Dartmouth’s Mayflower Project is being organised under the umbrella of The Dartmouth Museum (Registered Charity No. 306635) and is run solely by a team of hard working, enthusiastic, volunteers. These volunteers are split into three categories:
The Dartmouth Mayflower 400 Steering Group – has a variety of skills & experience. Most of the members have been involved with the Mayflower project since inception. Individual details of each board member are shown below.
The Dartmouth Mayflower 400 Operations Team – This team is twelve strong, including the Board members, as at October 2019. Most members have specific areas of responsibility and this team is expected to expand as our plans gather pace.
The Dartmouth Mayflower 400 Support Team – Behind every good project there is always a strong support network which comprises all those individuals who sit on our various committees and help to support this project in a number of ways. The Dartmouth Mayflower 400 project is very much a ‘whole Town project’ and the scale and complexity of some of our plans are such that we will need assistance and involvement from many of the community groups in the town, the Festival organisers, the Schools, Churches, Tourist organisations, The Britannia Royal Naval College, the Harbour Authority etc. etc.
The Dartmouth Mayflower 400 Steering Group
Robert Lyon, Chairman
Rob is a retired Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager who has lived in Dartmouth for nearly 30 years. He is currently a Town Councillor and was Mayor of Dartmouth from 2014-2017 and again from 2018-2019.
He is one of the founders of the Dart Music Festival in 1997, now in its 20th year, and being Chairman of the Mayflower 400 project, Rob signed the Compact set up between the Trail Towns in England, Leiden and America.
He is a Trustee of Dartmouth United Charities and is a qualified Yachtmaster.
Diane Lyon, Treasurer
Di has lived in Dartmouth for nearly 30 years and has worked in administration for local businesses in that time including Parish Secretary for the Diocese of Dartmouth for nine years. She was, with Robert, one of the co-founders of the Dart Music Festival; she was Treasurer and Secretary for 15 years and is now joint President and a Trustee of the Dart Music Festival Foundation. She was Mayoress of Dartmouth from 2014-2017 and again from 2018-2019.
Marilyn Bird, Chairman of Arts and Culture
Marilyn studied at Shrewsbury School Art and Birmingham University School of Theatre Design and became resident designer at the London Arts Theatre Club and followed on in freelance repertory. She worked and toured with The Royal Ballet, The Festival Ballet and National Theatre Company.
Since moving to Dartmouth nearly 30 years ago; she successfully helped establish the Dartmouth Film Society, designed and directed The Inn Theatre Company and was Director of Classical Music for the Dart Music Festival for nine years.
She is a Vice-President of the Dart Music Festival.
Lindsay Ellwood, Chairman of Education
Lindsay is an experienced teacher. She has taught English in the UK and in an International School, and latterly TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages) to adults in the Netherlands. She has taught in a wide variety of institutes, businesses and organisations, and ran her own language business in the Netherlands from 2000 – 2011.
Since returning to the UK to live in Dartmouth, Lindsay has played key roles in various charitable organisations, and is a Trustee of the Flavel Arts Centre and of Dartmouth Museum.
Spencer Wigley, Chairman of Heritage
Spencer is a retired solicitor who has lived in Dartmouth for 3 years. He plays an active role in the history of the town and is a Trustee and Vice-chairman of the Dartmouth Museum and formerly The Flavel Arts Centre. He is also a former Trustee of the Shakespeare Globe. He has been Chairman of Cranleigh Prep School and Amesbury Prep School. His legal expertise has played a key role in the organisations in the town that he has supported, including Dartmouth Museum and The Flavel Arts Centre.
Rear Admiral Robin Shiffner, Chairman of Maritime & Military
Laura Campbell, Destination Marketing, PR and Media
Laura is a Tourism Professional who for the last 4 years has been based in Dartmouth. Having spent time working in Canada in Tourism and Hospitality she now supports the Mayflower 400 project on both a national and local level. She has also recently been working on a large scale Tourism project for the Cruise Industry working with Southampton – Training and supporting businesses to develop their tourism products for the Cruise Industry. With a background in business operations and project management, Laura has also worked with a variety of Visit Britain projects, at a more local level, supporting businesses to be Travel trade ready.
