Penarth Civic Society
Cymdeithas Ddinesig Penarth
formerly The Penarth Society
The Committee,
Trustees, & Key Members
​If you are interested in helping The Committee then we would love to hear from you!.
Chris Loyn
President
Chris Loyn has been involved in Penarth civic matters since moving to the town in 1987. As an architect, whose multi award winning practice is based here, he is deeply involved and concerned with the local environment, seeking to ensure the retention of the best of the existing, both the buildings and the open spaces between, as well as ensuring that the town has a sustainable future, something which inevitably involves changes to reflect the needs of today’s society.
The key is to be open minded but always to insist upon and to realise design excellence.
Chris also has the distinction of having designed one of the County Treasures, the Modern House in Raisdale Road.
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In 2024 Chris stepped down as President, following a move out of the town, but returned in 2025 so was reinstated.
Anthony Ernest
Vice President
Information Pending
Following the resignation of Chris as President in 2024, and nobody to take on the position, the role of Vice President was also suspended. However it was reinstated in 2025 with the return of Chris as President.
David Noble
Executive Committee Member [Trustee]
Heritage Trail Coordinator
David has lived in Penarth for over 30 years and ran a successful printing business until his retirement in 2017.
As well as looking after the finances of the Society he organises monthly events and speakers, usually with a Penarth based emphasis, but sometimes simply interesting trips or speakers. He also collates the quarterly newsletter for the Society.
He is a keen gardener and is an active member of the Trees, Friends of Victoria Square, and Railway Path Project sub groups.
He can often be seen wandering around the town with his two dogs and staring strangely at lamp posts.
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April 2023 David relinquished the joint roles of Secretary,, Membership Secretary & Treasurer following the recruitment of other individuals to fill these positions.
Claire Collier
Secretary / Membership Secretary
Information Pending
Information Pending
Dan Brown
Chair of Executive Committee [Trustee]
Friends of the Italian Gardens, IT & Website
Dan started off by joining Friends of Victoria Square in August 2021.
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While he was looking to join because he had a keen interest in gardening, he soon found out that several of his other skills and experiences would be suitable,
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Dan has a wide and varied background which includes things like public engagement, performance, and instructing/ teaching about wildlife & conservation, adventure outdoor pursuits and IT.
Because of this, Dan took on the role of Website and Social Media Coordinator for FoVS. He is also involved in the management of the website, our social media accounts and provides support ina range of techincal areas. In April 2023 Dan took on the role of Vice Chair and, on 10th December 2024, following the resignation of the previous Chair, Anne Evans, Dan was elected by the Trustees to become the new Chair of Penarth Civic Society.
Vacancy - Vice Chair
[Trustee]
Information Pending
Haydn Mayo
Executive Committee Member [Trustee]
Chair of Friends of Victoria Square
Haydn moved to Penarth in 2006 and enjoys living close to Victoria Square. And, feeling very fortunate to have sight of many wonderful, large street trees, as well as the trees and space of the Square, the launch of the Civic Society’s Tree Forum and Tree Strategy was a call to get involved in caring for our local environment. Along with a small number of other local residents, Haydn established "Friends of Victoria Square” to enhance the appearance, maintenance and community use of the Square.
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He has become an active member in the Society and a contributor to the Tree Forum. He has worked in the NHS for 35 years and has a keen interest in all aspects of community health and well-being.
Geoffrey Cheason
Executive Committee Member [Trustee]
Planning Advisor
Geoff has been a member of the society since 2015, serving on the committee as Minutes Secretary and recently coordinator of the Italian Gardens project to assist the local authority in routine maintenance and planning for the gardens long term future.
As a retired conservation architect Geoff also monitors planning applications that are submitted to the Vale of Glamorgan Council looking at applications and issues that may affect Penarth in general and the conservation area in particular.
Mary Davies
Executive Committee Member [Trustee]
Education Advisor
Mary originally joined the committee as lead for the Beach Wardens group.
Her family has lived in Penarth on and off since the late 19C. Her Irish grandmother’s family were builders involved in the restructure of the Pier Pavilion in the 1920s, while her grandfather, originally a carpenter from Cornwall, became the town sanitary officer.... and the scourge of a few butchers who didn’t follow the slaughtering rules!
Both her mother and daughter attended Albert Rd and Stanwell schools. She spent her working life in both statutory and voluntary sectors liaising with families of learning disabled children, enabling them to participate in out of school activities. Since her retirement she has become involved in the local U3a, plays badminton and uses her time walking her dog and keeping an eye on our lovely beach.
Jane Grehan
Executive Committee Member [Trustee]
Lead Coordinator: Friends of Arcot Triangle
Jane moved to Penarth in 2012 and until she retired in 2019 she was working as a garden designer.
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Her work often brought her to Penarth and so to realise what a lovely place it is.
She joined the civic society in 2021 and represents the Friends of Arcot Triangle where she is part of a group of volunteers who have greatly improved the garden since 2017.
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Jane is also a member of the Friends of St Joseph’s Park being keen to help maintain and improve a park that she is very lucky to see from where she lives.
Jerry Cross
Executive Committee Member [Non-Trustee]
Lead Coordinator: Friends of St Joseph's Park
Information Pending
Information Pending
Sarah Salter
Executive Committee Member [Non-Trustee]
Heritage Trail advisor
Sarah has been in Penarth for over 26 years and has work in the tourism industry in Wales for the last twelve.
A keen walker and allotment keeper Sarah is involved in Railway Path Project Penarth.
She is always striving to keep public spaces green and clean for all to enjoy as well as promoting a healthy environment for our local wildlife.
Sarah is a qualified Green Badge Tourist Guide and is looking forward to sharing her passion for Penarth and the wider South Wales area with tourists and visitors.
Vern Cornish
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Penarth Beach Volunteers
Information Pending
Information Pending