L-R: Bradford MPs Philip Davies,
David Ward and Gerry Sutcliffe
with the President Paul Mackie
York President Suzanne Burnett
The event was sponsored by property
recruitment specialists Spectrum
Funny man Alun Cochrane
Power, politics,
producing and patience:
Annual Dinner messages
The economic strength of the North and its intentions to wrestle powers and responsibilities from
London were given the thumbs up by the national Chamber chief at Bradford’s annual dinner.
John Longworth, Director-General of
the British Chambers of Commerce
told the audience that, with an
election just around the corner, there
has been no better time to state the
case for devolution. MPs of all parties
are chasing votes and a proposal for
a ‘Northern powerhouse’ has been
made by the current government.
Mr Longworth said that Britain’s
withdrawal from the EU, though
unlikely, would not be disastrous
as international trade deals would
continue in the future as they have in
the past. Plan for the long-term was
his parting message.
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In his presidential address, Paul
Mackie, diagnosed with prostate
cancer in autumn 2014, mixed
business with personal when he spoke
of “recovery, patience and positivity”,
referring to his own circumstances as
well as the economy. Collaborating
with others would be the key to future
economic prosperity, said Paul, who
stressed his determination to keep
playing his part “when I’m back to my
fighting weight.”
More than £2,500 was raised for the Chamber
charity, One in a Million, through a raffle with various
donations:
■■ Yorkshire Bank’s Clayton Birchall won a Felt road
bike plus additional Tour de France memorabilia,
donated by the Business Enterprise Agency
■■ Sohan Panesar of PEC has a champagne meal
for two at Napoleon’s Casino
■■ Eddison’s John Padgett took away an Asus tablet
computer, provided by Chamber International
Keynote speaker John Longworth,
British Chambers of Commerce
The new-in-post Chairman of the
Board for the new Producer City
project, Lord Kamlesh Patel, joined
other VIPs, including three of the
District’s MPs, for the evening, which
culminated with comedian Alun
Cochrane causing some belly laughs.
ANNUAL DINNER
CHARITY
Corporate tables were taken
by Bradford College, Business
Enterprise Agency, Christeyns,
LCF Law and Schofield Sweeney.
West & North
Yorkshire Chamber
of Commerce
West & North
Yorkshire Chamber
of Commerce
■■ RBS guest Simon Rossiter of Child & Co
Chartered Accountants collected an
overnight stay with dinner and breakfast at
Cedar Court Hotel
■■ Arena Group’s Alex Brook gets a corporate
photography package, thanks to Roger Moody
Photography
■■ Paul Diakiw of Walker Singleton was treated to
afternoon tea for four with the Midland Hotel.
ANNUAL DINNER
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