About Us

CIC Kirkby Lonsdale Directors

Allan Muirhead

A journalist from leaving school until retirement, I have a strong commitment to community development and am a town councillor as well as a CIC director. From newspaper journalism, I moved to BBC radio and finally to the NHS as a Public Relations Manager in Morecambe Bay. A journalist knows a little about a lot, and develops useful contacts. That has helped me to know who to go to to benefit my adopted home - Kirkby Lonsdale. I hope there have been positive results. I’m married with two (adult) youngsters, a grandson and his partner, and twin great-grand-children. I keep them in mind in all that I do.

Judith Collinson MCIPD

I recently retired after over forty years in the Civil Service. During a varied career I took the opportunity to study for graduateship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Subsequently, I built my experience and career in human resources, latterly specialising in Organisation Design and Development. I moved to Kirkby Lonsdale in 2013 and, keen to get involved in this fantastic Community, I became a volunteer at the Visitor Information and Gift Shop. I continue to volunteer in the shop and as a Town Guide.

Mike Marczynski

I trained as an industrial chemist and spent several years in the research before moving to cleaning up oil and chemical spillages throughout the UK. Interesting times. After selling that business nearly 20 years ago, we moved to Kirkby Lonsdale on the recommendation of my wife’s sister and husband, and we’ve never looked back! I am on the Civic Society committee as well as the management committee of the Lunesdale Hall. I’ve been a Town Councillor for many years and am also a director of the CIC as well as the Lancaster Chamber. I’m still in business, based in Carnforth, selling a range of nut security products throughout the world for use anywhere there’s a safety critical nut and bolt. My wife and I live in High Biggins, and love Kirkby Lonsdale, such a great place to live in and enjoy life!

Liz Saunders

My professional career was in education. I have worked as a senior manager in both prison and special school settings. I gained a Master's Degree in education research focusing on this experience. Since retirement my volunteer work has been with Fairtrade. I am part of the steering group for the Cumbria Fairtrade Network. I joined the CIC in its infancy and have worked to develop its role both in and for the community. I feel the CIC has an important role in managing and supporting the promotion of our town. As a family we have loved our time living in kirkby Lonsdale since 1994. We now enjoy passing that love on to our 9 Grandchildren, enjoying this beautiful environment to the full.

Jac Beeson

I am the Company Director at Abrahams Store, which we’ve owned for 5 years. I’ve also been a freelance IT consultant for almost 30 years, prior to which I spent several years in the then nascent digital printing industry. I was born and raised in the Lune Valley before spending about 10 years in Bradford and a similar amount of time in London before returning to the valley in the early 2000s. Outside of business I’ve served as a Councillor on a Metropolitan Council and Parish Council, been a Governor of several Schools and Colleges and am currently a Churchwarden.

Karen Crutchley

I'm a solicitor specialising in Corporate and Commercial law, a job which requires me to understand the differing positions of various stakeholders in the context of their legal circumstances, so that I can advise on a constructive way forward. I am delighted to be able to use my skills and legal knowledge for the benefit of the community through my role as a director of the CIC. I have lived in Kirkby Lonsdale since 2013, and appreciate the balance it strikes between servicing tourists and maintaining a strong sense of community.

Please view my Linkedin profile for more information