Board of Trustees

Partner Director

Councillor David McBride has been a Dumbarton Ward Councillor since 2007 and also works as a part time Executive Officer with the Department of Work & Pensions.

Councillor McBride has held many roles in  West Dunbartonshire Council including Housing, Environment and Regeneration Spokesperson.  In this role he successfully moved the proposal to build our fantastic new leisure centre in Clydebank which opened in April 2017.

Councillor McBride has a passionate interest in West Dunbartonshire and the people who live here, and is delighted to be given this opportunity to make a difference in what he believes is a key area. "I have a keen interest in sport, particularly attending football matches and occasional visits to the gym".

Independent Director

Dave is a former HR Manager who worked with East Dunbartonshire Council.  Prior to this he had a range of manager roles in Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and Glasgow Councils before specialising in more Personnel related roles.    On leaving school Dave read chemistry and geology at Glasgow University before leaving to join Rentokil Ltd (pest control division) on a Junior Executive training scheme. 

He has a Master of Science in Personnel Management and a Diploma in Management Services.  He is also a Certified Employment Law paralegal and is a member of the association of Directors of Education in Scotland

In his younger days Dave was heavily involved in youth organisations and was a keen footballer and table tennis player before moving on to squash.  His two children have both been heavily involved with sporting activity in the West Dunbartonshire area and his son continues with involvement in a local youth organisation.

Independent Director

David was appointed to the West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust Board on 24 November 2016.

He joins the Board following over 25 years’ experience working in Senior Management and Board roles in both business and sport. Most recently he has spent the last 10 years as CEO of Tennis Scotland and previously held senior positions within British Vita Plc working in the Vitasheet Group across the UK & Europe.  During this period David also held a position as Trustee Director for the British Vita Pension Fund. 

Over the past 10 years working at Tennis Scotland the main objective has been to “get more people paying tennis more often” and David believes this new position will allow him to continue this passion to help the people of West Dunbartonshire to participate more in sport.

Developing disability sport has always been important for David and he looks forward to helping the Trust in this area.

Independent Director

Tony enjoyed a long career in education in Glasgow, from 1975 until retirement in August 2011. Tony served as a teacher of Biology, and principal teacher of Biology in secondary schools until 1999. During this time he also taught health education and human biology courses. After this, he became Development Officer in health education, then Adviser / Quality Improvement Officer in Health and Wellbeing, and Physical Education in Glasgow. During this time, Tony was responsible for the development of 'health promoting schools' in Glasgow.

Tony has always been a keen participant in sport and leisure pursuits. His current interests include running, skiing, walking, music, photography, and, home improvements. 

The role of director of the Leisure Trust provides Tony with a great opportunity to further his interest and involvement in health and wellbeing, by playing his part in the development of the trust as the main organisation for the promotion of health and wellbeing of the people of West Dunbartonshire.

Independent Director

Charlie was appointed Chair of West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust at the Annual General Meeting held on 13 September 2018.  Charlie has 30 years' experience working within Local Government where he fulfilled a number of Senior HR roles across a range of HR functions including Employee Wellbeing, HR Operations and Organisational Reviews.

Over his HR career he has provided lead HR advice on a number of major organisational restructures across a range of Council services including the review of Leisure Services within another neighbouring Council in 2005. 

Charlie's has provided high level professional advice e.g. at Partnership at Work Forums, HR Appeals Board and has been described as a credible witness at Employment Tribunal. Charlie's experience is underpinned by professional qualifications in Workplace Health, HRM and Employment Law.  He recently qualified as an Accredited ACAS Mediator.

Away from work Charlie, who has always lived locally, played part time professional football for both Dumbarton and Clydebank and has a real affinity with the area.  He has a development skills level certificate for football coaching where he passed on his football knowledge and skills to his son's football team (Duntocher Boys Club) for over 10 years.

Employee Representative Director

Tony has worked in the Leisure Industry since April 1982. During this time he has gained a vast amount of front-line experience ranging from Lifeguarding to Swim Teacher. In 1986 Tony gained promotion and became part of the supervisory team at the Vale of Leven Swimming Pool; thereafter in 2004  he was transferred to the Meadow Sports Centre in Dumbarton to join the supervisory team where he currently works. It was at this time that he was approached to become a shop steward for Unison; he carried out that role for a number of years before also becoming interested in the Health & Safety aspect of the union.  Tony acquired both level 1 and level 2 certificates for Health & Safety in 2014 and was selected by Unison to serve on the Leisure Trust Health & Safety committee in 2014.  Subsequently Tony was nominated by the joint unions in June 2019 to serve on the Leisure Trust Board as the Employee Representative Director.

Partner Director

Councillor Clare Steel is a newly elected Councillor in the Clydebank Central Ward in May 2022. Councillor Steel is a mum & Unpaid Carer to her teenage twin daughters, Holly and Katie. Katie has complex medical health needs and requires round the clock care.

Councillor Steel is an active Campaigner for Disabled children & for Unpaid Carers. She is currently the chair of Carers of West Dunbartonshire Carers Centre.
Councillor Steel's passion is helping people in the community, giving a voice to people who maybe can't use their own, and being an advocate for people who need that support.

Councillor Steel is actively interested in the West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust especially the different services it has to offer. Having also been involved in Disability Sport with her daughter, this is an area Councillor Steel is excited to be a part of

Independent Director

David is a resident of Arden, Alexandria and a local business owner.
He has 12 years experience as a board member of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, serving on their Audit committee and both their planning and Local review committees.
An accountant by degree he has a commercial background in pensions and investment sales working for some of the UK's largest life insurance companies. For the last 20 years he has a successful track record of start up's in the financial sector and development of tourism accommodation in the local area.
David also serves on the Luss and Arden Community development trust as its chair. Recent projects include the building of a community hydro energy scheme.
David is a keen tennis and golf player and also enjoys fishing and water sports.

Partner Director

Formerly a frontline Care Worker for West Dunbartonshire Social Work Department, Councillor Jonathan McColl has been a West Dunbartonshire Councillor since 2007, representing both the Lomond and Leven Wards. He also works part time for 'REED in Partnership', delivering Driving Theory exams for the DVSA in test centres across Scotland.

Councillor McColl has held many roles in  West Dunbartonshire Council including Social Work & Health Spokesperson, Education Spokesperson and more recently Leader of the Council between 2017 and 2022.

Councillor McColl has dedicated most of his adult life to serving the community and believes that the leisure trust has a huge part to play in increasing the well being of local people, "It was a great privilege to be part of the small team of Councillors who developed plans back in 2010 to create the Leisure Trust. I was Education Convener and Depute Leader of the Council at that time, and I could see the opportunity to increase investment in sporting and leisure activities for children and young people, creating a healthier, more active generation for the future."