Barbara Birley Curator Expand The Roman objects from Vindolanda are Barbara’s main focus and she takes great pride in conserving, cataloguing, interpreting and displaying them for the general public who visit both Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum. She also oversees the Trust’s education and learning programme, Heritage Guiding Programme and Museum Volunteers. In 1999, Barbara moved to Northumberland from her native Colorado and officially joined the Trust’s team. Prior to that she had spent two seasons as a Vindolanda excavation volunteer. Barbara also enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering for the Scouts, reading, visiting other sites and museums and enjoying the local countryside.
Colin Galloway Deputy CEO Expand Colin takes great prides in leading the customer service teams at both museums and working with the leadership team to provide the best possible experience for visitors to Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum. He works closely with Andrew to continue evolving the Trust and managing the budget. Colin joined the Trust in 2010, after fifteen years working in the airline Industry, the opportunity to relocate to Northumberland allows him to combine his passions for Customer Service, Heritage and the outdoors. When he’s not working, you can find him enjoying time with his family either on the golf course, at the side of football pitch or walking their dog in the Northumberland countryside.
Dr Andrew Birley, FSA, FSA Scot CEO / Director of Excavations / Chair of Research Committee Expand Andrew is the third generation of Birley’s to work as the Director of excavations for the Vindolanda Trust after his father Dr Robin Birley and grandfather Professor Eric Birley. He is the nephew of Professor Anthony Birley. Andrew started excavating at the site as a teenager and then got his undergraduate degree and PhD from the University of Leicester. He has worked at the site in a full-time capacity since 1996, becoming director of Excavations in 2005 and CEO in 2015, taking over from Patricia Birley in that role. A former Chair of the Archaeology Committee for the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies he is widely published on Vindolanda and the Roman frontier in Britain.
Lauren Bearpark Education & Post Excavation Coordinator Expand Lauren joined the Vindolanda Trust in 2015 to coordinate the formal education programme including delivering the school and adult archaeological talks on site. She also manages the pottery and animal bone in its post excavation stages, which involves overseeing the washing and cataloguing of these finds by volunteers, and writing reports based on the findings. Her particular interest is in Roman animal bone and what it can tell us about the people who used to live at Roman Vindolanda. Away from work she likes to spend time outdoors with her family visiting other heritage sites, as well as beaches along the North-East coastline.
Marta Alberti Site Archaeologist Expand Marta joined the Trust in 2015 to assist in the supervision of the excavations as well as the delivery of the rich research program that the Trust pursues. Her day to day tasks range from teaching field excavation, recording and surveying techniques to volunteers to processing the data collected through excavation and working on publications. Her specialist subjects are textile implements on the frontier and their relationship to female identity, as well as volunteer participation to archaeology on Hadrian’s Wall. On the latter subject she is pursuing a part-time PhD at Newcastle University. When she is not digging, studying or writing she can be found reading a fiction book or cooking a delicious Italian meal.
Patricia Birley MBE. FSA. DL Head of Impact Committee Expand Having initially taught in state schools, I joined the Vindolanda Charitable Trust in the 1970’s as a museum curator and artefact conservator, including the Vindolanda Writing Tablets. I subsequently, after acquiring business and finance management skills, became the Trust’s Deputy Director in 1980. In this capacity I assisted with, and then project managed numerous Vindolanda projects with Robin Birley, the Trust’s Director. This included the foundation and development of the Roman Army Museum at Carvoran on Hadrian’s Wall. In 2001 succeeded Robin Birley as the Trust’s Director and took responsibility for the administration, compliance and strategic development of the Trust. I successfully applied for external funding and managed several major Vindolanda projects, including a £6.3 million HLF/ RDA funded building and refurbishment development covering the Trust’s two archaeological sites and museums, until my retirement as Director in 2015. I have previously served my local community over many years as a town councillor, a representative on various sub committees, a Chair of School Governors, a Chair of an LEA Education Appeals Panel and as the Chair of the Northumberland Lord Lieutenant’s Advisory Committee. I remain a Deputy Lieutenant and currently serve the Vindolanda Trust as the Chair of its Impact and Development Advisory Committee.
Penny Trichler Events Co-ordinator Expand Penny has studied archaeology to Masters level at university and throughout her time there made regular visits to Vindolanda as an excavation volunteer. When the opportunity came up in 2017 to become a member of the Vindolanda Trust team for a placement year, she made the move from Oxfordshire to Northumberland. Whilst in her first role at the Trust, she applied for the job of Activities Officer as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Wooden Underworld Project and extension to the museum. Penny now enjoys working within the Events Team, coordinating actives and events that happen at both Roman Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum and letting loose her creativity to come up with some amazing activities for people to take part in when they visit. Outside of work Penny is currently challenging herself to learn British Sign Language and also tries to keep active. She enters the Vindolanda 10K each year she can – keep an eye out for her!
Sonya Galloway Communications Manager Expand Sonya is a third generation member of the Birley family working at Vindolanda. Sonya returned to Northumberland in 2010 after a 15 year posting north of the Wall. As Communications Manager for the Trust Sonya promotes the work of the Trust to the wider world, arranges access for filming, creates our press releases and looks after our Social Media channels. It is unlikely that you will ever see Sonya without her iphone, camera or both in her hand!