RAF Museum: Board of Trustees
Updated 3 December 2024
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The Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum is a world-class national museum, which is responsible for promoting the public’s understanding of the history, role and achievements of the RAF through the integrated and imaginative use of its exhibitions, collections and the knowledge and expertise of its staff.
Capturing the often amazing achievements of its people is central to telling the RAF’s story, both past and present. The arrival of a new and dynamic senior management team in 2014 to 15 was the start of a significant transformation programme aimed at ensuring that the RAF’s story is told in the most comprehensive, exciting and imaginative manner. The museum already has some ground breaking exhibitions, such as the Cold War exhibition at Cosford, but the current transformation programme, which is focused on celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the RAF in 2018, will take the museum to a new level and ensure that the RAF’s story endures and enriches the lives of future generations.
The first phase of the ambitious £23M transformation programme was the creation of a new World War 1 in the Air Exhibition, which was opened in December 2014 and recently received the Heritage Lottery Fund Best Heritage Project Award for 2015.
Besides improving its exhibitions and interpretation, the Museum’s already extensive education programme will be enhanced through greater STEM learning opportunities and facilities. Although the Museum naturally reflects on the past achievements of the RAF, new emphasis will be placed on what the RAF is doing today and how its preparing for the future.
All appointments are voluntary but reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be paid.
All appointments and re-appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
2021
July
The following were appointed as members to the RAF Museum Board of Trustees by Min(Lords) on 23 July 2021 for a period of 5 years ending on 30 June 2026:
- Mr John Banks
- Mr David Cooper
- Mr Jonathan Field
- Mr Matthew Gilpin
- Sir Stephen Hillier
- Mr Waseem Mahmood
- Air Marshal (Ret’d) Peter Ruddock
- Miss Helen Selby
April
The Secretary of State for Defence has re-appointed the following members to the RAF Museum Board of Trustees each for a further 5-year term ending 17 May 2026.
- Ms Julie McGarvey
- Ms Laurie Benson
2019
March
The Secretary of State for Defence has re-appointed the following members each for a further 5 year term ending on 23 March 2024.
- Dr Carole Cole
- Dr Rodney Eastwood MBE
Sir Andy Pulford has also taken up a 3 year term as Chair which expires on 18 March 2022.
2016
May
The following were appointed as members by Secretary of State for Defence on 26 May 2016 for a period of 5 years ending on 25 May 2021.
- Mrs Catriona Kempston
- Mr Peter Bateson
- Ms Julie McGarvey
- Mr Laurie Benson
January
Air Chief-Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy GCB CBE DSO ADC BSc(Eng) FRAes RAF was re-appointed as Chair by Secretary of State for Defence on 18th January 2016 for a further term of 3 years beginning on 6 July 2016 and ending on 5 July 2019.
The following were re-appointed as members by Secretary of State for Defence on 18 January 2016 for a further term of 3 years commencing on 6 July 2016 and ending on 5 July 2019:
- Mr Richard Holma
- Mr Andrew Reid
- Mr Michael Schindler