Griffiths takes on second term

IN A BREAK WITH ACE TRADITION, Colin Griffiths has taken on the role of Northern ACE Chairman for a second successive year following the Northern Division’s AGM.

Colin, who took over from Sport Newspapers’ Simon Kirkham as Chairman in November 2002, has overseen a successful year for the Northern committee, and without the benefit of a Vice Chairman to groom as a successor.

Consequently, it’s been a busy year for Colin and his team, not least because the four social events have drawn more than 600 members and guests this year. In addition to the three ‘old favourites’ – the Christmas Lunch, the Spring Luncheon and the Summer Pie – an ACE comedy night at the Manchester Comedy Festival was well supported, a great deal of fun, and profitable.

During the AGM Colin was able to announce a £1,000 donation to the NewstrAid charity, and ‘looked forward to another year of combining newstrade camaraderie with much-needed fundraising’.

While all existing officers and committee members were re-elected, the Chairman was pleased to see Allan Boyd from the Financial Times take on the role of Vice Chairman for the year ahead, and welcomed John Buckley of WH Smith News in Blackpool as a new committee member.

Brian Kean (Guardian Newspapers) and Simon Kirkham (Sport Newspapers) continue as Secretary/Treasurer, while Chris Carden (Financial Times), Keith Doney (Mail Newspapers), Lyndsey Ogle (The Telegraph), and retired member Ken Shuttleworth serve another term on the Committee.