Meet the Executive Team

The Executive Management Team

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► Meet the Executive Team

Rodney Hill - Chief Executive
Rodney joined Wigan Council in 1990 and became Director of Leisure in 1992. He transferred to become the Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust in April 2003. He is passionate about the role that leisure and cultural services can play in improving people’s lives and transforming communities. He is an adviser on cultural services to the Local Government Association and an executive member of Culture North West.

As a member of the Cultural Partnership, he sees his role as ensuring that the Trust plays a key role within the Partnership and provides effective support to all of its partners.

Major projects that Rodney has been involved in include Robin Park Sports Centre and Arena, the Museum of Memories and the development of the Haigh Golf Complex.

After graduating from Cambridge University, Rodney completed a post-graduate qualification in Library and Information Studies. Rodney has worked in various London authorities, most notably the London Borough of Camden, where he became Principal Arts and Entertainment Officer.

Rodney’s main personal interests, away from work, are music – particularly Handel’s operas - dance and literature. He follows Brighton and Hove Albion’s roller-coaster progress, trains at least twice a week, and follows tennis (but plays it less!).

Ian Bancroft - Libraries, Information and Heritage
Ian is the Executive Director responsible for some of the most culturally inspiring areas of the Trust's activities including Wigan Pier, the History Shop and the borough’s 16 libraries.

Ian has a diverse local authority background. He has worked for a number of local authority leisure and cultural departments including being Deputy and 'Acting' Director of Leisure Services at North East Lincolnshire and Business and Strategy Manager at Nottingham City Council. He has also worked in the corporate centre for local authorities managing policy, performance and regeneration programmes.

As well as a career in this field, his passions are sport and the arts being a senior cricket coach, and having a passion for literature, theatre and film. He strongly believes in the importance of public services and sees the Trust as a combination of marrying the best public services with a more business like approach.

Ian lives in the Welsh Borders with his family and a collection of cats, ducks and chickens.

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Kay Bardgett – Corporate Support
Kay oversees much of the good work that takes place behind closed doors that help to keep the Trust functioning efficiently. Her responsibilities include Human Resources, Training and Organisational Development, Procurement, Facilities and Risk Management, Commercial Services (Halls, Marketing, Public Relations, Tourism) as well as ICT and Support Services.

Kay started her working life at 13 in her school holidays at Haigh Hall waitressing and working in the gift shop. After graduating from Essex University she worked as a Customs Officer. Kay has since gathered over 15 years experience of Human Resources and Development in public and private sector organisations. Kay returned to her native Wigan eight years ago after living and working in London for many years.

Married to Ged with two children, Michael and Mark, dogs Pedro and Sam, Kay spends her free time supporting Hindley ARLFC U16s and Wigan St Pats U14s. In her spare time Kay enjoys reading, walking, cooking and holidays.

Pete Gascoigne – Libraries, Heritage and Arts
Pete Gascoigne is responsible for the service areas of Libraries Heritage and Arts.

Pete has worked in Wigan for nearly ten years, initially as Arts Development Officer for the Leisure Services Department and subsequently as Community Development and Planning Manager. Before working in Wigan Pete worked in local government in Calderdale and Bolton. He is a past Chair of the National Association of Local Government Arts Officers.

After leaving College Pete worked for a number of years in theatre in education and community theatre as a stage and technical manager. The offer of a job in Rochdale, where he still lives, brought him to the north west in 1987, moving from the south east of England. He wouldn't move back!

When not at work Pete enjoys listening to World Music, he regularly attends festivals up and down the country and (when he is lucky) abroad!

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Alan Johnson – Finance Director
Alan has the dual role of Finance Director and Company Secretary of the Trust and its trading subsidiaries. The Trust also provides financial services to a number of not-for-profit organisations in Wigan under a service level agreement and Alan also acts as Finance Director and Company Secretary to those organisations. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and has an economics degree.

Alan has had experience at a senior level in both large and small organisations in both the public and private sectors, including positions as Finance Director, Deputy FD and Head of IT, information and contracting divisions. He retired from the NHS in 2000 but far from enjoying a well-earned rest, he says that his children forced him back to work to keep them in the style to which they had become accustomed.

A keen sports fan, Alan plays regular competitive league tennis and table tennis. He has had success at a number of sports including football and athletics, but is particularly proud of his county honours at squash. His other interests include reading and travel. Alan lives in Billinge with wife Sharon and has two children, Rebecca (27) and Chris (25).

Stuart Murray - Environmental Management and Sustainability
Stuart’s role is to oversee the management of the borough’s 150 parks and open spaces. This includes managing the overall direction of Parks and Countryside, Grounds Maintenance and Haigh Hall. Part of Stuart’s working life also involves picking up catering and accommodation as Trust-wide issues.

Originally from Chester, Stuart studied Economics at University in Sheffield and undertook further study at Wye College in London, where he gained an MSc in Ecology/Land Management.

Stuart joined Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust from Bolton Metro where he was Parks and Countryside Manager for six years via Halton, Warrington and Calderdale. He has previously worked for three other Trusts, Conservation volunteers, Friends of the Earth, Groundwork and a Private consultancy: RPS Claustron plc.

Stuart lists his best achievements as converting various old chemical works and tip sites in Widnes for leisure uses such as golf courses and country parks. He is also proud of the role he played in the restoration of the People’s Park in Halifax (one of the very first National Lottery funded parks schemes).

Partner Annette, children, Robert (10) and Rhona (4), keep Stuart busy running “Dad’s taxi service”. When Stuart gets the chance, he enjoys running with his dog Becks, listening to “old hippy stuff” music – Bob Dylan, Neil Young, JJ Cole - drinking Belgian beers and collecting glasses to go with them.

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Martin Eden - Sport and Healthy Living
Martin is responsible for three of the Trust’s most energetic service areas. He heads up Active Life, Sports Development and Active Living,

Active Life consists of five sports centres and five swimming pools across the borough. Active Life launched Freestyle in April 2005, which provides free swimming for children aged 0-16 years. The Sports Development Unit, consists of nine Sports Development Officers who provide assistance and support for schools and the voluntary sports clubs to develop sport throughout the borough. The Active Living Team has approximately 20 officers who provide a range of activity sessions and exercise referral programmes for people aged 50 and over.

Immediately prior to joining Wigan, Martin was the Chief Executive of the World of Glass at St. Helens. Previously he was Director of Operations at the Bolton Arena and before that he was Head of Sport at Knowsley Council for five years. Martin has also held leisure management positions in Warrington and Trafford.

Martin is originally from St Helens, although he has lived in Wigan for over four years. He enjoys many sports and is a regular user of the gym, he also loves to watch sport and is an avid supporter of the Saints (St Helens RLFC). Martin has a daughter (Rebecca) aged 16 and a son (Tom) aged 10, who otherwise keep him busy at the weekends.

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