The Committee

6269 (L-R: Jayne Kelly, Michael Kettle, Liz Bickerstaffe, Professor Michael Scott, Peter Williamson, Gerry Corless, Katrina Kelly)

President: Professor Michael Scott

Dr Michael Scott Portrait Michael is Professor in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick, author of several books on ancient Greek and Roman society including Ancient Worlds, and has written and presented a range of documentaries for National Geographic, History Channel, ITV and the BBC including, most recently, Invisible Cities. He is a National Teaching Fellow, an honorary citizen of Delphi and a Trustee of Classics For All. We’re very proud to have such a dynamic ambassador for classics as our President, and his scholarship, approachability and sense of humour encourages people of all ages and backgrounds alike to get involved with Classics.

Chair: Katrina Kelly

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At 17, Katrina became the youngest person ever to establish a branch of the Classical Association. She was home-educated and also studied A-Levels at AKS Sixth Form. Katrina recently graduated with a degree in Classics from Magdalen College, Oxford where her particular interests lay in Roman urban and social history, and Greek art and tragedy. When not networking shamelessly to persuade potential speakers to come to Lytham St Annes, she could be found on the athletics track or in training as a gymnast for the university. Katrina is now a Resident Graduate in Classics at Bryanston School in Dorset.

Secretary: Jayne Kelly

Jayne gained a degree in Modern History and post-graduate qualifications, and then ran her own business before becoming Governor of Inveraray Jail, one of Scotland’s leading visitor attractions. Jayne has had a varied career spanning countryside management, heritage tourism, marketing, criminology, mental health and lecturing and is the author and designer of several guides and publications. She now combines working for the NHS with writing, walking, poetry and her work for the Association. Jayne really enjoys the historical aspect of the lectures and is particularly interested in outreach work – trying to make classics accessible to people of all ages.

Treasurer: Michael Kettle

Michael studied Law and then Maths, and has enjoyed teaching Maths for over twenty five years. He has also had a variety of other interesting jobs ranging from looking after Lady Penelope’s car and being a film extra to supervising young apprentices in whisky distilleries and being a fish farm nightwatchman in Argyll and the Isles. He enjoys philosophy, walking, listening to the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams and following the mixed fortunes of Tottenham Hotspur. He also enjoys transporting and chatting to the lecturers when they come to the area and he has recently revived his interest in Latin by participating in the Association’s Latin Reading Group.

Minutes’ Secretary: Liz Bickerstaffe

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With a degree in Modern Languages Liz reluctantly trained as a multilingual PA working for Siemens and Building Design Partnership. She worked in Public Relations at Glasdon, writing for trade press and popping up on Radio 1 and Channel 4 to promote a tidy Britain alongside the world’s largest litter bin! Family circumstances led her into the field of children’s disability, setting up a support group, lobbying for services, acting as a trustee of a local charity and governor at a special school. Liz now coordinates various projects run by the archive volunteers at AKS and is rekindling her interest in archaeology via the Association.

Promotions’ Officer: Peter Williamson

Pete was born during the WW2 Manchester blitz and survived to become a Manchester City supporter – the first 25 years of which were quite challenging! As a 10 year old, he visited the Manchester Museum and quickly became obsessed with the culture of ancient Egypt after being mesmerised by an unwrapped mummy. Returning many times, he became an enthusiastic amateur in ancient history and archaeology; was later involved with the Printing Museum in Cockermouth; and now maintains a keen interest in ancient people during his retirement. An indentured apprentice compositer at the age of 16, he has worked for many newspapers, including the Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Mirror, and the News of the World.

General Officer: Gerry Corless

Gerry spent the whole of his professional career in the public sector. After qualifying as an Accountant he first became a Treasurer and then, ultimately, a Chief Executive in local government. Following early retirement from full-time employment he held a number of Government appointments, including ones on behalf of the Home Office, DTI and the Welsh Office. He was also the first Chairman of a new Housing Trust for Salford.

Since moving to Lytham St Annes in 2002, Gerry has become a member of both The Arts Society Fylde (formerly DFAS) and the LSA CA since their inception. Given his interest in heritage and historic buildings he is also an active member of English Heritage, Historic Houses Association and the National Trust. He is keen on the Theatre and classical music and attends numerous performances throughout the North West.