Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation is pleased to welcome six new governors to its board.

The board of governors represents the local community, actively sharing their knowledge and understanding of the community's needs in Letchworth Garden City with the trustees and executive team to assist in shaping the Foundation's strategies. 

They are key in supporting activities and contributing to the success of the Foundation in delivering positive improvements for the Garden City.

Lynne Ceeney is a Letchworth resident with a strong interest in sustainability. Her focus as a governor will be on how the Garden City needs to evolve to thrive in the future, particularly in the areas of conservation, reduction in carbon emissions and the environmental wellbeing of the town. 

Charles Chong is known to many in Letchworth as the founder and chairman of Hong Kong Connect – an organisation which seeks to break down barriers for Hong Kong citizens who have settled in Letchworth Garden City. His professional background is in education, and he is deeply passionate about technology innovation and excited to see how it can improve our community.

Tabitha Wilson is a renowned local artist, having recently won a bursary from the Letchworth Open at Broadway Gallery, and exhibited her work in early 2023. As a new governor of the Heritage Foundation, Tabitha has a broad range of interests and skills. From a cultural perspective, she is keen to continue Ebeneezer Howard's legacy involving promoting sustainability, the arts, incorporating the green spaces, and the cores values of a strong sense of community.

Mick Johal is a lifelong Letchworth resident and a firm believer in the ethos of the Heritage Foundation, with a passion for local issues and making Letchworth an even better place to live. He has strong links with local sports clubs and has ambitions to increase sport participation amongst the young people of the town – a goal closely linked with the Heritage Foundation's strategic objective to ensure the town is a great place to grow up.

Faiza Spittles was inspired to become a governor following her involvement with the Heritage Foundation's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion panels. Faiza is passionate about shaping the work of the Heritage Foundation to provide the best future we can for the next generation, regardless of sex, creed, or colour. 

Sam Villis brings an in-depth understanding of the social care sector and experience of delivering real change to those experiencing multiple disadvantage. With a young child in education in Letchworth, Sam is keen to help grow the opportunities available for the community, and make the town a great place to grow up.

The new governors were welcomed to the Heritage Foundation at the annual Garden City Meeting which took place on Wednesday, June 21. 

Gareth Hawkins, chair of the board of trustees, said: "We're fortunate in Letchworth Garden City to have such an engaged community – it was clear from the record attendance at the Garden City meeting that our residents have a passion for the town and its growth. 

"We were overwhelmed by the number of residents that put themselves forward to join the team, and I'm personally very much looking forward to working with all of our new governors, alongside our existing committed team of volunteers, to further shape the future of our town."

More information about the way in which the Heritage Foundation is governed can be found at www.letchworth.com, where you can also read a report of the latest Garden City meeting and download our 2022 annual report.