Its not often I write for the magazine or the website these days, particularly about me! But I wanted to share with you my plans for the forthcoming years in the Bristol Office.
This month I reach 68 and have had recent health issues making me reassess my life/work balance. Coupled with this the Board have been working on a 5 year plan for the Club to ensure we can cope with succession planning and members needs in this ever changing world.
I also need to consider my long suffering wife, Lynne, who has supported me over the last 35 years, putting up with my passion for the Club and Jaguar cars.
This sounds like I’m giving up completely! But no I cant do that and the Board wont let me, so with the Boards approval, I am cutting my hours down to 3 days a week from 1st April, giving me the ability to spend more time with Lynne, my children and, of course, my three grandchildren.
I can do this because the Club is in excellent hands and I am excited about the future. The Board and the Clubs committees are well run with great enthusiasm and sound business management, vital in today’s world.
James Blackwell will now assume the duties of General Manager, he has an excellent team under him. The recent addition of younger talent such as Andy Webber, as Sponsorship and Events Manager and Patch Jobson as Regional Manager, plus others working under the radar at present, has ensured we have younger people with energy and enthusiasm to take us forward.
Although at this point I would add that we always need more help from enthusiastic skilled members willing to use their skills to enhance the Club for the benefit of all members.
I will continue to use my knowledge, built up over the last 35 years, to help members as I do now and I hope you will give James the same support as you have given me over the years. I look forward to seeing many of you at events during the coming year.
