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The National Life Story Collection

Library activities

Official record Companies House · updated 27th September 2026 · Sources

Network

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Who leads it

Previous officers 28

  1. Dr Edgar Hodson Thornber 2017-2020 Director View profile
  2. Richard Damian Ranft 2015-2020 Director View profile
  3. Lesley Knox 2014-2016 Director View profile
  4. Hennessy, Peter John, Baron Hennessy of Nympsfield 2012-2018 Director View profile
  5. Dr Joanne Reilly 2012-2025 Director View profile
  6. Dr Scot Mckendrick 2011-2015 Director View profile
  7. Roger John Gavin 2009-2022 Director View profile
  8. Stephen Howard 2007-2009 Director View profile
  9. Sir Harry Solomon 2005-2013 Director View profile
  10. Sharon Christine Johnson 2005-2007 Director View profile
  11. Lady Caroline Waldegrave 2005-2012 Director View profile
  12. David Gordon Comyn Webster 2005-2015 Director View profile
  13. Sir Nicholas Proctor Goodison 2000-2015 Director View profile
  14. Sir John Anthony Craven 2000-2012 Director View profile
  15. Rayner Stevens Unwin 1998-2000 Director View profile
  16. Jonathan Francis Taylor 1997-2008 Director View profile
  17. Professor Dorothy Elizabeth Sheridan 1994-2016 Director View profile
  18. Dr Stephen Paul Woodroff Peretz-Brown 1994-1995 Director View profile
  19. Anselm Crispin Jewitt 1994-2007 Director View profile
  20. Mark Fisher 1993-2003 Director View profile
  21. Professor Mary Christina Chamberlain 1992-2004 Director View profile
  22. Martyn Goff 1992-2004 Director View profile
  23. Penelope Margaret Lively 1989-2013 Director View profile
  24. Elyse Dodgson 1988-2001 Director View profile
  25. Jennifer Wingate 2024 Director View profile
  26. Peter Warwick Hands 1994 Director View profile
  27. Professor Lord Briggs 2004 Director View profile
  28. Eric De Bellaigue 1996-2005 Secretary View profile

Directors and secretaries as filed at Companies House.

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About

What it does
Library activities; Archives activities
Incorporated
21/09/1987
Registered office
London
Also a registered charity
The National Life Story Collection

Ownership

Owned by (1) iOwned byIndividuals and companies registered as having significant control over this company, from the Companies House PSC (persons with significant control) register. People whose ownership could not be confirmed to one individual are not listed as confirmed owners.

Group

  1. The National Life Story Collection is controlled by Mary Joy Stewart
    Evidence
    active significant influence · notified 2021-09-20 · source: Companies House PSC register

Ultimately controlled by Mary Joy Stewart.

Ownership paths are calculated from Companies House persons-with-significant-control filings. Each step shows the filed nature of control and dates; a step marked "ceased" is historical, not current.

Board analysis

Board DNA

How this board is put together, from the Companies House officer record and Charity Commission trustee records - deterministic, no AI.iBoard compositionCounted from the dated Companies House officer record: the current directors only, past directors excluded.

10 directors on the board

13.7y median 9.1y
average tenure
38.7y
longest tenure

Directors past 6 years

First-time vs portfolio directors

First-time (8)

Portfolio (2)

0
left in the last 12 months

Where else this board sits iWhere else this board sitsThe charitable fields these directors govern in elsewhere, by Charity Commission classification. Excludes this company and any charity it is the legal face of.

Arts and leisure 2Education 2

The sectors these directors govern in elsewhere. This company, and any charity it is the legal face of, are excluded - counting them would just tell you what you are already looking at.

Gaps to watch

  • Several long-serving directors could step down together
  • Narrow spread of sectors across the board

Where to look Suggested search: succession planning for long-tenured seats; directors from a wider range of sectors.

Sources

Official record from Companies House. Governance Register calculates the connections.

Record details
Company number
02172518
Status
Active
Type
PRI/LTD BY GUAR/NSC (Private, limited by guarantee, no share capital)
Accounts next due
30/09/2027
Edition
Register edition compiled 27th September 2026
Labels
Official record from Companies House · Calculated derived by Governance Register.

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