President and Vice Presidents
The Lord Peter Spencer Bowness of Warlingham and Croydon became our President in 2007, following the death of our late President, Lord Bernard Weatherill of Croydon North East.
Peter Spencer Bowness, Baron Bowness CBE DL was born on 19 May 1943. He was educated at Whitgift School, South Croydon and at the Law Society School of Law and College of Law. He began work as a solicitor in 1966.
Peter was elected a Councillor, becoming Leader of Croydon Council, London's largest Borough. In 1984 he became a Freeman of the City of London. In 1997 Peter was knighted and at that time he was unusual amongst his Conservative colleagues for supporting Ken Livingstone's low cost public transport initiative, Fares Fair.
Peter had a particular interest in social housing and supported his Government’s initiative of “right to buy”, however he wanted to see continued growth in social housing for those who were unable to buy and he always linked decent homes as an indicator for the economic success of any community.
He continued as Leader of the Council until 1994, and he stepped down from the Council in 1998. He served as a member of the Committee of the Regions in Europe and was a member of the Audit Commission.
In 1996, Peter was created a life Peer as Baron Bowness, of Warlingham in the County of Surrey and of Croydon. Peter has served on the Whitgift Foundation and he is a Patron of the Warehouse Theatre.
Vice Presidents
The Association's Vice Presidents are set out in the following list. All have been involved with the Association, either as Board members, or as members of Croydon YMCA before it merged with the YMCA of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark to become South London YMCA.
- Dr Maureen Adams
- Anne Age
- Barry Barnes
- Canon Joe Collins
- Father Donald Minchew
- Ted Patterson
