ON April 7 at the AGM, a well attended meeting of Presteigne Chamber of Trade Commerce and Industry elected a new committee for the forthcoming year. Charlie Minskip from the Wine Bar in the High Street was elected chairman.

Wendy Toomey who is know to many in the community due to her excellent work with the Zero Waste Project was elected vice chairman. Ann Wake of Presteigne Holidays, also a well-known volunteer in the community was elected treasurer.

James Tennant-Eyles who took over from Eddie Taylor as president of the Chamber of Trade a few years ago chaired the AGM and said he was excited to see so many new and returned members coming forward to support the Chamber in the coming year. He also thanked the retiring chairman Rosamund Black and treasurer Dave Critchley for their hard work over the last four years, keeping the Chamber going during the recession.

Charlie Minskip said that as chairman he wanted to make the meetings as open and democratic as possible with views of all members taken into consideration. He hoped that member numbers would continue to increase and he intended to make a point of visiting as many business in the community as possible to encourage them to join the Chamber of Trade.

He said that already lots of ideas are coming forward for fund raising events and activities, and initiatives for the benefit of the community, which the Chamber will be pursuing enthusiastically under his chairmanship.