New Beginnings
Arundel Festival
Change is in the air for two of Arundel’s institutions – both the Chamber of Commerce and the Festival have new, larger committees, with new ideas and energy.
Under the chairmanship of Sharon Blaikie the Arundel Festival hit the ground running in the New Year with a new, larger committee and lots of ideas and energy. The picture above show left to right: Bernie Sturley (Marketing); Joe Butt (Event Liaison); Sharon Blaikie (Chair); Frank Regester (Event Liaison) and Jules Rumbold (Volunteer Programme). The other committee members not in the picture are Jo Johnstone (Volunteer Programme), Victoria Clarke (Treasurer) and Kirsty Wilgoss (Operations). Aby Dingle from Arundel Town Council will be providing Project Management support.
Sharon is a familiar face in Arundel. She runs Landon Sounds from her studios in the High Street and has been involved in the Festival for many years as Music and Creative Director. A successful music industry collaborator, passionate coach to clients of all ages, professional musician, singer and compere she brings a wealth of experience to the event. Her approach she says is collaborative and committee driven. ‘I am thrilled to have recruited such a wonderful new committee of eight highly qualified professionals, mostly local residents, with a diverse range of expertise who like me are passionate to lay solid foundations now to ensure a sustainable, progressive and successful Festival for years to come.’
The committee have already started to make decisions about the feel of this year’s event. ‘We want to run a successful Festival of art, music and entertainment with minimal disruption to residents and with less road closures in previous years’. They want the Arundel Festival of Music and the Arts to provide a fully inclusive and immersive festival of art, music and entertainment to appeal to all ages and promote Arundel as a cultural centre and a wonderful place to live and visit.
If you would like to be a part of this new look Festival email Sharon at sharon@landonsounds.com
The Chamber of Commerce
There has also been a new committee announced by the Arundel Chamber of Commerce. The organisation has struggled in the last year, but it now has new energy and enthusiasm with a brand new committee also under the Chairmanship of Sharon Blaikie! Our picture above shows from left to right: Tim Wickins (Jackson-Stops); Victoria Holland (Victoria Holland Architecture); Sharon Blaikie (Landon Sounds); Judy Newhouse (Dinky Donkey Delights) and Jonathan Brantigan (Pallants). Not shown is the Treasurer, Chris Boustead (Goodrige Advisory). The committee were all enthusiastically voted in at a well-attended AGM held in February.
Sharon explains their approach as follows: ‘It’s important that the ‘new look’ Chamber creates its own identity and becomes affiliated to the Sussex Chamber of Commerce to fully benefit as well as collaborate and share good practice with other successful Chambers. There’s a broad spectrum of business sectors in Arundel to tap into for expertise.’
She continues- ‘I’ve enlisted a committee to represent different types of businesses in the town, to have the ‘official voice’ that communicates members issues throughout the year by consulting with ADC, ATC, ACP, the highways etc. and has an effective method for relaying feedback to its members.’ At the meeting the Chamber’s aims were identified as Effective Communication, Diverse Connections, Prompt Delivery and Transparency throughout. A full year’s Calendar of Evening Networking Events and Breakfast Meetings has been published, hosted at various venues around town including the Castle. There will also be a new Facebook and Website presence.
As an incentive this year the membership fee has been reduced to £25 per annum in the hope that businesses not already members will consider joining. If you would like to join email Sharon sharon@landonsounds.com