Our charity bids farewell to three long-serving directors

Pictured above: our Honorary Administrator Keith Hayton, who has retired from our board

This summer, significant changes have taken place at York Against Cancer, with three people stepping down after long service to our board.

Keith Hayton, our Honorary Administrator for many years, has stepped down as a director, alongside his long-serving colleagues, John Yeomans and Pat Kay.

Keith, former head teacher of Fulford School, originally joined our charity at the invitation of our first Chairman, Jack Birch. Keith became increasingly involved after his retirement.

When the previous Honorary Administrator, Philip Mackley, stood down, Keith took over responsibility, and he helped run our charity alongside three different chairmen and three different general managers.

“There have been quite a lot of changes over the years,” said Keith. “The big change from the personnel point of view was the introduction of improved conditions of service, contracts and appraisals, which hadn’t really been done before.

“As a charity overall I think the main achievement has been the impact that York Against Cancer has made, and at long last we are getting quite well-known.

“It was an absolutely brilliant idea of our founder Steve Leveson to fund a mobile chemotherapy unit, which put the icing on the cake.”

Pictured: retiring board member John Yeomans

John Yeomans, former Chairman of Visit York and Senior Partner with York law firm Harrowells, joined us in the mid-‘90s when Professor Leveson  asked him to become a trustee.

He later became one of our directors, lending his expertise to the business and management aspects of the charity as well as to its marketing and branding.

“Being involved with a relatively new but very active local charity that was generating wonderful local support has been very rewarding,” said John.

“I think our development of the Cancer Care Centre (at York Hospital) was a brilliant idea and my appreciation of it grew immensely when my wife (Di Yeomans, one of our volunteers) was diagnosed with breast cancer and the staff there really put their arm around her.

“A key feature of the charity is its basic, down-to-earth connection with the local community, which is so appreciative of what it does.”

Picture: Retiring board member Pat Kay

Pat Kay, a former Lady Mayoress of York, became involved with York Against Cancer in 1989 when her friend, our Fundraising Chairman Noreen Bartram, invited her to join her committee.

She went on to organise our renowned annual Christmas Luncheons and joined our board during the chairmanship of Patrick Shepherd. During her time with us, she also became Chairman of our Fundraising Committee.

“I became more involved after my husband (former Lord Mayor of York Clive Kay) died of cancer and the charity became more personal to me,” said Pat.

“I think one of our big achievements was the Cancer Care Centre – there was no support when my husband was ill and I think the centre has made an enormous difference.

“Then our minibus and our respite apartments – these are such wonderful things that we have been able to do to help cancer patients, and the mobile chemo unit is absolutely amazing.

“I’ll miss being involved with the board, but the charity needs fresh ideas and younger people.”

Our Chairman Ian Yeowart paid tribute to the contribution made by all three retiring directors.

“Board colleagues Keith Hayton, Pat Kay and John Yeomans stepped down this year after many years of dedicated service to the charity, and we hope they enjoy a long and happy 'second' retirement at a time when we are welcoming new members to the board,” he said.

“Their long-term support and involvement has been significant, and during their time they have overseen a significant change as the charity has gone from strength to strength and become an even more important part of the York landscape.”