Note forwarded from Howard Mann, Chairman of Thames Valley LDWA

Dear Members,

Having responded to the appeal to the membership, I am privileged to be co-opted to the Committee of Thames Valley LDWA as Chairman and would like to introduce myself. My business background is in the food manufacturing industry, initially in sales and marketing roles before moving into general management as Divisional Managing Director of Ranks Hovis McDougall plc (Bisto, Paxo, Mr Kipling etc.). I took early retirement from full time employment as President and CEO of McCain Foods Ltd, the global frozen food company and became a non-executive director of several companies, including Dairy Crest plc, The Body Shop International, Welcome Break and Rudolph Wild/Capri Sun (Germany). I am an experienced chairman, having chaired Helly Hanson, Reconomy Waste Management, two industry committees, the British Food Export Council and the Export Board of Food from Britain, and in addition, the Longridge on the Thames charity. I am currently Chairman of Governors of Maltman’s Green School, Gerrards Cross, Bucks.

In my spare time, my principal interest is mountain walking. I have been a member of the LDWA for over 12 years, albeit my relationship with the organisation has mainly been through the challenges represented by the Hillwalkers’ Register. I have completed 4 of the Registers, the Wainwrights, the Wainwrights Outlying Fells, the County Tops and most recently, two weeks ago, Register 1, the 466 mountains above 2000ft in England and Wales.  I have also completed several National Trails and during the 9 years I lived in Toronto Canada, whilst with McCain Foods, I completed the 480 mile Bruce Trail through Ontario and the fabulous West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island.

I look forward to walking with you and serving the interests of fellow members.

Howard Mann