SACRE Members - Who's Who
Peter Martin - I began a teaching career after studying for a degree in Hispanic Languages and Literature. Now retired from teaching and management in four very different secondary schools in Shropshire, Merseyside and Lancashire, and representing the Association of School and College Leaders for many years in Lancashire, I have also trained school governors and contributed as a governor of four primary schools.
In work with the SACRE, I am focussed on how important Religious Education is in the development of our young people - learning about and learning from faith and its practice in their community and in the wider world. Getting to know and co-operate with representatives of other religions and faith traditions has been a rewarding experience. It is a privilege to serve as SACRE chair, and to have been served by dedicated professional officers to the SACRE.
Mohammed Adil Tagari - Adil is a 2021-graduate of a traditional Islamic advanced curriculum and is a home-grown Muslim scholar. He is also an MA candidate in the Religion, Society & Culture course at UCLan, Preston.
His professional vocations include being the full-time minister of religion (imam) at Masjid Salaam, Preston, and a lecturer of Islamicate History, Arabic language and other disciplines at an evening seminary in Preston. Adil is also pro-actively involved in youth initiatives, interfaith schemes and grassroots community outreach. Having joined the Lancashire SACRE in June 2023 as a representative of the Lancashire Muslim community, he is privileged to be involved in developing, augmenting and empowering the experience of young minds along their journey of Religious Education.
County Councillor Yousuf Motala - I have been a member and previously vice chairman of the Lancashire SACRE committee since 2009, I am Muslim and was previously a member of the Jamea Mosque Management committee Preston, I have been employed as Chief Executive Preston Muslim Forum, plus youth and community worker Preston REC, inner cities youth officer Apex Trust, access tutor Edge Hill and St Martins Higher education colleges and Principle Community regeneration officer Preston City Council, but I am also a qualified Structural engineer, I helped to establish the Unity Community Centre in Preston in 1984, I was also chairman of 2 regional BAME networks and chaired a conference in Oldham following the disturbances in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford, and was a lead on community cohesion, I also chaired the northwest committee for the governments international development work overseas, I am now disabled but back in 1982 cycled from Preston to Germany for charity and was involved in numerous sporting activities and voluntary work.
Joan O'Rourke - I have been a member of the Lancashire SACRE for several years now, after having had a 40 year career in Education.
I worked in Church schools for a large proportion of that time. I was the headteacher of a Church of England village school, a Senior Lecturer in Initial Teacher Training at an Ecumenical University and finally, Diocesan schools adviser in the Diocese of Liverpool and Associate adviser in the Diocese of Blackburn. Following my retirement, I have continued to enjoy being part of the Lancashire SACRE and feel very privileged to see the enthusiasm and commitment that schools have shown in promoting and delivering RE in their schools. I consider my retirement to be a blessing and enjoy watercolour painting, yoga and walking in nature (when I have the time!).
Kathleen Cooper - I am a co-opted member of the SACRE where I represent the Lancashire Association of School Governing Bodies. I have been an active school governor for many years, and was previously a school teacher delivering RE in the classroom during a long career. Besides that I have been, and still am, a farmer. In retirement I have been privileged to travel widely in countries of different faith traditions. It has helped me to see vividly how much is to be gained from an understanding of religious belief in society, and the vital part it can play in the lives of young people.
Keith Pennington - Keith joined the Lancashire SACRE during lockdown in 2020 and represents Humanists in Lancashire. Keith lives in Longridge and volunteers in several areas for Humanists UK: School Speaker, Interfaith Dialogue, Pastoral Care and organising the local group “Lancashire Humanists”. Keith retired in 2022, after over 40 years of working in the chemical industry. He has two children and two grandchildren. He has been married to his wife Catherine since 2008, who is actively involved in her local Catholic Church. His main leisure activity is playing golf, and since retirement this has led to much greater involvement in friendly team games for his local club.
Ishwer D Tailor MBE JPDL - Ishwer joined Sacre in 2014 and represents the Hindu faith through Gujarat Hindu Society (GHS) located in South Meadow Lane, Preston. Ishwer lives in Preston and has been associated with GHS for nearly 50 years. Ishwer has held the position of President for 24 years and is involved in taking school visits at the centre. At the centre with a team of Management & volunteers we celebrate all Hindu religious festivals and also promote cultural & social activities for its members. Ishwer has played a keen role in promoting harmony amongst other faith groups and is a member of Lancashire Forum of Faiths & Preston Faith Forum. Ishwer likes cycling, walking, going to gym and is a keen table tennis player.
Ben McMullen - Ben joined the Lancashire SACRE in September 2000 and represents the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool. Ben lives in Wigan and has been teaching Religious Education in secondary schools since 1995. He was Head of RE for 10 years and is currently Deputy Headteacher of All Hallows Catholic High School, Penwortham, Preston - a role he has held since 2011. His main areas of responsibility are leading the Curriculum and the Catholic life of the school. Outside of work, Ben is involved in youth ministry, accompanying young people on retreats and on an annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, France in July. Ben is a keen runner and has completed several marathons (including London twice) for charity.
Malcolm Craig - Malcolm is a retired General Practitioner and an Observer for the Bahá’í faith having taken over from Joyce Sabour. Between us we have been attending Lancashire SACRE as observers for over 20 years. We have provided speakers for schools and colleges, and we deliver an annual session to first year students of the ‘Religion, Culture and Society’ degree course at UCLAN. Malcolm is Chair and Secretary of his Local Bahá’í Assembly and faith rep on Preston Faith Covenant (which is an interface between Preston City Council and the faith communities). He is a supporter of Interfaith work through Building Bridges Preston (formerly Preston Faith forum) and leads a Discussion Group in the Preston and District U3A. Malcolm enjoys reading, gardening and chess.
Cllr Stewart Jones - Stewart is a County Councillor who is on Health and Education Scrutiny committees. He has worked in insurance and customer service and I is a carer for his mother. Stewart has been brought up in the Roman Catholic faith and has served as an Acolyte since the age of 12.
He is also an Extraordinary minister of Communion in his Local Parish. Stewart has many friends of different faiths (Muslim, Hindu) and also of other world views such as pagan. Stewart enjoys being a member of SACRE as he believes we can learn so much. We can help the children in our educational settings learn, grow and challenge their own culture and faith and be open to others' views. This brings harmony, peace and tolerance.
NEW FROM OCTOBER 2023
Peter Lumsden - Although retired as an academic at the University of Central Lancashire, Peter is fully occupied with community work – ‘keeping the F (faith) in the VCFSE (voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector)' as he describes it. Through Churches Together in Lancashire, and the Lancashire Forum of Faiths, he is actively involved in strengthening connections and relationships between faith groups and public sector partners. Previously Peter chaired the Preston Faith Forum, and is now a trustee of Building Bridges Burnley, where he oversees the ‘Offer to Schools’, a scheme that provides faith volunteers to run sessions in schools across the county.
Aruna Patel - I am proud to be the SACRE representative for the Lancashire Federation of the Teaching Union the NASUWT. I am Vice Chair of Governors at St Stephens Church of England School and a Junior Primary School teacher who has been responsible for leading and teaching Religious Education in a variety of faith and non-faith based schools across England. With the advantage of understanding the teaching and learning requirements of the Primary Curriculum, I have also delivered whole school assemblies, dance and drama workshops to schools, beavers and cubs; teaching Hinduism my adapted way, so that it is relevant and accessible to a variety of groups and audiences, in modern Britain.
As a British born Hindu, who struggled with understanding my own Hindu beliefs and cultural identity, I have always hoped to promote the teaching of RE in our ever-evolving, diverse world. I recognised from my own childhood experiences, that it was vital that every child had a sense of belonging and could be proud of their heritage, celebrating their beliefs and traditions. I craved this spiritual nurturing and knowledge as a child. Indeed, it was this inquisitiveness and longing to understand that led me to study Theology at Westminster College, Oxford. After my pilgrimage to India, this was possibly one of the most spiritually empowering times of my life. Here I graduated learning that Religious Education was beyond vast; it was infinite. Moreover, I learned that RE was essential to ensure peace, love and understanding around the world. So here I am, blessed to be a Lancashire SACRE member and committed to ensure and safeguard the provision of quality RE in Lancashire Schools.
Lisa Fenton - Lisa is the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education Adviser to Primary Schools and Academies and Lead for SIAMS. She has served on Lancashire SACRE for 25 years. She is the author of ‘Questful RE’ the RE syllabus used in Church of England and Methodist Primary schools in Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire and Merseyside. Lisa is also the creator of resources for Collective Worship and she is a National and International speaker at conferences on the topics of Religious Education, Children’s Spiritual Development as well as the Distinctive Nature of Church Schools.
John Wilson - John represents the Church of England on SACRE and has taught Religious Education at secondary comprehensive schools in Harrogate and Keighley from 1975 to 1985, followed by directing the Centre for the Study of Religion and Education in the Inner City, Salford, a multi-faith education centre, until 1990. He then returned to teaching at Carr Hill High School. Kirkham, where he was Head of Humanities until 1999. From 2000 to retirement in 2013 he was the Religious Education Adviser and Assistant Director for Manchester Diocesan Board of Education. John now runs the family sheep farm in the Forest of Bowland AONB and is involved in local history at both local and county level.