Posted by The new Master of the Merchant Venturers has been sworn in today and has pledged to continue the organisation’s work in education, and supporting young entrepreneurs and the elderly.
Colin Skellett – the chief executive of Wessex Water – was formally elected at the society’s Charter Day Service at Bristol Cathedral this morning, and takes over from Trevor Smallwood who has held the post for the last 12 months.
The annual event, which includes a ceremonial procession of up to 70 Merchants in morning dress, is a celebration of the Society being granted its charter by Edward VI in 1552.
Mr Skellett said supporting the new Merchant’s Academy in Withywood was one of the main priorities during his year-long term, adding he was “proud of the positive contribution” the organisation was making to the city.
“Since we launched the £29million Merchants’ Academy in Withywood in September 2008, there has been strong progress,” he said. “Individual Merchants are making a very significant personal commitment to this Academy, driven by a desire to achieve a strong, sustainable trend of improvement.
“A year after moving into the state sector, Colston’s Girls’ School has seen incredible demand for places and an ambitious plan to grow from 400 to 720 pupils by 2013.
“The £11.2 million investment to further develop the school is well underway. This will include a new arts building, the creation of laboratories and a new library.”
The new Master also added that a major redevelopment plan for the Society’s almshouses was in the pipeline. The Society already supports organisations such as the St Monica Trust, Cote Charity and the Society’s own almshouses.
He denied that the Society was a secretive organisation any more, having shed its image as a ’secret society’ through its charitable work, telling Original radio: “The society does so much good within the city and the surrounding area. People think of us as a secret society, but it really isn’t. We do more to help the elderly and more for education than any other group in the area.”
Outgoing Master Mr Smallwood handed the reins over, having just returned from a trip to the village of Cupids, Canada, to unveil a plaque marking the 400th anniversary of Bristol merchant John Guy, a Merchant Venturer, arriving in Newfoundland to set up the first colony in the region. (Click here for the full story)
History recognised: The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the
Speaking to Bristol24-7, Mr Smallwood said the trip was a good swansong for his term in office and gave the city great recognition.
“It was excellent, a good educational week from my point,” he said. “It was nice to savour the culture which is pretty similar to our own.
“Bearing in mind a lot of the people living in Newfoundland are descended from people from the South West, there were plenty of sayings that are similar. They enjoy drinking tea as we do, love their fish and chips, and the accents are either Dorset, Devonian, Bristol or Irish.
“The plaque unveiling was great from a Bristol point of view – it included the Prime Minister of Canada, the Premier of Newfoundland, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and gave a great recognition of our area.
“There is a plaque in the village marking the contribution of the Merchant Venturers from 1910, so the city of Bristol is quite close to the hearts of the people there.”
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