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KC
Chairman to step down
Peter James 'not to seek re-election' after six
years
ONLY EIGHT days after the 129th Kennel Club AGM reported in
last week's issue, Chairman Mr Peter James and indicated he
is to retire from the post.
In a detailed press release issued last Friday he said that
he had planned to retire but did not want to send out the wrong
signals before last week's AGM by announcing it beforehand.
His Vice Chairman Mr Ronnie Irving is expected to succeed to
the 'chair' after just under one year in the post.
The full press release read as follows:-
‘Having served as Chairman of the Kennel Club for nearly
six years, and as vice-Chairman for some eight years before
that, I decided earlier this year not to let my name go forward
for re-election. However I felt that to make an announcement
before the AGM could send out a confusing message, so I have
waited until the AGM is past. To remain on the General Committee
could present difficulties both to me and to my successor, so
I will also stand down as a Trustee.
‘When the late John MacDougall originally invited me to
stand for election as his vice-Chairman I accepted on the understanding
that I would not be able to do much more than attend the Kennel
Club on days of General and F&GP Committee meetings, as
I had a company to manage during the week and a kennel full
of dogs to fill my weekends.
‘I therefore had very little idea of what awaited me as
Chairman. Needless to say my own two vice-Chairmen, first Peter
Mann and now Ronnie Irving, have had no such luxury, and each
has provided a level of support and hard work without which
my job could not have been done. Having been bold enough to
step into the shoes of Sybil Churchill, Peter is now an outstanding
Chairman of Crufts, while Ronnie has been my consultant and
confidant for the last twelve months in all Kennel Club matters.
I would take this opportunity to thank them both most sincerely
for their manifest ability and unswerving loyalty, both to me
and to the Kennel Club.
‘John MacDougall had built up the Kennel Club both structurally
and financially, and I was fortunate to take over a thriving
enterprise, logically formulated to its purpose, and a committee
that rapidly united behind me.
‘I will always be grateful to the members of that committee
over my term of office, collectively and individually, for the
freedom of their debate on the one hand and their loyal acceptance
of committee decisions on the other. Not all decisions have
been easy to reach, but once arrived at the committee has staunchly
united behind the majority view.
‘I have been fortunate too in my staff. Roger French was
appointed Chief Executive in John MacDougall's time. We have
worked well together, with the clear-cut guidelines of committee
responsibility for policy and strategy, and executive responsibility
for their implementation, always with communication and understanding
between Chairman and Chief Executive. Roger's management skills
have brought out the potential of existing staff, and brought
in the skills that were needed as the Kennel Club's role expanded.
My successor will be fortunate to inherit a "home-grown"
Chief Executive in the universally liked and respected Rosemary
Smart, supported by a very able Secretary in Caroline Kisko,
and a staff who have proved their professional worth over some
very difficult times.
Privilege
‘To
have been Chairman of the Kennel Club is a great honour and
privilege, and I am most grateful to the membership who elected
me to the General Committee, and to that Committee for electing
me to the Chairmanship. I did not seek it, but I am extraordinarily
proud to have been entrusted with it. It has been a wonderful
five and a half years, if increasingly demanding, and if things
have changed in my time I hope they have generally been to
the benefit of the Club and of the Dog, and of the people
who care for either or both of them. Of course in very many
ways I am sad to go, but I do so knowing that it is better
to go now than later, and that I leave the Kennel Club in
capable hands that hold it and its objectives just as important
as I do myself.’
After the death of John MacDougall in November 1996 it was
a sombre and serious Peter James who was thrust into the limelight
at the KC Bi-Annual General Meeting. Although he may have
been a reluctant successor in the cruellest of circumstances
he showed himself to be able and willing to cope with the
pressures of the job. Only for a short time in 2001 was he
unwell and unable to take a meeting.
Last week at the AGM members voted to increase the membership
ceiling of the club by 750 to 1500 but then defeated a General
Committee proposal to 'fast track' associates.
Now within the space of twelve months the Kennel Club will
have a new Chief Executive, new chairman, new Crufts chairman,
new vice chairman and two new trustees.
At its meeting next Tuesday June 11th. the members of the
General Committee will be focussed to elect a successor as
Vice Chairman. If the election last year of the Crufts Committee
chairman is anything to go by, when the then vice chairman
Terry Thorn failed to be elected, there could be some surprises
as well as some willing names in the frame. For instance,
Mr Norman Ziman has given time freely to the Kennel Club and
currently serves as its Club Chairman. We cannot ignore the
wealth of knowledge from and the contribution to Kennel Club
activities by the many ladies who now grace the General Committee.
After 23 years as full members will we see a lady in such
a position of power for the first time?
But there are others who will bring different strengths to
the table and these talents must not be ignored if the progress
of KC Services Ltd is to continue.
It also has to be uppermost in the minds of those with the
gift of a vote that the new vice chairman must not be a 'poodle'
of the committee's chairman but must be able to contribute
and share those responsibilities currently on the shoulders
of others.
OUR DOGS expects to have news of the elections in time for
its June 14th issue.
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