Meet The Team
Meet the Castle Douglas Development Forum hard-working trustees and staff, who make everything the charity does possible.
Our Trustees

Sam Priest
Sam Priest is a restaurant manager in Castle Douglas.
I joined CDDF as a trustee as I have a keen interest in supporting the development of the town, working with local people and community initiatives to improve our environment, prosperity and health.
I want to improve the lives of our town’s residents through my restaurant/business and supporting CDDF/local groups.
Malcolm Williams
CDDF Trustee and a Castle Douglas Men’s Shed Trustee.
I retired to this wonderful little town recently and with time on my hands was keen to get involved.
I joined the CDDF board of trustees in June 2023 and hope that my wide experience of life and work will help me positively influence the projects we manage.


Keith Heron
CDDF Trustee and a Castle Douglas Men’s Shed Trustee.
I have been a trustee since 2022 and am lead responsibility on the board for Stepping Stones Community Larder and Foodbank.
Reducing food waste, increasing access to food, and developing volunteers all knit together so well to create a great atmosphere in the Larder.
Allison Tyson
I moved to Castle Douglas with my husband, David in 1988. I became involved in local groups like the playgroup committee and school organisations like the PTA when our children started attending them and from there I developed a strong interest in supporting young people in our community.
As well as being a trustee for CDDF, I have been involved with the Castle Douglas Scout Group for over 25 years. My work also means that I have an interest in making sure that people’s care needs are met and I joined CDDF so that I could be helpful to all members of our community.


Keith Irving
Owner of Irvings Homestyle Bakery.
I have been a trustee of CDDF since its conception and was a committee member for many years before this when Castle Douglas was known as a Food Town.
James Robertson
Founder of Castle Douglas Men’s Shed.
I founded the Men’s Shed in 2019 and have been a trustee of CDDF ever since. The most important thing to me about the Shed is that all men have somewhere to go and be useful–where every man is welcome, no matter his ability or age.


Anne Halliday
Local gym owner.
I believe this area can provide an incredible life for us. I joined CDDF as I wanted to be involved in supporting the people who are working hard to make it a lovely place for all of us.
The hard work that goes on is incredible, and I feel truly grateful to be able to be involved.
Andrew Moore
Local business owner.
As someone who was born and bred in CD I’ve always had the interests of the town at heart. I’m the owner of Lochside Apartments and Moore’s Chip Shop, a family-run business that has been serving the town for over 45 years. I joined CDDF 3 years ago as a trustee to help shape the future of the town that I’m so passionate about I’m involved in multiple roles including HR, finance, and most recently supporting the creation of the Crannog.


Carolyn Yates
Poet and Playwright
I’ve lived here for nearly 30 years, originally moving to the region to set up my own education and training company. . I’m proud to be the chairperson of Castle Douglas Development Forum, with its dedicated trustees and hard-working staff. In the past few years we have taken ownership of the visitors’ centre on Market Hill from Visit Scotland, who closed it down, and turned it into the Heart of Galloway visitors centre and retail outlet, built a Playpark for All and Changing Places tiolet in Lochside Park, and established Stepping Stones Community Larder on St Andrew’s Street. Now we’re developing a new low-carbon community and events space, the Crannog, by refurbishing and extending the old Carlingwark Outdoor Centre and adding a new civic outdoor space for community events.
Meet Our Staff
Beth McKee
Project and Communication Manager.
I join CDDF part-time, in February of 2022, as a youth intern with the job of managing Stewartry Community Garden.
I now manage CDDF’s projects, communications, social media, and youth engagement, as well as providing administrative assistance.
In my spare time, I am a strength and conditioning coach, as well as a competitive CrossFit and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete.


Leanne Latta
Manager of Stepping Stones Community Larder and Pantry.
My previous background is in care, retail, and mental health support.
I’ve been working for CDDF since March 2023 and developed the Foodbank into a more sustainable Larder model that involves the wider community as a whole.
The larder remodel is growing weekly. The long-term vision is to make it more sustainable on a larger scale with more emphasis on waste reduction and circular economy.