An exciting Chamber of Commerce AGM - sound like an Oxymoron?
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2012-04-25 06:24:54 - Graham Ellis
A vibrant and exciting AGM at the Chamber of Commerce last night. How rarely can I use words like "vibrant" and "exciting" about a Chamber AGM, but I can about last night's!
• Azim Adbul, The Sultan, Melksham, with a talk about "How the Bangladeshi community has integrated into British society".
I've always admired the sense of true community - for Melksham and for their roots - shown by the Bangladeshi community here in Melksham, and Azim's talk enlightened me further. I made some "snippet" notes - of how they moved from being a part of India, to Pakistan, and then to independence. Perhaps that history's behind the fact that 8 out of 10 "Indian" restauants in the UK are owned and run by people who can trace their roots back to Bangladesh.
• John Laverick, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, with a presentation entitled "Berks & Wilts Canal Trust Update, and what it means for Melksham"
It's hard to believe that it's two years since John last came to see us, and what tremendous progress he has to report. The three major blockages between the River Thames and the Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington are (or rather "were" at Abingdon, Swindon and Melksham. At Abingdon, part of a new river junction and canal is already open. In Swindon, sections of a new line are underway and in water on the southern outskirts of the town, and there are excing plans for a branch to the centre which should extend stratighforwardly back to the upper Thames, and in Melksham detailed planning is underway for the "Melksham Link"; recent changes to those plans include a resiting of the lock at Berryfield to avoid high ground overlooking houses, and a new narrow lock at Melksham Gate on the river.
• Rob Perks of the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce filled us in on changes at the association, and how it will effect their support and services for the Melksham Chamber.
Modern technology, the current business environment and changing requirements all mean that a system that's held us in good stead for the past 10 years needs to be guided forward. As new CEO, Rob has a wonderful opportunity to build on the fine work done by Mike Williams OBE, who retired a few months back, having just landed a major contract with Wiltshire Council for the provision of business services throughout the county in place of WC's inhouse provision. And it seems that Rob is the right person to grab that challenge and really make it work. This will strengthen the association, and allow it to move forward to even greater achievement for the business community across Wiltshire as a whole, for the businesses within those towns, and for the people who are employed by, or customers of those businesses - and that means everyone who lives in or visits the county.
Major changes at the Wessex Association mean it's a woderful time for the Melksham Chamber too to review its future direction. Ann-Marie Escott, who has been our secretary for 11 years, is moving on - she's chosen to change to a new second career in a caring role. We're very sad indeed to see her go - she has done so much for us over the years - but our sadness is tinged by a great happiness for her as she looks forward to striking out into a new area.
With all these changes, both Colin Harrison (chair) and myself (President) wondered if it was time for us to move on too, and pass the reigns on to new blood. But we're both excited by the opportunities that we now have for a dynamic new Melksham Chamber, working for its members and for the town in a much more proactive way than had been possible before. And we feel that our knowledge and experience can help through a year ahead which is going to be one where we fill in the detail of our ourline plans, agree a new framework with the Wessex Association, and press forward with implementation. We were delighted to welcome Simon Hedley of Cup Cake Heaven as the Melksham Independent Trader's representative at the meeting, and to welcome Adrian Webb of Knorr Bremse to the new Executive Committee.