CAMRA will be welcoming a new national chair next year when Colin Valentine hands over the baton to Jackie Parker.
After eight years in the role, Colin has announced that he will not be standing for re-election to the national executive at CAMRA’s Members’ Weekend, AGM and conference, which will take place in Coventry in April 2018. He will continue in the chairman’s role until the April meeting.
Currently CAMRA’s vice-chairman, Jackie (pictured) was elected by her colleagues at the national executive meeting on December 1.
Colin has been a CAMRA member for more than 30 years and served as director for Scotland and Northern Ireland for six years before being elected to the national executive, the organisation’s board of directors, in 2000. He became chairman of CAMRA in 2010.
He said: “By April, we will have concluded the Revitalisation Project, the largest consultation into and review of CAMRA’s purpose we have ever conducted. Hopefully, members will vote to approve the national executive’s recommendations, which would be the perfect time for me to step down and let Jackie lead the implementation of the changes.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent CAMRA as its chairman over the last eight years — I hope fellow members feel I have made a positive contribution, and I’m delighted Jackie will be taking on the role. I’m confident she’s exactly the right choice to lead CAMRA as we seek to take full advantage of the opportunities revitalisation offers us.
“I’d like to make it clear that while I’ll be stepping down as chairman, I’m certainly not retiring and will be continuing to involve myself in CAMRA campaigns, activities and festivals with the same passion and dedication I devoted to the chairman role.”
Immense contribution
Jackie has been an active member of CAMRA for 18 years. She has been a member of the national executive for seven years, having previously served as the regional director for the Central Southern region for three years. She is currently CAMRA’s national vice-chairman and national director with specific responsibility for communications.
She said: “I’d like to recognise the immense contribution Colin has made to the campaign over his entire time as a member, but particularly as the national chairman. I know he’ll still be playing a huge part in our activities, but he’ll be missed on the national executive.
“I’m delighted to have won the support of my fellow directors and the confidence they have shown in choosing me to lead the Campaign for Real Ale. We’re at a key point in CAMRA’s history as we prepare to ask our members to approve the recommendations we’re making as a result of the Revitalisation Project.
“I’m excited about the opportunity for my fellow directors and I to lead CAMRA into the future and ensure that the next important step of the Revitalisation Project — implementation of the recommendations into the campaign’s future positioning and purpose, strategy and activities — goes smoothly.
“My vision for CAMRA is to ensure we remain as relevant to our active volunteers, our members, possible new members and those people visiting pubs and clubs as possible, and we continue to achieve our goals of campaigning for real ale, cider and perry drinkers across the UK.”
