Trustees
Henry McLeish (Chair)
Henry McLeish was born in Methil, Fife into a mining family and played professional football for East Fife FC and Leeds United before taking up lecturing at Heriot-Watt University and later going into politics. He served as a Councillor and Leader in Fife Regional Council, part of which was during the Miners’ Strikes. Henry was elected as labour MP for Parliament in 1987 and joined the Scottish Office in 1997. On the establishment of the Scottish parliament, Henry was elected as MSP for Fife Central in 1999 and became First Minister in 2000. Since leaving main stream politics in Henry has lectured widely, particularly in the United States, and published several books. Henry is currently involved with consultancy work including with Halogen Communications Ltd.
Keith Aitken, Edinburgh, Journalist
Keith is a freelance writer, broadcaster and conference facilitator who joined the Trust in 2002, and brings an invaluable expert knowledge of the media.
A former Industrial Editor of The Scotsman, he is now a columnist for the Scottish Daily Express. His history of the Scottish trade union movement, 'The Bairns o' Adam', was published in 1997, and he has written essays in several books, as well as sundry pamphlets. Keith is a member of the NUJ and SCDI, a former Court member of Napier University, and a patron of Scottish Education & Action for Development.
His interests include reading, walking, music and collecting American political memorabilia.
John Allan
John, elected to the Trust in 1996, is a chartered Town Planner,and a valued advisor to the Board on local government issues. He is Director of the Board of the Midlothian Enterprise Trust.
Colin Beattie 
Colin joined the Trustees in 2007. An elected member of Midlothian Council, he spent 23 years as an international banker (1972-1995, followed by a career as an investment banker in the City of London from 1995 until 2006. In October 2006 he became a full-time politician, and has held the office of SNP National Treasurer since 2004.
Besides the SNP, he is a member of the National Trust for Scotland, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Historic Scotland. His hobbies and interests include politics, reading, gardening, movies and classical music.
Alex Bennett, Ward 3 Dalkeith, Midlothian Council .jpg)
Dennis Canavan, BSc, Dip Ed
Dennis joined the trust in 2007. The grandson of a miner, his early career was in education, being first Principal Teacher of mathematics at St Modan’s High School, Stirling, and then Assistant Head at Holyrood High School, Ediburgh. He served as MP for West Stirlingshire (1974-83) and then for Falkirk West (1983 - 2000). He then became MSP for Falkirk West (1999 - 2007), during which time he was convener of the cross-party sports group.
His interest in sport continues; he is Hon. President of Milton Amateurs Football Club, and President of Ramblers Scotland. Now retired, his interest in mining also continues as a member of the Bannockburn Miners’ Welfare Club.
Wilma Chalmers, Newtongrange, Councillor (Midlothian)
Wilma was elected to the Trust in 2003. She brings knowledge of local government, a keen personal interest in volunteer groups, and expertise in organising events.
Wilma has qualifications in Business Information Management, Medical Terminology and Administration and is currently studying for a qualification in Wastes Management. She is a member of the Institute of Waste Management, Chair of the Dean Tavern Trust and Vice-Chair of Midlothian Twinning Association, a member of the Lothian Anti-Poverty Alliance, Newbattle Community Learning and Development Management Committee and Newtongrange Leisure Centre Management Group. Within the Council, she chairs the General Purposes (including chair of the various associated sub-committees eg Gourlaw, Blinkbonny, Oxenfoord etc) and Labour Group Committees, and is a member of the Environmental Protection, Performance Review, Standards and Planning Committees; as well as the Full Council.
Wilma has also substituted for Housing and Education Appeals and Education Appointments interviews. She regularly attends Newtongrange Community Council, local School Boards as well as a plethora of local organisations and committees, events and forums. In addition to all that, she is appointed to and attends Lothian Valuation Joint Board in Edinburgh and Torness Local Liaison Committee at Torness Power Station as well as Trustee to the Scottish Mining Museum itself. Wilma is also an ex-officio Justice of the Peace.
Eric Clarke, Edinburgh, Retired MP
Eric, for twenty six years a coal miner,has had an active political career, in both local government and in Parliament,where he represented Midlothian for nine years.
He was elected to the Trust in 1997.He was General Secretary of the NUM (Scotland) for twelve years, and for five years served on the National Executive of the Labour Party. He maintains his interest in politics as a member of the Labour Party and the Cooperative Party, and in other ways.
By way of other interests, he is a shareholder in Hibernian Football Club, and a member of Arniston No1 Fishing Syndicate, Gladhouse.
Robert Tarbet Dodds BA(OU) ; Dip.French (OU)
Dr Lesley Glasser MBE, FRSE, BA(Cantab), DSc (Aberdeen), Retired Scientist
Lesley spent over thirty years in academia, before taking early retirement to assist with various organisations concerned with educations and the public understanding of science. She joined theTrust in 2001
She helped establish, and for some years directed, Satrosphere, Scotland’s first hands-on science centre (where she remains on the Board), and takes a particular interest in the Operations Room in the Mining Museum, and in activities promoting science and technology to school children. Her outside interests include horticulture.
David Hamilton, MP
David joined the Trustees in September 2007. He serves on numerous House of Commons Committees. He is a member of the National Union of Mineworkers, Scotland, and of the Dalkeith Mining Club.
He is also a Friend of the Newtongrange Silver Band, and a Friend of Friends of Midlothian Children.
David Seath
Graduated from Heriot-Watt University in 1969 and joined the (then) National Coal Board as a Mining Engineering Trainee. Subsequently appointed as Undermanager, Deputy Manager and Colliery Manager at various collieries. Worked in Ayrshire, Fife, Lothians and Stirlingshire coalfields.
Moved to national headquarters of British Coal Corporation assuming responsibility for safety and legislation matters. Members of various ECSC Experts Committees on health and safety. Appointed as Manager, Mines Rescue Service in 1993 and retired from the industry in 1995. Advised on health and safety legislative matters for the privatisation of British Coal. Represented United Kingdom on the Committee on Safety and Health in Mines set up by the ILO in Geneva. Member of ECSC Working Party on Rescue, Mine Fires and Explosions.
Engaged as independent consultant on various mining projects since 1995.
Member of The Mining Institute of Scotland since 1965. President in 1993/94 and Honorary Secretary since 1999. Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. Chairman of The Mining Institute of Scotland Trust.
Former member of the Carlow Home management committee.
Currently employed by Lothian and Borders Police as Central Services Manager responsible for Fleet, Procurement and Property matters.
Derek Walker, A.C.M.A, Livingston, Company Director/Owner
Derek was elected to the Trust in 2002, and his background in financial and company matters provides the Museum with valuable expertise.
Controller to Mining (Scotland) Limited, as Finance Director to The Scottish (Deep Mine) Co. Ltd, and is currently director/owner of Cree-8 Group, who specialise in company recovery through participative ownership. He earlier held a variety of positions with Greater Glasgow Heath Board and the British Coal Corporation.
His outside interests include 5-a-side football, and hill and distance walking.
Fergus Waters A.C.M.A, Newtongrange, Director, Scottish Mining Museum
Fergus was elected to the Trust in 2004, following a change in the Articles of Association; he had served as Director since 1996. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and of the Museums Association.
Fergus joined the Museum from the north of England, where he had been active in tourism, marketing and care of historic sites. He is currently chair of the Midlothian Tourism Forum and Scottish Councillor with the Association of Independent Museums. He serves on the board of the Museums Galleries Scotland.
Nicolas Wilson, President & General Secretary, NUM Scotland, Musselburgh
Nicolas joined the Trust in 2003. Originally an underground electrician, he has a long record of service to the coal industry and its workers, having been successively Branch Official, Executive CMTE Memberand President of the Scottish Colliery Enginemen, Boilermen and Tradesmen’s Association.
From 1989-1996 and from 1998 to date, he has been President and General Secretary of NUM Scotland Area, and from 1988 to date he has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Scottish Labour Party. He is a trustee of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, Chair of the Scottish Coal Industry Social Welfare Fund, and Chair of Fife/Lanarkshire Miners’ Convalescent Home.
Peter L Wilson
Peter joined the Trustees in September 2007 with a family background in mining, his father being an ex-miner and his elder brothers being involved in the West Lothian shale mining industry.
Educated at Lanark Grammar School, Glasgow University and Jordanhill Training College, he taught mathematics at Lanark Grammar School before joining the Royal Navy as Instructor. He transferred to the Royal Army Educational Corps in 1970 as a career officer, reaching the rank of Colonel before taking early retirement to take up the post of Secretary of Heriot-Watt University, an appointment he still holds. Whilst in the Army he undertook a post-graduate course in Manpower Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London.
He is a member of the friends of the RSA, the Zoo and the Botanical Gardens. His recreations include hill-walking, golf, jogging and gardening, and he also enjoys classical music and sings in a choir.
Ian L Young MA (Edinburgh), Dalkeith, Director Strategic Services, Midlothian Council 
Ian, elected in 2007, is a chartered town planner and member of the Institution of Economic Development. He has 36 years experience in local government, the last 28 of which have been in Midlothian. His current responsibilities for Midlothian Council include planning, building standards, environmental health and trading standards, transportation policy, economic development and property. He is a Director of Midlothian Enterprise Trust and Midlothian Innovation and Technology Trust as well as being on the Project Committee for Rosslyn Chapel. He greatly enjoys travel, reading, good food, good company and his beloved Hibs. He is Chair of the Hibernian Historical Trust.
Newtongrange, Midlothian, EH22 4QN
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