TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE as Director of the BH&HPA Cumbria Branch came to an end in spring this year as Henry Wild stepped down from the role he has held for two decades.
The handover of Henry’s office to elected nominee David Jackson, formerly Branch Chairman, came at the branch’s first meeting of the year which also included its AGM.
Addressing delegates, Henry looked back on what he described as his “thoroughly enjoyable” time as Director, and said he was leaving at a point when BH&HPA was in the very best of heart.
He also expressed the hope that the Association would continue its current trajectory of attracting more younger members to serve within its local branches and at a national level.
David Jackson told members at the well-attended meeting that Henry’s huge contribution to the vitality and dynamism of the Branch would be a hard act to follow.
He added that an important role of the Branch Director was to regularly update members on national issues being pursued by BH&HPA and its specialist committees.
David said that the Branch remained greatly indebted to Henry for the clarity and focus which he had consistently brought to this function.
Henry delivered his final round-up to the meeting which was held at the Lakes Hospitality Trade Show near Kendal, an annual showcase for suppliers to the sector.
Branch members also heard from guest speaker John Woodcock from ePitch whose company has developed technology enabling parks to monitor electricity usage on their touring pitches.
Charging guests for the energy they consume is common practice on the continent, he said, and acknowledges the fact that some larger touring units are now becoming extremely power hungry.
Nick Dyson, partner at Blacks Solicitors, was also invited to speak to delegates on the type of legal matters his practice was increasingly being called upon to deal with on behalf of parks.
They included, he said, succession planning for family businesses – a subject which parks ought never to shy away from addressing at the earliest possible stage.
At the AGM, former Branch Vice Chairman Mark Molyneaux was appointed as Branch Chairman, and Andy Morris took his place as the Branch’s new Vice Chairman. Re-elected into their offices were Susan Dickson (Branch Secretary), and Daniel Holder (Treasurer).