Ladies first as Maureen is new Governor

The new team to lead the SLV from April will mark a significant milestone in the 210-year history of the charity. Maureen Batty will become the SLV's first female governor since the charity was formed in 1793 and, until the end of the last century, had written in its rules that women could not stand as trustees. The Supplemental Royal Charter, adopted in 1999, made fundamental changes to the SLV's operational powers, the most important of which was the extension of help to all who work in the retail drinks industry, not only licensees. But it also marked the end of the all-male executive board of trustees. Maureen was one of the first women to stand as a trustee following the rule change and today the society has five women among the 17 trustees who regularly meet to guide and set policy for the charity. Gloria McCardle The Change of Keys next month will also herald a change of title for incoming chairman, Gloria McCardle. The role, previously known as the Chairman of the National Fundraising Committee, will now more closely reflect the work of the committee and be renamed Chairman of the Regional Co-ordinating Committee. Gloria will spend time with each of the 11 committees to exchange ideas and advice for maximising their fundraising, recruitment and welfare activities. She says: "It is crucial that the people in the trade are informed, reminded and made more aware of the SLV and what the charity can do for them. I will be spreading the word through our regions as well as doing what I can to help raise funds." Gloria has been involved with the licensed trade for most of her life. Her mother was a barmaid, her father worked in a restaurant, and her godparents ran a pub. Gloria, who was born in Manchester, took over her first pub with husband Brian, in Manchester in 1984. They moved around the north of England, running pubs in Pontefract, Macclesfield and Sheffield and moved to Stoke five years ago to run the Bucknall Ex- Services Club. Gloria and Brian have one son, Steven, who has stayed in the trade and now, at 23, is also a licensee and a member of the SLV, running a Wetherspoon's pub in Huddersfield. As with many SLV supporters, the route to the charity for Gloria was through her local ladies auxiliary, in Manchester, which she joined in 1985. She initially joined the Society's North West Fundraising Committee in the late Eighties, where she held the office of secretary for one year and was its chairman for two. When she moved to Stoke, Gloria transferred to the East Midlands Fundraising Committee, where she has been its chairman since 1999. Maureen Batty Maureen is no newcomer to holding office for the SLV ­ she was the governor's lady when her husband, Ray, was elected governor 11 years ago; and just five years ago she held the office of Chairman of the charity's National Fundraising Committee. Maureen and Ray first entered the trade in 1981 when they took over the Cricketers in Littlewick Green, Maidenhead. She initially joined the Maidenhead Ladies Auxiliary, taking on the role of chairman twice, and was introduced to the SLV in 1985 when she was invited to join the SLV's London & Home Counties Committee. Their three children went to the Licensed Victuallers School, which at that time was based in Slough. In 1987 they bought the White Horse Inn in Woolstone, Oxon, and in spite of building a very successful business both Ray and Maureen have been generous with their time in supporting the trade charity, as trustees and fundraisers. With their willingness to take an active role in the many aspects of the charity's work, between them they have raised tens of thousands of pounds for the SLV's beneficiaries. For example, Maureen often hosts race evenings at the White Horse, and Ray organises the SLV's boxing tournament and the charity's annual golf tournament involving the regional fundraising committees around the country. Maureen is particularly proud to be the first female governor for the SLV and is looking to making a significant impact on the trade during her year of office. She says: "We really have joined the 21st Century in recognising that women have a lot to offer the business world, and I will certainly be keen to represent at the highest level the valuable and important work undertaken by women in the charity world." Maureen faces a busy year ahead. Not only will she carry out the many ceremonial duties usually undertaken by the governor of the day, but she will also be working alongside her counterpart from the Licensed Victuallers National Homes, Ray Scarbrow, and other trustees from both charities on the proposed merger between the LVNH and SLV, announced earlier this year. Paul Davies In April, Paul will take on the presidency of the SLV for a third time. Paul was first president nine years ago, representing Beamish, and will take the role for a second consecutive year on behalf of one the charity's oldest and most robust supporters, Scottish Courage. Paul joined Courage in his home town of Poole in Dorset when he was 18 years old, progressing his way through the company to regional sales director until he went to Beamish in 1991 as sales director UK and international. When Beamish and Courage were taken over in 1996 by Scottish & Newcastle, Paul became account director and is responsible for national wholesales as well as the company's overall on-trade wholesaler policy. Paul's enthusiasm for the presidential role is matched by his company, Scottish Courage, which, through the Kronenbourg brand, generously supported the SLV's Winter Ball at the Grosvenor in January, alongside many fundraising events held nationally and regionally throughout the year. Last month Scottish Courage donated £100,000 towards the new learning resource centre at the Licensed Victuallers School in Ascot, which is owned by the SLV. In the coming year Paul will continue to take a very active role in helping to encourage other trade companies, including the pubcos, to support the trade charity with its work caring for the young, elderly and sick in the retail drinks industry. Ongoing support from Scottish Courage during the presidential year will see Foster's take over from Kronenbourg as the sponsoring brand. Members, supporters and friends can purchase tickets for the Change of Keys Lunch, at the Savoy, London, being held on Wednesday 16 April 2003 at £45.00 each, from the Society's Events Department on 01344 884440 or through the website: www.slv-online.org.uk)