Our People/Trustees

Our People/Trustees

Fraser Falconer (Chair)

Fraser is the Head of BBC Children In Need in Scotland. In the early seventies he was a student at Moray House College when Nancy was his tutor and a lecturer. They worked very closely in recent years when she advised BBC Children In Need on its grant making to community organisations in Scotland.

Margaret Westwood (Organiser)

Nancy was very active in the International Play Association, and was instrumental in setting up Play Scotland.  Margaret was encouraged by Nancy to become more involved in these organisations, and she is currently Secretary on the Board of the International Play Association; Chair of the IPA Scotland Branch and was Chair of Play Scotland from 2005 - 2009.   Margaret's day job is Senior Play Development Officer for the City of Edinburgh Council, but her most important play experience is playing with her three grandchildren!

Margot Walshe (Vice Chair)

Margot is Nancy’s younger daughter and followed her mother’s passion for play through design having worked as a landscape architect for many years. Her work included writing the ‘Play Directory’ for County Schools to encourage them to improve the design of school playgrounds for the curriculum and play. She also developed the Playground Design Games to get school kids involved in the design process when making improvement to their own playgrounds. She was the Surrey County Council Head of Conservation from 1998 – 2004.

Since 2004, Margot has been kept busy at home with her 3 children. They all have a wealth of experience of play, both informal and formal, including after school care clubs and playgrounds and parks throughout the UK and on holidays in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Margot and Husband, John can’t go anywhere without the kids wanting to explore every local play area!!

George Johnston

George worked closely with Nancy in the late 1960’s when she was at Moray House and  he was a neighbourhood Youth Worker in Edinburgh.   In the 1990,s when he became Chief Executive of YouthLink Scotland, Nancy was his dynamic and supportive vice-chair.   He was support  Manager to senior staff of Playboard Northern Ireland in the 1980’s when he was Chief Executive of YouthAction Northern Ireland.  He is presently a Vice-President of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council and self-confessed aging hippy in decay.

Jenny Hastings

Jenny is the elder daughter of Nancy and Allan Ovens. She is married to Scott and they have two Children Corey (15) and Kerry-Anne (12). They now have a puppy dog called Parker!

Jenny along with Scott, Corey and Kerry-Anne are all keen sports people and over the years have visited many play parks and areas that provide so much fun for so many people.

We as a family are very pleased that "Mum, Gramma, Nancy's name" continues to be involved in recognising those projects and individuals that support Play and hope that the Trust continues to flourish.

The family is very grateful to all those who founded the trust and to those who continue to work tirelessly.

Douglas Forman

Douglas was one of Nancy’s students at Moray House in the early 1970s and brings to the Board a considerable number of year’s experience as the General Manager of one of Scotland’s leading sports and leisure management charitable trusts. He has only recently stepped down as the Chair of the Active Leisure and Learning industry’s Sector Skills Council. He was instrumental in establishing the Trusts highly successful joint bursary scheme with SkillsActive and has been a long term advocate for the value Playwork across the UK.

Ian Boardman

As Director of LAYC (Lothian Association of Youth Clubs) for over 25 years Ian had a long association with Nancy Ovens who was an office bearer for the majority of that time. He has a strong commitment to youth and children’s work and the importance of universal local provision.

He also shares a passion for the national football team and is a card carrying member of the Tartan Army

Donald Gorrie

During 36 years as Councillor, MP and MSP was greatly involved in promoting good youth work, including working closely with Nancy Ovens in Lothian Association of Youth Clubs.

Raymond Branton

Raymond Is Manager of Broxburn Family and Community Development Centre in West Lothian. Raymond has been involved in children's play projects for nearly 30 years and is interested in adventure play with a particular passion for risky play. He is also experienced in delivering SQA's vocational Playwork qualifications and one of his projects was awarded one of the inaugural Nancy Ovens Awards for play. Raymond first met Nancy whilst he was a student at Moray House and then at regular intervals through links with Children in Need, SQA and Broxburn Family Centre.

Stephanie Anne Harris

Stephanie Anne was a founder member of Play Scotland and worked with Nancy for over 10 years. Married with 3 children , advocate for the importance of 'play' in children's lives, particularly keen to ensure play is challenging. Currently works in the City of Edinburgh Council as the Head of Sport and Physical Activity

Penny Lochhead

Penny spent many happy years alongside Nancy on the ILAM Scotland Executive from where Nancy became a close friend and mentor.

Penny is the Director of PMR Leisure Consultancy which works alongside community sports organizations in Scotland. Penny’s daughters enjoy being judges once a year across Scotland’s play parks.