Message from our Chair, Matthew Knight

Dear Members and Friends,

Following the AGM last month, I was elected to succeed Jim Cannon as Chair of YOPA Chair, so in my first letter I wanted to say what a privilege it is to have been asked to take on this role. I’m very much looking forward to continuing the excellent work that YOPA does and to meeting as many of you as possible at our events. Jim’s shoes are big ones to fill, but I will try!

An organisation like YOPA does best if we can share the work and have a team approach. So, I’m delighted that George Wood will now Chair the YOPA Executive Committee, and Dianne Willcocks, our YOPA Vice Chair, will lead with me on the organisation of our open meetings. Jim will continue as Newsletter Editor, and there will be more of a biography of me in the next edition to explain who I am! With the essential support of our Treasurer Shirley Reed, and our Administrator Alice, I think we have an excellent team in place, and we can face the future with confidence.

Our next Open meeting is on Monday 17th November at 2 pm at Friends Meeting House. We are delighted that Peter Roderick has agreed to be our Guest Speaker. Peter has a critical and wide-ranging role as City of York’s Director of Public Health – responsible, amongst other things, for promoting and protecting the health of York residents and for reducing health inequalities. It promises to be a fascinating and absorbing meeting, so please do come along, and invite anyone else you know that might be interested- members and non-members equally welcome!

We are working on a range of ideas for our meetings as we move into 2026. More details of these to follow but please put the dates in your diary – 19 January, 16 March, 18 May, 3 August.

With very best wishes,

Matthew Knight, Chair – York Older People’s Assembly.

Bob Towner, Obituary

On 4^th January 2025, York Older People’s Assembly lost one of its greatest supporters when Bob Towner died aged 81.

Bob was born and brought up in Caversham, Reading. He excelled at sport, particularly rugby and cricket and played at county level.

Bob studied Industrial Chemistry at Loughborough then worked as a manager in the paints division of ICI in Slough.

Bob was elected as a councillor in Reading and was, for a time, the youngest Leader of a Council in the country. This experience led to a change of career into local government and he was appointed Deputy Director of Housing in Hillingdon and then Director of Housing in Haringey.

In 1985, the family came to York, where Bob took up the role of Housing Director and set about transforming the Housing Department.

Under his leadership, Tenants Choice was introduced, where council tenants, who had previously been told what they were getting, were given choices when needing new bathrooms, kitchens and colours of their front door. Repairs by appointment and the Tenants Charter followed.

A major refurbishment and improvement of the Bell Farm Estate was implemented.

Several sheltered schemes for older people were built including the award-winning City Mills.

One of the first things that he did was instigate the building of The Peasholme Centre for homeless people, which also provided accommodation for women, who had previously not been catered for.

York won awards for Excellence in Public Service for his pioneering work.

In 1995 Bob became Director of Community Services, a combined housing and social care department.

Glen Lodge and Barstow House residential care homes were converted to extra care sheltered accommodation.

The Housing Department won government and architectural awards, and tenant satisfaction was one of the highest in the UK when Bob retired.

After leaving the local authority in 2000, Bob became a consultant and was involved in housing inspections. He became a board member of several housing associations and was a member of the York Primary Care Trust and a trustee at York Hospital.

Bob was a major driver of York Older People’s Assembly. He was Chair in 2013 until 2018. He was a Trustee and produced our quarterly newsletter over many years until December 2024. At Open meetings, he was always asking the challenging question so he could report hot topics in the Newsletter.

Bob came back onto the Executive Committee in November 2021 and had a 100% attendance record since then – that is dedication!

George Wood said, “Bob saw a lot of change at YOPA – at critical times of change in personnel he kept things together – he was always there.”

Bob’s interests were walking, gardening, cricket, politics, cats and real ale and red wine.

We’ll miss you, Bob.

Jim Cannon, YOPA Chair