People

Claire Newman

Chair of Town Centre Sub-Group and member of Greenmyres Sub-Group

Claire was born and brought up in Renfrewshire. Following an MA (Gen Arts) at The University of Edinburgh she moved to Aberdeen in 1984 for a post graduate course which led to a job within the sales department of a Norwegian company selling remotely operated vehicles and associated subsea equipment. After 15 months travelling and working overseas, she returned home to work in Edinburgh in office admin before getting married and moving to Aberdeenshire in 1990. With a desire to bring up their family of 4 boys in a rural area with a good school and offering a diverse range of activities and a strong sense of community, Huntly proved to fit the bill. Claire enjoys walking, cycling, skiing, cooking and gardening.

Carolyn Powell

Town Centre Development Manager

Born in Edinburgh, Carolyn returned from many years living in England to live in Scotland in 2016. Carolyn’s has a diverse working background including training as a psychiatric nurse, working in the property sector for 13 years, resulting in becoming Lloyds TSBs first female Area Director. Carolyn set up her own successful design and project management business with two retail outlets in rural Staffordshire and became heavily involved in rural regeneration through involvement with a small community.

Carolyn later worked for the New Economics Foundation followed by many years working in regeneration, economic development, and business support with NEF, BIGLottery and many individuals and organisations in the commercial, creative and third sector.

Jill Andrews

Greenmyres Project Manager

Jill was born in Aberdeen and studied Architecture at the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow and Scott Sutherland School in Aberdeen. After working for architects in the Outer Hebrides, Skye, North Berwick and Deeside she settled near Huntly 20 years ago. She started her own Architectural practice in 2002 and specialises in high-quality design grounded on sustainable principles. She participated in the Scottish Rural Leadership Scheme in 2020. Her children have all been educated at The Gordon Schools and she participates in many local ventures including Aurora Choir and Productions. She enjoys walking, singing, cycling and swimming.

Sandy Philip

Huntly Travel Hub and Greenmyres Project Officer

Sandy grew up in Aberdeenshire and attended Banff Academy until moving to Stirling to study a degree in Environmental Geography and outdoor education. Sandy has worked various jobs, including at Ardroy outdoor education centre, and gained a qualification in mountain leadership. After graduating in 2020 he moved to the Isle of Skye to work on the small island of Scalpay until moving back to Aberdeenshire in late 2020. He is passionate about the outdoors and the natural environment, enjoying these through a range of outdoor pursuits.

Andy Miller

No. 30 Operations Coordinator

I attended a private school in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, for 11 years before taking a year out to help run a moped hire business and work on building sites in London. I went to PE College in Cyncoed, Cardiff for 3 years to get a B.A. Hons in Human Movement Studies. Then I looked to join the leisure sector and after a while joined Aviemore Centre as Assistant Entertainments Manager, running Speyside Theatre & Cinema, Osprey & Fraser Disco Rooms, Santa Claus Land, Information desk and numerous large conferences and holiday programmes. I became Entertainments Manager as the centre changed dramatically, with 3 day working weeks in the downturn and preparing the centre for sale to eventually McDonald Hotels. I learned to ski in 1982 and worked for Aviemore Ski School as a part time Alpine Instructor for 7 years.

In 1985 I joined Gordon District Council as Leisure & Entertainments Assistant before focussing on my passion in Sports Development, which included setting up Alford Ski Centre, various Park Management Committees and Leisure Centres. Various promotions over the next 35 years lead to Principal Sports Development Officer for Aberdeenshire Council before retiring in March 2020. I was involved as the project officer for Huntly Nordic Ski Centre in 1990 before it opened in 1982 and with the refurbishment in 2004 funded by the Big Lottery New Opportunities PE & Sport programme. I have extensive event management experience setting up the Triathlon Series in 1988 to present, Great Inveruire Bike Ride, Project Manager for Active -8 Grampian, Secretary of Gordon Sports Council / Aberdeenshire Sports Council (11 years), and Project Manager for Run Balmoral for 7 years. I have been a BASI Level 2 Nordic Ski Instructor for over 16 years at Huntly and still work there in a part time capacity.

My hobbies include cycling with Insch CC, Nordic Skiing, dog walking and Building / DIY. As a resident of Oyne for 35 years I have been involved as a volunteer as Chairman of Oyne Youth Club for 12 years, on the Village hall Committee and the Oyne Community Association SCIO (OCA) as lead on core paths. Currently I am Chair of OCA as well as joining Bennachie Community Council in 2020, and elected Chair last year.

I am delighted to be joining Huntly Development Trust in this new role and hope to bring my years of experience and community leadership involvement to drive forward this iconic project in the Square in Huntly.