Meet Our Trustees
Royal Sutton Coldfield Community Town Hall Trust became an independent charity in 2016, after reaching a deal with Birmingham City Council that saw a board of trustees who are local to Sutton Coldfield, who care deeply about the future of the town hall form a strategic plan to ensure the heart of the town hall keeps on beating.
The trustees employed a small but powerful team of professionals and passionate event and theatre enthusiasts to manage the day-to-day running of the venue to ensure we meet our mission statement and promise.
A few words from our chair:
“Our much-loved heritage building is now established at the heart of a thriving cultural quarter in the town. Our venue is becoming a vibrant arts, music, educational, recreational and cultural hub with the growing involvement of local people, businesses and communities. Exciting projects are starting to protect and enhance the historic Edwardian wing together with ambitions to add a contemporary extension to bring the facilities up to modern expectations.
Join us in making it happen to benefit everyone!”
- Claire Bridges, Chair (Business) RSCCTH Trust
Claire Bridges (Chair)
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Claire’s career as a Town Planner expanded into senior roles across partnership, policy, and delivery in local and central Government. For the past eight years, she has been self-employed, working on Government contracts with the Worcestershire and Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnerships to support businesses of all sizes.
She is currently helping Bishop Vesey Grammar School strengthen its business community ties to enhance its reputation. Claire also manages interns and serves as Chair of both St Paul’s Hostel for the Homeless in Worcester and the RTPI National Partnership Accreditation Panel.
She holds an MBA (2004) and a BSc in Town Planning (1979), and is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Appointed 7 February 2018
Cllr David Pears (Trustee Finance Director)
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David is a Sutton resident raised and educated in our Royal Town. A community activist for over 40 years, he has been a governor at 5 schools and is a Birmingham City and Royal Sutton Town Councillor representing Trinity ward. A banker by profession David is employed by a trade association which supports independent high street retailers, a trustee of Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust, member of Friends of Rectory Park (FORP), Chairman of Sutton Park Advisory Committee, and Vice Chairman of Clifton Road Youth Centre.
Appointed 13 November 2018
Russell Ludlam (Treasurer / Finance)
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Russell is a retired management professional in the technology sector with experience of operations development within global organisations and extensive out-sourcing and merger & acquisition projects. A resident of Royal Sutton Coldfield since 2014, he is active in the local community forum of Wylde Green.
Appointed 6 June 2017
Cllr Janet Cairns (Trustee BDM / Fundraising)
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Janet is married and has lived in Royal Sutton Coldfield for nearly 30 years and is passionate about the Town. Janet is a qualified nurse and works as a healthcare consultant within the NHS and has done for many years. Janet brings to the Council a voice and empathy into issues surrounding disability. Having been a Governor at Wilson Stuart School which specialises in the education of children with special needs and having a daughter with cerebral palsy she offers a unique insight.
Appointed 10 July 2018
Kaleem Hussain (Charity Secretary / Legal)
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Kaleem is a change management specialist with nearly 20 years of experience in regulatory transformation and compliance in both public and private sectors.
A passionate advocate for volunteering and mentoring, he has worked with educational institutions, charities, and organizations to promote entrepreneurship, community harmony, and economic vitality in the West Midlands. He has mentored for One Million Mentors and Mosaic, founded by King Charles III, and was awarded the UPF Ambassador for Peace Award in 2024.
Kaleem is a Fellow at Better Climate Governance, a proponent of the ESG agenda, and an active member of sustainability forums.
He holds fellowships and memberships with FRSA, AFRHistS, and MCMI, and has a background in law, economics, financial services, and project management.
Appointed 6 December 2023
Richard Mason (Vice Chair / Events Management)
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Richard Mason is a native of Sutton Coldfield. Starting his teaching career in Solihull he was subsequently, for forty years, Director of Music at Aldridge School where he developed a music scholarship programme for musically gifted children. It was the first of its kind in a state school. He currently conducts the Royal Sutton Coldfield Choral Society and the Sutton Coldfield Chamber choir. Richard was instrumental in establishing the Trust to which the Town Hall belongs.
Appointed 23 February 2016n text goes here
Rosemary Walton (Events Management)
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Rosemary, a native of Sutton Coldfield, has always championed her hometown. She began as a singer, training at Birmingham School of Music, Sussex University, and with notable teachers in London. Her career included concerts, recitals, opera, and oratorio performances in the Midlands and South England. With her husband, she co-founded Sussex Opera to make opera more accessible.
Back in the Midlands, Rosemary became a company director in Walsall, a music teacher, and an aromatherapist. As chairman of the Town Hall Users Company, she played a key role in saving the Town Hall twice from closure.
Currently, she is an English Language and Literature Coach, dedicated to helping students of all levels reach their full potential.
Appointed 1 July 2019