Mrs Kirsteen Mitcalfe
Kirsteen Mitcalfe recently retired after 20 years as a Deputy Lieutenant of Moray, six of these as Vice Lord-Lieutenant. She is actively involved in a number of charities, Riding for the Disabled, The Oaks Palliative Care Centre, Elgin and District Cancer Support Group, Meals on Wheels. She was a governor of Gordonstoun School for 13 years and has been involved with Burgie International Horse Trials since its inception 30 years ago. She was secretary to the Pony Club and is currently secretary to the vestry of St John’s Episcopal Church in Forres.
She has an Open University degree in Mathematics. Kirsteen lives very near to Kinloss Abbey and has always been interested in its history – some of her relatives are interred in the burial ground.
Mr Tom Duff
Graduated with 1st class honours from Scott Sutherland School of Architecture in 1977. In a 40 year career with prominent Scottish practice LDN Architects – 30 as partner – responsible for many award-winning projects, including Urquhart Castle Visitor Centre, Highland Archive Centre, Fort Augustus Abbey, Inverness Town House and Knockando Woolmill. Set up and managed LDN’s German office in the 1990s and undertook regeneration projects in the former GDR. Served on NTS Council from 2003 to 2008 and was Moray Society Civic Committee Convenor for ten years. Retired in 2017 but maintains an interest in local heritage projects through being a trustee of Leanchoil Trust and Kinloss Abbey Trust.
Major General Peter Grant Peterkin CB OBE
Peter Grant Peterkin lives near Kinloss Abbey and his family have had a family plot in the grounds for 200 years. After a career in the Army which culminated as the Military Secretary in the rank of Major General, he became Serjeant at Arms in the House of Commons, responsible for the day to day management of the Palace of Westminster and the maintenance of this World Heritage site as a political venue and a Leading Visitor Attraction. He is Chairman of the Highlanders Museum at Fort George and is currently involved with a business building schools in Indochina.
Dr Timothy Finnegan
Timothy Finnegan grew up in Surrey and went to Barts Hospital, London, in 1969. He then joined the Army and served until 2011. With his interest in preventive medicine, he became a consultant in Occupational Medicine and Fellow of the Faculty. His final post was to run the Army Primary Health Care Service in UK as a Brigadier. He then sat part-time for the Tribunals Judiciary, dealing with appeals for social services benefits until 2020.
A lifelong interest in church architecture attracted him to the Kinloss Abbey Trust. He became a Trustee in 2016. Also, while in the Army he was involved with War Widows visits to Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries.
He married Sue, whose home was in Findhorn, in 1975. Apart from family, his other interests include coastal rowing, playing the recorder and walking on the dunes. He helps with several local charities.
Mrs Anne Skene MA, Med, PGCE, Dip SEN
Anne Skene has enjoyed a full career as a teacher and manager of provision for children with Additional Support Needs. For 15 years she has run her own education business which provides consultancy, instruction and teacher training both in Scotland and internationally. She has a long history of involvement and holding office in a variety of community groups. She has been a Community Councillor and is presently a Moray Councillor for the Forres Ward with responsibility for chairing the Children and Young People’s Services Committee. Recent directorships have been with The Princess Royal Trust Moray Carers, The Forres Area Community Trust and the Moray Art Centre. She is currently involved with building and developing a school centre in western Kenya.
Dr Stephen Worth
Stephen Worth retired from the Royal Air Force in 2014. His RAF career started as an electronic technician, followed by aircrew and later as an operations officer. A lifelong interest in archaeology and history developed into a second career. Gaining a first-class honours degree in archaeology, followed by a master’s degree, he worked commercially in archaeology. He applied for, and gained a prestigious Carnegie PhD scholarship, gaining a doctorate in historic archaeology. Currently he lectures for the Archaeology department at the University of the Highlands and Islands, conducts post doctorate research and a member of the Church recording project for Scotland’s Churches Trust.
Ms Rebecca Russell
Rebecca Russell has a farm just outside Elgin. Her father’s family, the Dunbars, have lived in Moray for centuries and at various times had houses at Duffus, Newton, Forres and in Kinloss. Rebecca trained and worked as a horticulturist before becoming a horticultural journalist in her late 20s. In 2005 she and her young family moved to Elgin, where she lectured in horticulture at Moray College while also taking an increasing involvement in her family’s farming and property business. Since 2011 she has been involved in developing the Findrassie masterplan for an area to the north of Elgin. She is also involved in the newly formed Moray Farm Cluster Group which will see an environmental scheme develop over her own farm, Spynie Farms and 13 other neighbouring holdings covering a total of around 6000 ha. Prior to joining the Kinloss Abbey Trust, Rebecca sat on the board of the Moray Society. She is a Deputy Lieutenant of Moray.
Ms Ann Griffin
Ann grew up in Dufftown before enlisting and enjoying a 13-year career in the RAF where she served both at home and overseas within communications. Her civilian career has taken her from the NHS, Moray Council and now the Civil Service at Kinloss Barracks. She also teaches yoga in her spare time. Ann has a long history of involvement in a variety of community groups in Moray, both developing them and holding office. .