links between culture, history and earth sciences. Also enjoy hill walking, ornithology,
painting, DIY projects and being a grandparent.
I am dietitian working in breast cancer research but for many years I have had an interest in all things related to environmental sustainability. I moved to Ilkley from Manchester during lockdown in 2021 and live with my husband and daughter who goes to Ilkley Grammar School. In my spare time in Manchester I was involved with the local Oxfam campaigns group, as well as setting up various projects including reducing consumption of fish in Manchester caught by unsustainable methods, and car free ‘play streets’ events outside my daughter’s primary school. Since moving to Ilkley I have volunteered at Climate Action Ilkley events and I have helped set up the Eco-schools project at Ashlands Primary School. I have been vegetarian for over 30 years and love attempting to grow some of my own fruit and veg at home.
Martin’s interest in environmental issues and concern regarding the impact of human activity on Earth developed through childhood and led to a BSc in “Chemistry, Resource and The Environment” at University of York. The realisation that economics and not morality drives research caused Martin significant frustration. After a period of pursuing his sporting passions Martin developed a career in Information Technology with a specific focus on database management system performance. Having moved to Ilkley with a young family in 2015 he has been involved in a range of Climate Action Ilkley activities prior to becoming a trustee.