Chairman’s Comments

TIME does fly! As I write my Spring Chairman’s Comments I realise 10 weeks of my Chairmanship has passed already. I am delighted to say how busy the Club has been and it is a great relief the Restaurant and Bar facilities have returned to normal after Covid restrictions.

Team numbers are almost back to normal following a difficult period of recruitment, so members will notice many new faces at Reception, in the Restaurant and Bar. I have to say the warmth and pleasant manner in which we are all welcomed by the team really enhances the Club experience.

We are relieved and delighted Andrei has recovered from his ill health and returned to duties at the Club for a few days per week.It was a very worrying time for his wife Alison and his family. We wish him a full recovery.

To begin the year Hilary and I had a full tour of the Club and met all the team. It was fascinating to see how the Club functions and visit areas we didn’t even know existed!

I must thank all the members who have renewed their subscription for the year – it is good to see the membership thrive and I look forward to meeting many of you during my year.

Andrei and I enjoyed some very stimulating presentations and excellent debates at the Oxford Farming Conference, as well as networking with members and possible new members. I have to say I was particularly impressed by many of the younger generation, whose positive attitude and ambitions for the future of agriculture bodes well.

In late January our Monday Evening Lecture at the Club was given by Lord Deben (Chairman of the Climate Change Committee). He spoke passionately to a room full of members on how the farming industry could achieve its ambition of net zero and the possible consequences should we as a society fall short. He had lost none of his powers of persuasion, but was well challenged by some attendees who questioned his predictions.

The following day I chaired my first General Committee, a very positive meeting, where I was delighted to have 70 new members confirmed.

Vice Chairman Richard Maunder and I were guests at the NFU Conference, where leading politicians from both sides of the political divide outlined their future policies, with heated debate at times. The dinner was attended by 1250 people from all walks of agriculture sitting down to a superb meal produced from British produce, a great advertisement for British farming.

My most recent event was the Under 35s inaugural black tie gala dinner at the Club, hosted by Under 35s Chairman Emily. Guest speaker Alasdair Marshall told an incredible story of designing and building huge dairy units in Doha and Saudi Arabia. It was one of the most interesting presentations I have ever heard and led to much discussion.

The Chairman’s trip to Pembrokeshire in June has been organised and advertised and hopefully the programme will be of interest and we have decent weather. A day trip to Dysons in Lincolnshire has also been organised, huge thanks to Philip Wynn for hosting. A two day visit to Norfolk prior to the Royal Norfolk Show is being planned. Thanks to Kirsty and Craig, our events managers, for organising the fine detail of these events.

We also plan to hold receptions or dinners at eight agricultural shows this year. This will be a great opportunity to meet members in the various countries and counties of the UK (see e-newsletters).

It is with a degree of sadness that CEO Andrei Spence is retiring from the Club on 30th June. Under the leadership of Club Vice President Julian Sayers and the Selection Committee have appointed his successor. Andrei has led the team with great leadership skills and a warmth of personality which will be greatly missed.