Who We Are
YAYAS is lucky to have an active council with a wide variety and depth of experience in fields related to architecture, archaeology, history and heritage. Meet our friendly and knowledgeable council below.
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To jump to opportunities on the council, please click here.
President: Prof. DM Palliser
Vice-President:
Ms Alison Sinclair
Chairman:
Mr John Shaw
Vice-President/ General Secretary:
Mr David Brinklow
Specialism: The archaeology of York above and below ground.
Why YAYAS? A deeper understanding of York's past can usefully inform future development. The society has a significant role to play in this area.
Lectures Secretary:
Mr Ian Tempest
Specialism:The history of travel and tourism in York from the medieval period onwards
The Red Tower and Foss Islands Road
Why YAYAS? I joined YAYAS as they support the World Heritage Bid for York - I am on the Steering Group for this. The programme of lectures and excursions is interesting and the publications are excellent. YAYAS has been influential in safeguarding and celebrating York's heritage for nearly 180 years - it's good to make a small contribution today.
Honorary Treasurer:
Mr Kurt Hunter-Mann
Specialism: Archaeology, especially Roman York.
Why YAYAS? It is a one-stop shop for learning about the history and archaeology of York.
Editor of the York Historian:
Mrs Margaret Scott
Specialism: York’s Mystery Plays since 1951. And I like proof reading…..
Why YAYAS? I’m following Dr Evelyn’s lead.
Keeper of the Evelyn Collection:
Ms Sandra Garside-Neville
Specialism: York brick and tile. Also YAYAS’ Hanstock Collection, gasometers, windmills and now the auxiliary hospitals of York.
Why YAYAS? It neatly covers my interests, with lectures, tours, and the Evelyn Collection of images.
Archivist:
Mrs Anna Cook
Specialism: Local history of Holgate; Holgate Windmill & the mills of York; WW2 ARP personnel in York; Moses B. Cotsworth and 19th/20th century calendar reform.
Why YAYAS? I would like to learn more about York’s rich history while contributing to its future preservation.
Publications Officer:
Dr Rosemary Suttill
Specialism: As they say, 'A walk through York is a walk through history'. And I enjoy history.
Why YAYAS? It makes sure York has a future history.
Membership Secretary:
Ms Tonita Day
Specialism: My particular passion is architecture; I am interested in why building materials were used and where they came from.
Why YAYAS? The Society provides me with a learning curve through lectures and excursions.
Website Secretary:
Mr Graham K Cook
Specialism: Aviation and Cold War history, and you can't beat a bit of Roman history!
Why YAYAS? I want to be part of telling Yorkshire's story, getting it out to a wider audience.
Council Member:
Mr Ivan Martin
Council Member:
Mr Nick Beilby
Council Member:
Dr Bill Fawcett
Council Member:
Mr Ian Drake
Council Member:
Dr Jonathan French
Have we got you hooked?
Check out the opportunities below for the chance to see your picture here!
Contact Us
We're glad you've decided to get in touch with us! Please remember YAYAS is run on an
entirely voluntary basis and as such, our council do not have office hours. We will
endeavour to respond quickly to any enquiry but we ask for your patience, especially
during peak holiday times.
For general enquiries please contact info@yayas.org.uk
For enquiries regarding membership please contact Ms Tonita Day at membership@yayas.org.uk
For enquiries regarding the Evelyn and other collections, please contact Ms Sandra Garside-Neville
at collections@yayas.org.uk
​
For enquiries regarding the society archives, please contact Mrs Anna Cook at collections@yayas.org.uk
​
For enquiries regarding charitable giving, or supporting YAYAS financially, please contact admin@yayas.org.uk
​
For enquiries regarding pieces for publication in York Historian, please contact Ms Margaret Scott at historian@yayas.org.uk
Opportunities
Excursions.
Would you like more say over YAYAS' planned excursions? Maybe you have a great idea for a trip, useful contacts within the heritage/archaeology/architecture industries or have a little bit of spare time to scour the county or web for places of potential interest. Whatever you have to offer with regards to sourcing/planning excursions, we'd love to hear from you. This opportunity could involve pre-visits, online source-checking, site assessment, liaising with heritage sites and itinerary production, and would be a great first step for anyone considering working within events management. There is no limit to the number to be considered for this opportunity and it could take as little as a couple of hours per month. For more information please contact us.
Lectures
Do you faithfully attend YAYAS lectures? Browse the bookstand and admire the projection? This is your chance to be more involved! YAYAS is seeking volunteers to help out with lectures in the following ways (you would be welcome to take on just one responsibility or combine the tasks as your interests dictate).
Welcomers: calling all social butterflies! If you are friendly and enthusiastic about YAYAS, this is just the job for you! We are looking for members to attend the social half hour before lectures begin at 7.30 to greet people, chat to visitors and new members, and help to serve refreshments. We would ask that you get to the lecture site 30-45 minutes before the lecture begins - this is a great option for those who don't want to take on any extra workload. Contact us for more information.
Lectures Assistants: are you a pro with PCs? Amazing with AV systems? A bright spark with lighting? Then YAYAS needs YOU! We are looking for volunteers to help set up and pack down the technology used for lectures. Is tech not your cup of tea? Fear not - we're also seeking people to help set out our bookstall before and after lectures. We ask that assistants arrive 45 minutes before the lecture is due to begin, and expect that you would stay on for around 15 minutes afterwards to pack away, but this position has no additional workload. Contact us for more information.
Speakers: Are you a repository of untapped knowledge? We are so lucky in this Society to have an amazing amount of experience, skill and wisdom within our ranks and we'd love to hear from many of you. If you'd like to speak on an agreed topic, please let the council know and we'll try our best to make it happen.
Don't want to speak, but know someone who would? Please let our secretary know if you have suitable contacts for YAYAS lectures: we endeavour to keep our programme as varied as possible and new contacts enable this. Contact us for more information.
Publicity and Publications.
We're always looking to bring YAYAS to a new and broader audience. This is your chance to be part of a team maximising publicity for YAYAS: from local libraries to workplaces, could you help to spread the word about our Society? Whether it's distributing flyers, working with social media or acting as a point of contact, there are lots of ways for individuals to promote the Society. Please contact Angela Wheatcroft at info@yayas.org.uk for more information on publicity opportunities and ways in which you could help.
Proofreaders and Writers: if you're a budding Rushdie or want to be the next Hobsbawm, look no further! We're looking for volunteers to proofread articles for the website (even the most dedicated web writers let mitsakes silp through every now and agen). If you'd rather take up the quill yourself, there are opportunities to write for both the website and the YAYAS Times. Do you have an idea for an article, a news snippet or a feature? Let us know - we'll do our best to enable you to see your name in print!
Publication Distribution: enjoy YAYAS' contribution to the world of print, but don't fancy adding to it yourself? You can still help out as we are looking for volunteers to assist with the distribution and sale of YAYAS publications:
a) At meetings
b) At fairs and conferences e.g. CBA Yorkshire day conference.
c) By post – handling member, subscriber and one-off orders, enveloping, writing invoices, mailing.
d) Help hand deliver members’ copies in your local area.
Please contact us to register your interest.
