About Us

We are Friends of the Broadway Prestwick, and our aim is to reopen the Broadway as an independent cinema, exciting multi-use venue, and inter-generational community hub.

The Broadway of the future will capture the spirit and soul of the cinema's golden age past, with heritage preservation at the forefront of everything we hope to achieve. By combining state-of-the-art cinema technology with a wonderfully evocative atmosphere in glorious Art Deco surroundings, we aim to transform the Broadway into one of Ayrshire's prime entertainment venues.

The cinema with a charm all its own.

1,500

Meet the Team

Guy Walker

Chair and Chief Projectionist

Guy Walker has been a Director of the Friends of the Broadway since February 2022. He is a Professor of Human Factors and a Director of Learning and Teaching at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

In this role he has overall responsibility for the operation of undergraduate and postgraduate education involving over 5000 students and 300 staff. Guy has written 19 books and over 130 published academic papers – one or two on technical cinema topics. He brings to the project senior leadership experience, expertise in funding, civil engineering projects, and community engagement.

Most importantly, he used to be a ‘real’ cinema projectionist in a heritage venue very similar to the Broadway. He has witnessed first-hand the transformative impact reopening a cinema has on communities and is passionate about bringing these impacts to Prestwick for the benefit of all.

John O'Donnell

Vice Chair and Director of Funding

John O’Donnell is the vice chairperson of Friends of the Broadway Prestwick. He has senior leadership experience having been Head of Human Resources for Kwik-Fit. John was also Head of Service for Citizens Advice Direct for 2 years, responsible for funding applications and delivery of the service through 8 paid staff and 150 Volunteers.

John retired in 2022 and relocated to Prestwick. He was co-opted as a Community Councillor in October 2022. Whilst attending the Lights Up Prestwick event in December 2022 John met some of the board of Friends of the Broadway Prestwick and the rest is history.

John brings senior leadership and Human Resource experience along with knowledge of fundraising and funding applications, all of which will be crucial in moving the Broadway project forward.

Alexandra Wilson

Director of Marketing

Alex worked for 33 years in various roles within BBC Scotland, her most recent role was Commercial and Partnerships Manager.

As Commercial Manager she was responsible for marketing the Broadcast TV and radio studios and outside broadcast facilities and technical staff. She was responsible for raising internal and external income whilst looking after BBC and external production TV and Radio shows. She managed a team of eight and the team gained an excellent reputation for client care and delivering above and beyond. She was part of BBC Scotland’s operations management team.

As Partnerships Manager Alex was responsible for managing and developing new and existing BBC partnerships ensuring joint objectives were indentified and measured working alongside the central BBC Partnerships Director. Notable partnerships included the National Library of Scotland, Royal Conservatoire Scotland and Creative Scotland/Screen Scotland to name a few. In addition Alex was also elected onto BAFTA Scotland's Committee over a 6-year period representing BBC Scotland and also the BAFTA Awards sub-committee. She would have stayed longer but members have to step down after 6 years! So she left BAFTA Scotland in 2023. Alex was also on the Board of Glasgow Citizen’s Theatre for a 6-year period across the period when the Citz was undergoing huge renovation and exciting funding and rebuilding plans.

Alex recently retired after 33 years at the BBC and moved to Prestwick at the same time in September 2023. Alex is married, her husband also works in TV as a freelance Sound Engineer, she has 2 grown-up stepchildren and a Border Collie dog called Dougal and is loving all the beach walks!

Graham Barnett

Director and Company Secretary

Graham is originally from Kings Park in the South Side of Glasgow. He started his career in Insurance with General Accident holding a range of positions including Administration Manger for the Glasgow branch.

Graham moved into Facilities management working with AMEY (Scotland) on Schools projects and then with Telecoms Company THUS, most recently for the last 13 years with Scottish Fire and Rescue where he is currently Soft Services Manager covering the whole of Scotland.

Graham is a member of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management and brings a breadth of knowledge from his Insurance and Facilities Management roles which will be of great help to the Broadway project going forward. Graham has a passion for cinema and TV, having recently moved to Prestwick getting involved with Friends of the Broadway was a natural step for him.

Keith Gerard

Director of Facilities and Maintenance

From South Bromsgrove High School in 1974, Keith was guided into a 4 year apprenticeship with West Midlands NHS where he became a Maintenance Electrician. He would then take up employment in a high-tech industrial setting with Rolls Royce in jet engine development, learning a great deal in electrics, electronics, and instrumentation, and gaining a number of promotions within the company.

Whilst attending a summer school at Stirling University, Keith met and fell in love with Anne, and thereafter moved to Prestwick in 1986. He quickly became established with Glacier Metal in Kilmarnock, initially as a Maintenance Engineer and then Research Technician, remaining with the company which became Mahle until 2008. He has since held similar roles at FMC Biopolymer in Girvan, Peacock Salt in Prestwick, and Electro Installations in Maybole. Keith has now since retired and volunteers a great deal of his time to the Broadway.

Keith became the Broadway's official maintenance officer and caretaker in 2023 and has already been instrumental in keeping the building's condition stable and preserving the original design and structure of our beloved cinema.

Kyle Macfarlane

Young Start Co-ordinator and Heritage Ambassador

Kyle has been an integral part of the Broadway project for 8 years. Joining the Board in 2018, he began at the age of 21 offering initial support in online engagement, graphic design, and marketing. Since co-leading a project relaunch in 2022, Kyle has founded a wide variety of initiatives and played a vital role in growing the project to where it is today.

Kyle created the Broadway's website and membership systems, founded the project's newsletter the Broadway Bugle, and today co-hosts the official Broadway podcast, How to (Re)open a Cinema. He is the project's lead historian and Heritage Ambassador, and formed the Broadway's heritage collections, leading to the creation of the Pop-up Museum and the Broadway Cinema Experience in 2025. He has represented the Broadway on national television and radio, at major industry conferences, and hosts regular presentations on the Broadway's past, present, and future.

When serving as Project Development Officer from 2024 to 2026, he delivered over £180,000 of funding to the Broadway and created a variety of additional fundraising initiatives. He identified the project's lead Stage One architects at Burrell Foley Fischer. He introduced Scottish Gaelic to the Broadway project, resulting in the first bilingual indoor visitor attraction in Ayrshire.

Now serving as Young Start Co-ordinator he is leading Project Focus, which involves the continued expansion of the Broadway Youth Film Society which Kyle founded in 2025, the Academy Board of Directors at Prestwick Academy, and a rich variety of other initiatives with young people in our community.

Fallon Gilhooly

Writer-in-Residence

Fallon Gilhooly, our new Writer in Residence and Chief Editor of the Bugle, has completed 5 years of studying at university. Fallon started her studies in Ayr at the University of the West of Scotland at the age of 17 and by the time she was 22 she had completed two degrees.

She holds a Bachelors in Broadcast Production where she explored her creative identity focusing mainly on screenwriting, she then went on to further develop her skillset by doing a Masters in Creative Media Practice. She is an avid reader, writer and Tv/Film buff. Her favourite way to find new books is to go to charity shops and pick one at random. She found her favourite book ever by doing this. So if you are looking to start reading or want to explore different genres get yourself down to your local charity shops and broaden your reading while also giving money to charity, it’s a win-win situation really.

Her favourite book was found in a charity shop in Spain for 1 Euro, it is called ‘The Smoke Jumper’ by Nicholas Evans. It is a brilliant story that for Fallon was one of those books she couldn’t put down.

Her passion is writing hence her taking on this role with us here at the Broadway.

Gemma Crockart

Official Photographer and Filmmaker

Gemma is a freelance photographer and videographer operating as Esther Morgan Photography.

Gemma has joined as an integral part of the project and will be documenting the Broadway's entire journey from now until grand re-opening night. She will help capture every event and major milestone with world-class photography and film. Gemma's final aim is to create a feature-length documentary, following every chapter in the Broadway's story and creating professional mini-documentaries along the way. These mini-documentaries will showcase the people behind the project, the memories of cinema across our community, and the remarkable survival that is the Broadway itself.

Gemma's work is truly incredible and will capture the soul of the Broadway being brought back to life over the years to come.

Anne Gerard

Volunteer Co-ordinator

Before retirement, Anne held a Senior General Manager role in the NHS, with overall responsibility for 1,200 clinical and support services staff. During her extensive career, she had the privilege of further training in psychodynamic group therapy, Prince2 project management, community care and partnership working, and in an innovative accelerated management training programme for Senior Managers and Executives in NHS Scotland, all relevant to her demanding workload. Having been recognised as a successful and innovative leader, she was appointed Advisor with the Scottish Hospital Advisory Service, (SHAS). Working to support individuals and teams, to optimise their full potential has been a key driver throughout her career.

Having practised meditation for over twenty years, upon retirement, Anne trained in compassion-based mindfulness over several years, enabling her to teach a 10-week mindfulness based living course to both professional groups and the public.

More recently, Anne has been involved in numerous roles as a volunteer, including her involvement with the Breast Cancer Care and Macmillan charities. She is a tutor for an Essential Skills programme for adults, in addition to offering mentorship support to young vulnerable people.

The significant and valuable role volunteers play in the community has been a constant feature in both Anne’s professional and personal life. Following a move to Prestwick almost 40 years ago, being involved in the restoration of the Broadway is incredibly exciting and having the opportunity to engage with and support other Broadway volunteers combines many of Anne’s long-term interests. It was while studying Social Sciences with the OU that Anne met her lifelong partner and husband, Keith, who is also a devoted volunteer with the Broadway as Director of Facilties and Maintenance.

Caroline Mitchell

Executive Advisor of Communications

Born in Prestwick and raised in nearby Alloway, Caroline is a freelance marketer supporting organisations and businesses across the wide spectrum of marketing activities.

After graduating University of Glasgow with an Honours Degree in Scottish Literature and Language, Caroline 'cut her teeth' at a Glasgow-based destination marketing agency for the best part of a decade. Her role saw her working with multi-national real estate companies, crafting and implementing marketing strategies, from the projects' development stages through to launch and beyond.

The arrival of a bouncing baby boy meant that a slight change of pace was required, bringing her to discover freelance life. A keen 'Burnsian' and advocate of all things Ayrshire, Caroline followed the amazing work of the Broadway team for years before jumping at the chance to volunteer!

Katie and Liam Young

Executive Advisors of Design and Media

Liam and Katie have over 20 years of combined experience in design, including a variety of agency work, in-house roles, and freelancing. They’ve been involved in projects across a range of industries - travel, drinks, transport, and helping small businesses - bringing a practical, adaptable approach to each. Known for their clean, thoughtful designs, they focus on creating work that genuinely reflects a brand’s personality without overcomplicating things.

As Prestwick locals, Liam and Katie are thrilled to be on board with the Broadway project, eager to bring their years of design experience and creative insight to the table. They’re looking forward to collaborating with the team to help shape and develop the project, ensuring it reaches its full potential with impactful, thoughtful design and branding.

Prestwick Academy
Board of

Directors

We are delighted to announce a new collaboration with Prestwick Academy to form an official student board of directors for Friends of the Broadway Prestwick!

The Academy's sixth year school captains alongside fellow pupils with interests in media, film, and heritage, have come together to form our first ever student board, who will be taking part in a wide range of volunteering, event hosting, and community engagement opportunities.

You can stay up-to-date with the students work and progress on our social media accounts and in our News section of the website. We plan for the Broadway to remain a vibrant community hub for decades to come, and giving our younger generations a chance to shape their own Broadway of the future will be crucial to our project's success. The current team is:

CAITLIN CAUFIELD
NIAMH McLAFFERTY

CERYS STEWART
EVIE TOUGHER

Featuring

Additional Executive Advisors

and Supporting Roles

FAYE DAVIES

as Lead Architect of Burrell Foley Fischer

CLIFF BAILLIE