From these experiences Mark has become familiar with the challenges of rural, costal communities and in particular the injustices connected to housing that occur in such areas.
Training as a Fine Art Painter at Camberwell University, then completing postgraduate studies in Education and Social Justice at University College London Mark is an author and activist.
Mark has a young family, enjoys surfing, mountain biking and walking the South West Costal Path.
“As much as it is important to name and protest the injustices within the current Housing Crisis, it is also important to pursue and model the alternatives. CLTs offer communities a means to respond with what is right for their context.”
Ron’s career in computer programming has spanned the technological revolution of the later twenty-first century culminating in his own business providing software services and working part-time as a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.
Alan has enjoyed a career in telecoms from which he retired and immediately become involved in voluntary work using his experience with software to support the local hospice, U3A [University of the Third Age], his local Church and other organisations.
Ruth is a self-employed writer who has worked as a library assistant, accounts clerk, professors’ secretary, scriptwriter for a video production company and a town council clerk (not here!).
Toby completed a degree in Politics and began work at a housing charity in London. Later he retrained as a computer programmer which he worked as, along side teaching, for the rest of his working life.
Terry has been an Ilfracombe Town Councillor since 2019 with a strong desire to tackle the proliferation of poor-quality rented housing within the town. This has led to Terry working as the Housing Champion for Ilfracombe Town Council raising the issues and needs as well as forging partnerships to redress situations.
John grew up in Birmingham but moved to Ilfracombe almost forty years ago and has seen much change since his arrival. He is a self-employed carpenter enjoys working on the variety of projects the area has to offer.
Netti studied in London and enjoyed a career in computer programming and database design, and has been an Ilfracombe Town Councillor since 2015 and a District Councillor since 2019.
“The purpose of Ilfracombe Community Land Trust is to create affordable, secure homes for local people to rent with confidence. These become locally owned assets that can serve the Ilfracombe community in perpetuity."
Mark Read
