Michael Cotter discusses his work with Bowes Lyon House, a youth centre in Stevenage

Michael recalls his work with the Bowes Lyon House as an agreed Chairman. He remembers the great satisfaction that this role brought him, despite its challenging nature.

Stevenage Museum

Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage

Transcript:

Michael: Another area in which I have been very involved in, very interested in is, you know the youth centre at Bowes Lyon House. Well I have been chairman of management committee there for 18 years that started off as a voluntary organisation but because, it was found because of its size and demands that a voluntary management group weren’t able to manage, and that became county council. And I was chairman and agreed chairman, not elected chairman, agreed chairman between the development corporation, urban council, the employers group and the teachers groups, college and I was the agreed chairman

Interviewer: The County, a lot of contributors

Michael: A lot of contributors because there had to be you know because they were all

Interviewer: This must have been very difficult

Michael: It was very interesting & very challenging but great. I was there for well, maybe I go back on the when the new management committee is re constitute I don’t know yet what the future is but certainly it is one of the sort of side line things you do outside of your mainstream activities, outside of you political work outside of your council work, outside of you know other voluntary organisations this one gave me a great, great fillip, and indeed a great deal of satisfaction.