Jubilee Park Woodhall Spa Ltd – The Charity
Our Mission
To manage, develop and enhance Jubilee Park and its associated activities for the long term leisure, economic, social and cultural benefit of the community, in keeping with the spirit of the original gift from Lady Weigall.
On the 2nd of May 2014, Jubilee Park Woodhall Spa Ltd (JPWS) took over the operation and management of Jubilee Park on a 99 year lease with the pool opening for the season the next day. JPWS is responsible for the open air swimming pool (Lido), touring caravan site and communal gardens.
JPWS is a not-for-profit organisation set up as a company limited by guarantee (Company number – 8912577). It is also a registered Charity (charity number – 1159068).
Jubilee Park was created for the benefit of the people of Woodhall Spa by Lady Weigall, who built nearby Petwood, now the famous hotel, as her country house. The park was opened in 1935 by Princess Marie Louise and named to mark the Jubilee of King George V. In its earliest days it was known as ‘The Royal Jubilee Park’.
In 1947 the whole park was gifted to the Urban District Council (UDC) and between 1947 and 1974 the UDC put considerable investment into the park and swimming pool and marketed it countywide. Jubilee Park was as synonymous with Woodhall Spa as the Kinema in the Woods and golf (now the home of the English Golf Union).
Following local government re-organisation in 1974, the UDC eventually agreed to transfer the park to East Lindsey District Council (ELDC), who were keen to add it to their new property portfolio. Jubilee Park then comprised, an open air swimming pool (Lido), communal gardens, caravan site, tennis club and cricket club. The tennis club and cricket club have operated independently for many years under a leased agreement with ELDC. Some investment took place but over the next 30 years it became increasingly apparent that the park and its facilities would have trouble competing for funds with other, newer, leisure venues in the district.
In 2005 when the future of the pool, the café and consequently the park, were in serious doubt, it was not surprising that the community would unite to put pressure on ELDC to invest and save it. The same passions were aroused when it was proposed to close the park’s caravan site, with people across the county signing petitions in the belief that not just the caravans, but the park itself was under threat. Woodhall Spa without Jubilee Park would not be Woodhall Spa, and Jubilee Park without the pool would not be Jubilee Park. Woodhall Spa is the acknowledged ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of East Lindsey. Jubilee Park is the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Woodhall Spa.
Transfer of ownership of Jubilee Park to Woodhall Spa Parish Council took Place in April of 2011. This transfer was accompanied by significant investment in ‘failing’ parts of the infrastructure – not least the swimming pool basin and the infrastructure of the caravan park. This injection of capital has secured the operational ability of the Park along with ensuring that key areas remain compliant with necessary legislative requirements.
With this operational ability secured, we now needed to secure the park’s financial future under local ownership. The first four years were broadly successful although involving a steep learning curve. It quickly became apparent, however, that the Parish Council wasn’t set up in a way that could sustain Jubilee Park in the long term and a group of volunteers stepped up to look at possible ways forward.
On the 2nd of May 2014, The Parish Council handed over the operation and management of the swimming pool, caravan site and communal gardens to Jubilee Park Woodhall Spa Ltd (JPWS) on a 99-year lease. JPWS took over from this point with the pool opening for the season the next day. The cricket and tennis clubs in the Park maintained separate leases.
Fit for the Future
Since then the park has come to thrive as an important social, economic and sporting hub for the area. An ongoing programme of continuous improvements across the facility has seen a totally revamped children’s play area, new planting in the gardens, a dedicated sensory garden and from 2020, an all-year round health & Fitness suite and refurbished reception and changing facilities. Other ambitious developments are planned.
Images courtesy of the Woodhall Spa Cottage Museum.
The Trustees
Debbie Bollard (Chair)
A resident of Woodhall Spa for over 20 years, Debbie Bollard is an active member of the community. Previously a Parish Councillor, and local school governor, she was also involved in planning the annual 1940s Festival. She led the Coronavirus support group during Covid and continues to help run the local foodbank set up in response to local families’ needs during the pandemic.
Debbie spent 10 years in the Royal Air Force before retraining as a solicitor with Chattertons in Horncastle. She now runs her own consultancy business providing licensing and HR support to the leisure and hospitality sector.
Debbie has two adult children who grew up in Woodhall Spa and the family have been frequent users of Jubilee Park over the years.
Nikki Cooke
Nikki has lived in Woodhall Spa for around 15 years. She is a frequent visitor to the park and member of the fitness suite.
She has experience working across the private sector, NHS and is the Chief Executive of Lincolnshire charity LIVES. She hopes to bring her experience in charity governance and her love for Woodhall Spa and its community to her trustee role.
Phil Cushen (Deputy Chair)
Phil Cushen and his family have lived in Woodhall Spa for over 20 years. He and all his family have enjoyed using the Park, its facilities, and the various sports clubs since arriving in Woodhall.
Phil is a nurse by profession and has worked in the NHS and private sector in the UK as well as the Australian public sector in his over 44-year career.
Royal Air Force for many years rising to become the RAF’s Director of Nursing and finally the leader of nursing in all 3-Armed Services. He now works part-time at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.
Phil hopes his experience of organisational management and governance linked to his love of Woodhall and the Park will allow him to contribute fully to our successful future.
Kieran Delaney
Kieran has been resident in Woodhall Spa for 3 years- moving here from Bedford
He has over 35 years financial experience and is a qualified accountant and corporate treasurer and still runs a small financial services training company
He is a member of the fitness suite and is also a member of the 1940’s Festival Committee, Chair of the Jubilee Park Bowls Club and a member of the Spa Singers and Lincoln Male Voice Choir. He has been appointed as the Finance Committee Chair for the park.
Steph Simpson
Steph has lived in Woodhall Spa for 20 years.
She is a Chartered Engineer with over 30 years of experience, having served for 20 years in the Royal Air Force.
She is also the Vice-Chair of Linkage Community Trust, a Learning Disability Charity that provides specialist education, care and employability support throughout Greater Lincolnshire and the East Riding.
Steph and her family are daily users of Jubilee Park.
Mel Reynolds
Mel has lived in Woodhall Spa for 4 years and she has been a Jubilee Park volunteer gardener 2 mornings a week for 3 and a half years. Mel is passionate about the gardens and what they give to the community, and is an active member of the fitness suite.
Mel’s working life included over 37 years in banking, mainly in customer relationship and people-focused roles as a Branch Manager, Business Development Manager and Sales Development Manager. After taking early retirement, Mel ran her own gardening business until she relocated to Woodhall Spa from Hertfordshire.
Andy Hunter
Andy Hunter has lived in Woodhall Spa for over 23 years. Andy is an active member of the community, having previously been a Parish Councillor and Chair of the Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival; he is currently Chair of the 1940s Festival Community Grant Scheme, dedicated to supporting local good causes.
Andy served as a Regular Royal Air Force Officer for 27 years, rising to the rank of Group Captain, and for the last 10 years, he has been a Full Time Reserve Service Officer, in the role of Chief of Staff at Royal Air Force Coningsby.
He hopes that his wide experience of working at senior levels in the public sector and delivering community projects, as well as his love of Woodhall Spa, will allow him to contribute to the increasing success of Jubilee Park and the essential role it plays in the local community.
Nick Bonsor
Nick moved to Woodhall Spa in 2024, after holidaying in the area since 2020. He has moved from Northamptonshire but retains a Directorship in an Insolvency company based in Northampton, which he has held for the last 5 years.
With a financial background built through a 35-year career in banking, Nick has held several senior roles from Branch Manager to Commercial Director.
Having dealt with a wide variety of business customers in hospitality, entertainment and tourism, Nick has a strong understanding of this sector and can bring this knowledge to Jubilee Park.
Nick is an enthusiastic golfer and played cricket for many years.
Nick Pennock
Nick Pennock has lived in Woodhall Spa since 2013 and been an active participant in village life. He was vice chairman of the 1940s Festival and was also responsible for organising and running the 40s Lottery.
Nick currently works as membership manager for Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, is a keen quizzer and a member of the bowling club. His wife is a member of the Fitness Centre and his toddler grandson very much enjoys the play area.