The Norwich Society Executive Members
Tim Townshend (Chairman)
Tim Townshend read law at Cambridge and was called to the Bar in 1972. He practised as a Barrister from Octagon House Chambers in Norwich until 2005.
He is a President of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and a Governor of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust.
He was a Board Member of the Broadland Housing Association, a Committee Member of the Norwich Housing Society and is a past President of the Norfolk Club.
He sings bass in the chorus of the Norwich Philharmonic Society.
A long standing member of the Norwich Society, he was Vice Chairman of the Planning Appraisal Committee.
Alec Hartley (Vice Chairman)
Retired Journalist and TV Producer.
Educated City of Norwich School/Cambridge University.
Career: Regional and National newspapers, including the Guardian (Northern Education Correspondent, Assistant News Editor, Senior Investigative Reporter, Crime Reporter), and Daily Mirror. Thames TV (Deputy News Editor, Futures Editor Thames News) and Anglia TV (Producer About Anglia, Anglia News, Anglia Business News and Sunday Supplement). Retired as Political and Business Editor, Anglia News. Joined Norwich Society 2003. Formerly member of Environment Committee, now Chairman Strategic Planning and Transport Committee.
Rory Quinn
A graduate in History and Politics, I was able to pursue these two interests while working for HMSO by becoming a City Councillor in 1969. I became vice chairman of the City’s Museums’ Committee and helped with the setting up of the Joint Museums Service when local government reorganisation came in 1974. I became Vice-chairman of the new Norfolk Joint Museums Committee and a member of the City’s Planning Committee. I took particular interest in the historic fabric of the city and became chairman of the City’s Conservation Committee. I was a founder member of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust in 1973 and am now its chairman. I am a member of the Norwich Preservation Trust and have been its chairman. I was Lord Mayor in 1997-8 during the 900th anniversary celebrations of the foundation of the Cathedral. I have been a member of the Norwich Society for many years.
Mary Ash
My name is Mary Ash; I was an English teacher in a large Norwich comprehensive school for twenty years but am now retired.
Since leaving teaching, I have edited a book about my area of Norwich, 'Memories of Thorpe Hamlet', and become increasingly involved with the Norfolk Historic Buildings Group for whom I organise the winter programme of lectures.
I have been an active member of the Planning
sub-committee for some 18 months, and feel I have contributed quite a tranche of positive as well as negative responses to the increasingly complex rebuilding and regeneration plans which are changing Norwich so radically. I would relish the opportunity to do more to look after our 'Fine City.'
Tony Beck
I am 67 and retired from paid employment. I spent a lot of my life in as an academic with interests in government and politics; political ideology, and cultural policy and management. In a voluntary capacity I have chaired the Merseyside Arts Board and film and photographic organisations in Liverpool. I also worked freelance in radio there. After quitting academia I worked in the arts funding sector, for the Arts Council and Arts & Business. I now work as a Patient Representative in the Anglia Cancer Network and the N&N Hospital. My interests are architecture; politics; history; film; theatre; literature, and music. For the Norwich Society I am a member of the Membership and Publicity Committee and its Website Development Group.
Frances Holmes
Although born in Hull I spent my childhood in South Wales. I graduated from Nottingham University with a degree in Industrial Economies before arriving in Norwich in 1983 where I intended to stay “for a year”.
After spending twelve months working in the retail trade, I moved to Barclays Bank where I worked for seventeen years. My final years were spent as a Corporate manager based at Bank Plain in Norwich.
When I left the bank, I became self employed. The majority of my work was undertaken for Business in the Community where I not only helped Corporates and professional firms across Norfolk build their responsible business practices but also set up projects to help charities and community groups. Following my husband’s retirement I wanted more flexibility and most of my work is now completed on a voluntary basis and includes developing a website for the Norwich Historic Churches Trust as well working with the Norwich Society. My hobbies include sailing, history and Rotary
Michael Holmes
I was born in Norwich on the Woodcock Road in the house my grandparents were allocated after the slum clearance from Bull Close in the 1930s. After attending Catton Grove Junior School and the City of Norwich School I went to University in London where I graduated from Imperial College in 1969. In 1970 I joined the Norwich Union fledgling computer department where I worked until my retirement at the end of 2006.
Since thenI have worked on a voluntary basis, with Frances, my wife, in developing various web sites mainly based on historical or local themes. I still enjoy the technical world of IT, especially where I can use it to promote Norwich.
Hobbies include sailing, history and photography with a bit of gardening and DIY.
Frank Tucker
Born in S. Wales, qualified as an architect in 1956. Held various posts with 3 county councils until becoming County Architect of Norfolk in 1979. Started a small practice in 1991, retiring in 1999. Held a number of national roles such as Energy Advisor to the Association of County Councils, chairman of the Anglian Standing Conference and also of the Association of Chief Architects in England and Wales. Locally, has been the President of the Norfolk Association of Architects and also of the Rotary Club of Norwich. Has served on the Norwich Society’s Planning Appraisal Committee since was elected to its Executive in 2004.