Charles sports new role with leisure firm

EDINBURGH Leisure has appointed Charles Winstanley as its new chairman.

=Mr Winstanley, who is also chairman of NHS Lothian, replaces Robert Yates, who left the unpaid position last month.

He said: "Edinburgh Leisure is a great organisation, with committed and hard working staff, so I'm really pleased to be asked to take on this role. The value of exercise in improving general health is well known, and there may well be growing opportunities for Edinburgh Leisure to work with the NHS."

Mr Winstanley is also a non-executive director at the Ministry of Defence, a member of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, and was previously panel chair of the General Medical Council.

A spokeswoman for the board of Edinburgh Leisure said: "We are delighted to announce the appointment of Charles Winstanley as chair of the board of Edinburgh Leisure.

"His broad range of governance experience and involvement in many areas of public life will be extremely valuable in guiding the direction and ongoing success of Edinburgh Leisure."

Recruitment is also under way at Edinburgh Leisure for a replacement for former chief executive Keith Jackson, who stood down at the same time as Mr Yates.