In August, after ten successful years as Regional Coordinator and Treasurer, the North East region’s Dave Walker stepped down, passing the mantle to longstanding regional organiser Gerald Morrill.
Dave will be greatly missed, writes the North East’s Tony Hunt. He never appeared flustered, whatever the challenge; all committee meetings went smoothly under his watch and he was adept at persuading everyone to contribute and organise events. He and his partner Chris were very inclusive in their approach to committee work, to which is credited the ease with which new committee members settled into their roles. He and Chris also managed the accounts and successfully navigated both change of bank and provision of society bank cards for committee members — no mean feat for an organisation these days!
We owe a very great debt of gratitude to Dave for his strong, but gentle, leadership and to him and Chris for their willingness to serve the North East region.
Dave’s successor Gerald — who previously worked in bp Chemicals, Refining & Marketing, on refinery turnarounds, before moving to bp Explorations to work on projects — has been an active contributor to the bp society for several years. A long-term resident of the North East, he is also involved in other local activities, including volunteering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, theatre and watching Hull City!
We wish Gerald every success in his new position.