The Reverend Lionel Osborn (known as Leo) trained for the Methodist Ministry at Wesley College Bristol and has served in The Ripley (Derbyshire), Bury (Lancashire), Bramhall (Cheshire) and North Shields and Whitley Bay Circuits.  He is currently Chair of the Newcastle upon Tyne District of The Methodist Church having served in this role for thirteen years. He is an Ecumenical Canon of Newcastle Cathedral, Chaplain to the Northern Football League, and was President of The Methodist Conference in 2011/12.  He is married to Charlotte who is a full-time Lay Chaplain at Newcastle International Airport.