director

Ian Woods

As a Town Councillor and former Mayor of Richmond....   Ian Woods admits to being ‘co-opted’ to stand for Richmond Town Council in 2019. He’d previously been Chair of a North Yorkshire parish council for 15 years and was, understandably, ready for a break. Thankfully, he was persuaded otherwise, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Unafraid of hard work, Ian has always been willing to put himself out for the betterment of others. He previously led a team of 40 Street Angels helping to keep the streets of Northallerton safe at weekends, while during the pandemic he stepped up at the GP-led vaccination centre in Leyburn, organising 120 volunteers responsible for stewarding the site.

Always appreciated for his relentless enthusiasm, Ian brings a welcome energy to any community initiative, demonstrated most recently by his involvement with the town’s TIC, the result of which has led to demand for his popular local history walks where he adopts the persona (and uniform) of a Victorian street bobby!

A one-time senior manager within the metals industry and President of the UK Textile Recycling Association, Ian has a keen mind for business; one that he likes to switch off from with his wife Fiona by conquering the hills of Swaledale on their e-bikes!