The first, and important news, to pass on is that HRH The Princess Royal has agreed to continue as our Patron for a further three years. Her Royal Highness’ support has been much valued by the Company, support shown by her attendance at our annual dinner last September at Tewkesbury Abbey. Her Royal Highness is also Patron of the Cranfield Trust, something that has made our mentoring project for small charities, carried out in partnership with Cranfield and the GCF feel even ‘righter’. The project has matured from the successful pilot to a full-blown scheme under the auspices of Helen Lovatt, Andrew Tabor and the Community Support Group.
Successful in-person Gloucestershire lectures and the talk on leadership by Col Langley Sharp suggest that even if Covid has not gone away we are learning to live with it, and a strong programme of events follows this summer and autumn. And we have the Installation Dinner in May at Chavenage to look forward to, when Andrew Tabor becomes our new Warden. Andrew is an excellent choice for the Company, bringing commitment and wide experience of the county and the HCG and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there to celebrate.
It is a privilege to be Warden of the HCG, an organisation whose contribution to the County and its members continues to grow and be valued. I have thoroughly enjoyed the role, and my sincere thanks to everyone for their support of both the Company, and of myself as Warden.
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Annual Gloucestershire Lecture
Cyber is seemingly omnipresent in the news these days, and cyber is an integral part of the future of Gloucestershire. In partnership with the LEP, this year’s HCG Gloucestershire lecture was given by Tim Atkins and was entitled ‘Gloucestershire – UK cyber leadership’. Tim, who is Managing Director of Place and Growth, Cheltenham Borough Council and responsible for the development of cyber in Gloucestershire, talked us through the enormous project that is charged with delivering the ‘vision’. With GCHQ the County has a clear USP. Impressive and ambitious; we are now much better informed, and hopefully better placed to support what will be a crucial component of the county’s future contribution and prosperity.
The Picture shows Ruth Dooley, Chair of the LEP and the speaker Tim Atkins
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Armed Forces Group Lecture
On the 28th of March Lt Colonel Langley Sharp gave a talk under the auspices of the Armed Forces Group on “Followership- the other side of Leadership”. Col. Sharp has recently published a book* on the evolution of leadership in the British Army and drew on this and examples from Gloucestershire’s military pedigree to emphasise the role of the ‘follower’ in success. Recent and ongoing events in Europe gave a particular resonance to the talk and the discussion afterwards.
*https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320/320823/the-habit-of-excellence/9780241507506.html
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Installation Dinner for new Warden
Andrew Tabor will be installed as the new Warden of the Company at a dinner on Thursday the 19th of May at Chavenage House near Tetbury. It will undoubtedly be an excellent event, and Chavenage House is in a splendid venue which the Company has visited before for dinners. The House is constructed of Cotswold stone and dates from the late 16th century, and many will know of its more modern ‘poldarkian’ associations.
Details will be circulated to members by the Clerk in due course but please put the date in your diaries.
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A group from the HCG visited Electro Flight to hear and see how this small Gloucestershire company had obtained the world speed record for electric aircraft. Roger Targett founding Director of Electro Flight (2011) explained how he started Targett Aviation in 1987 repairing gliders to creating an electro plane in November 2021 when it reached a top speed of 555.9km/hr 345.4mph over a three-kilometre distance. “The project was a success.”
However, this is not the end of the story, Roger’s Company is developing into a business which supplies battery pack power to a number of industry sectors.
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The Installation of Air Marshal Sir Dusty Miller KBE as High Sheriff
It was a real pleasure for a number of HCG members to attend the Annual Legal Service at Gloucester Cathedral on the 20th of March to mark the conclusion of Jane Tufnell’s year as High Sheriff and the installation of Dusty Miller for 2022 - 23. To have the ceremony in person after two years of virtual handovers was a real pleasure, a much better opportunity to offer thanks to Jane, and wish Dusty well for his year of office.
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Queen’s Green Canopy Programme
The planting of the oak trees under the HCG sponsored scheme continues with the tree being planted in Owlpen. More than 20 villagers were present including Karen Randall, Chair of the Parish, Sir Nicholas Mander, Steve Haddrell and many children from the village.
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New Members
Jeremy Hill has lived in the County for much of the last 35 years and has been involved with the Nelson Trust & Friends of Tetbury Hospital. Jeremy has worked in the wine trade for over 20 years, creating a successful and innovative wine merchants (Vinitopia). His experience will be of great benefit to the Company, especially the Community Support Group.
Rob Ingram was a teacher & schoolmaster for 35 years and until recently was a Governor at The Kings School, Gloucester. He currently serves as a Council member of the Friends of Gloucester Cathedral on the Events Committee & as Acting Honorary Secretary. He and his wife are regular members of the Cathedral congregation, and he is a volunteer in the Breakfast Club.
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Membership Renewal
The Clerk has circulated everyone by email with a reminder that this year’s subscriptions are now due, together with some encouraging words form the Warden. The Company would be grateful if members could respond promptly; it is so much easier administratively!
Many thanks.
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Members' Calendar 2022
Private pre show visit to the RHS Spring Festival Malvern
and optional supper
Arts & Heritage Group
May 4th
Visit to the Jenner Museum Berkeley
Arts & Heritage Group
May 17th
Installation Dinner at Chavenage
May 19th
Visit to Westonbirt School Gardens
Arts & Heritage Group
June 8th
Joint lecture with CPRE Gloucestershire
from Baroness Barbara Young, Chair of The Woodland trust, on
Do trees eat CO2 for breakfast?
Wednesday the 29h of June (new date)
Venue – RAU, Cirencester
Visit to Badminton House and Gardens
Arts & Heritage Group
July 28th
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News from The Lord Lieutenant
The Gloucestershire LieutenancyPlatinum Jubilee Webpages are now available on the Lieutenancy website.
