You are here: Home: Council and democracy: Democracy and elections: The Mayor

The Mayor

The Mayor of Calderdale - Councillor Ann McAllister

Born 15 September 1950

Education

Sacred Heart Primary School, Hammersmith, London, Convent of The Sacred Heart High School for Girls, Hammersmith, London and Our Lady of Lourdes Comprehensive, Glasgow.

Personal resume

Councillor McAllister was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the first daughter of the late Seamus McHugh MBE and his wife Evelyn.

On leaving school, Ann joined the National Savings Bank in Glasgow until 1981, achieving the rank of Higher Executive Officer.

In 1981 she joined the Halifax Building Society and moved to Brighouse.

Whilst with the Halifax, Ann undertook roles in computer audit (when computers filled rooms, not the palms of hands) and human resources. ;She was involved in projects connected with the merger with the Leeds Permanent Building Society and the conversion to plc status.

Ann took (very) early retirement in January 1998.

She has held office as the President of Calderdale Junior Chamber, Director of Halifax & Calderdale Samaritans, Chair of Governors at Luddenden Dene J & I School, Chairman of The Halifax Chartered Building Societies Institute and Chairman of the Yorkshire region of that same Institute. She has also been a Business Mentor for the Prince's Trust. Ann is currently a Governor of Woodhouse Primary School and Representative Governor on behalf of Calderdale MBC at Hollybank School.

Ann is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a graduate in Management Studies.

Family

Councillor McAllister is divorced and lives with her widowed sister Brenda Monteith. She has no children. Their mother Evelyn lives nearby, as did her late brother Michael and as does his widow Winnie.

Council work

Ann was first elected to Calderdale MBC in 2000 to represent Rastrick Ward, a ward that she continues to serve as Councillor. She has served on many committees and outside bodies and was Leader of the Council from 2006-2008.

She served as Deputy Mayor to Councillor Geraldine Carter in 2003-2004.

Interests

Most of all Ann loves to travel. She has been to every major European city, Canada, United States, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mauritius and South Africa.

The Mayoress of Calderdale - Mrs Brenda Monteith

Born 23 April 1952

Education

Sacred Heart Primary School, Hammersmith, London, Convent of the Sacred Heart High School for Girls, Hammersmith, London, Our Lady of Lourdes Comprehensive, Glasgow, Notre Dame College of Education, Glasgow.

Personal resume

Brenda is Ann's younger sister and the youngest of the family. After her husband died, she and Ann decided to live together and she moved in where she and Ann share their home with their beloved cat Boycie (who is thought to be the only cat in Calderdale with an ASBO)!

After qualifying as a teacher, she taught in primary schools in Glasgow, Essex, Leeds and North Yorkshire as a class teacher, Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher for more than thirty years before moving on to work in the field of Special Educational Needs (SEN) firstly in North Yorkshire and Bradford. She is now back in Leeds as a Inclusion and SEN Monitoring and Development Officer.

Interests

Brenda shares Ann's interest in travel and they holiday together as often as possible. She is a keen swimmer and visits the pool every day after work. She is also a regular gym goer.

back to top