Dr Martin Gaskell, Chair

Martin’s connection with Northamptonshire commenced in 1989 when he was appointed Director of the then Nene College, which he led over the next 13 years to the threshold of university status.

Born in Lancashire, Martin read History at the University of Cambridge before moving to the University of Sheffield to undertake doctoral research on the development of working-class housing and planning in the nineteenth century - a subject on which he has subsequently written extensively.

Teaching commenced with extramural classes on local history in Yorkshire, before moving to what is now the University of Chichester. Taking on roles in the management of higher education, he became Deputy Director in succession of the now Liverpool John Moores University and London Guildhall University.

Coming to Northampton, Martin immersed himself in many aspects of local life, not least in becoming a Vice-President of the County Record Society and a governor of St Andrew’s Healthcare.

On stepping-down as Rector of the University College of Northampton in 2002. Martin was invited to become Director of St George’s House in Windsor Castle, a centre for confidential consultations established by the late Duke of Edinburgh.

Returning to Northamptonshire on retirement in 2012, Martin was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant, and has served as a trustee of, respectively, the Victoria County History, the Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust and the Core Theatre in Corby.

Martin currently divides his time between Northamptonshire and London where he is Past Master of his Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Educators, and serves as a governor for the City of London Academies Trust.

In spare time, his passion remains the continued exploration of his adopted county of Northamptonshire.