ABOUT KIRKHAM HENRY PERFORMING ARTS
Our Board of Trustees
Helen Oldroyd
Helen became chair of our ‘friends’ charity in 2020 and has worked hard to raise funds for Kirkham Henry organising movie nights, raffles and the transformation of the dance shop. Despite her daughter no longer attending classes, Helen is passionate about the future of Kirkham Henry and wants to continue supporting us and to see our renovation dreams become a reality.
Helen’s association with Kirkham Henry goes back to childhood when she used to watch her friends in classes and later she shared the Milton Room stage with our students in productions with MNMT making some lifelong friends along the way.
Along with being a trustee for Kirkham Henry, Helen works full time travelling the length and breadth of North Yorkshire with her role in road safety.
Hannah Revis
Hannah first become associated with Kirkham Henry later than most in 2019 when her step daughter Izzy started lessons on a Saturday and quickly become involved in the fundraising side of things with Helen.
This progressed to them taking over and running the dance shop as Friends of Kirkham Henry became established in 2023.
Outside of Kirkham Henry Hannah is an accountant working for Hand Picked Hotels and looks after a portfolio of hotels from Edinburgh to Surrey and everywhere in between. She can be found most Saturday mornings in the dance shop.
Sue Thackray
I have a long association with Kirkham Henry, starting in the mid 80s when my eldest son and I came along to a parent and baby class. This association has continued to present day. My 4 grown up children all attended KH with my daughter going on to work professionally in the performing industry. Now my granddaughter attends, my Mum is a stalwart of Golden Gliders and I enjoy adult ballet (Silver Swans) and tap.
My belief in everything that KH had to offer to the young people of Ryedale led me to becoming the first Chair of Friends of KH, many moons ago! I have happy memories of the day that Miss Angela and Miss Jennie announced that they wished to hand over what was their own business to the community to ensure the ongoing future of KHPA, in the form of a ‘not for profit community interest company’, which meant KH would be eligible for a much larger range of grants. Although my day to day involvement decreased when the children left after more than 25 years, I have continued to help out whenever possible. Many of you will know me as ‘Auntie Sue’ Head Chaperone at recent Showcases and general dogsbody! I am excited to continue in my role now as a Trustee as part of the newly formed Charitable Incorporated Organisation known as Kirkham Henry Performing Arts CIO.
I see my role as Trustee as being there to support Miss Angela, as Principal and her team of very dedicated staff, in what they can offer the Kirkham Henry families, to give advice when needed, to help develop and oversee policies but most of all helping to seek out grants and support fundraising, I am passionate about ensuring the ethos of KHPACIO, remains as the wishes of both Angela and Jennie in order that classes are affordable to all of our families whatever their financial circumstances.
Gareth Smith
I am delighted to be a Kirkham Henry CIO Trustee.
My son Leo relishes the time he spends at Kirkham Henry each week and has been doing ever since he attended his first class when he was two years old! I see first hand the huge impact that Kirkham Henry has not just on his achievement in the arts, but his and indeed his friends’ broader sense of wellbeing and belonging. I am passionate about Kirkham Henry and what it delivers for so many people in Malton and the surrounding areas.
I am currently employed as the “Chief of Strategy and Student Life” at University Academy 92; a multi award winning University based in Manchester, with the mission to make higher education accessible to all. I have overseen the institution’s growth from a start-up with just 83 students in 2019, to a flourishing institution with 1300 students across two campuses in 2025.
Prior to my current role I have worked in a number of roles across education, sport and politics, including 5 years working on the London 2012 Olympic Games, where I led engagement with conservatoires and dance schools across the UK with the London 2012 Ceremonies. The more recently I was the Head of Student Affairs at CU Scarborough, where I partnered with the SJT in the creation of a new Acting degree.