‘We need you, our members, we need your help as always’ — that was the declaration from the chairman of the Tavistock and District Chamber of Commerce at the organisation’s annual meeting held on Monday night.

Tim Randell, who is to continue in the post of chamber chairman for a second year, used the meeting as a chance to appeal to the group’s 47 members to get more involved in the group’s activities and initiatives.

Among the biggest events being planned by the chamber of commerce is a huge cream tea charity fundraising event, which the chamber is hoping can set a world record as the biggest cream tea event in the world, with an aim to make it an annual event.

He also took the opportunity to reflect on his first year in the post.

Tim said: ‘The chamber’s networking breakfasts continue to go from strength to strength. The feedback has been very positive and we have had some very interesting speakers throughout the year.

‘I firmly believe that this is a great way our chamber can help its members by providing a networking platform. It is vital for businesses that we get out there and meet other businesses.

‘The committee have been working very hard to establish an annual cream tea event in an effort to create some good PR for the town, along with the attempt for a Guinness World Record. We have been working with the Tavistock Lions, BID and Tavistock Town Council to see that the event goes ahead.

‘We now have a really good working partnership with Tavistock Town Council, Tavistock BID and West Devon Borough Council too. In my first year as the chairman, I have been lucky to work with the new BID manager Janna Sanders. She has been a breath of fresh air, being very coordinated, organised and forward thinking. It has been great to work with her.

‘As ever, we need you, our members, we need help as always. We want our members to consider giving some of their time to help the chamber.

‘An awful lot could be achieved by this chamber for the want of time and people to get involved.

‘As some of our members will be aware, there is no longer an Okehampton Chamber of Trade. It no longer exists, and we would hate to see this chamber go that way if we can’t find extra officers in the years to come.’

That was not a worry for 2019, with the chamber committee finding some fresh blood for the year ahead.

As well as Tim Randell remaining as chair, IT services specialist Richard Cosgrove remains as secretary. Louise Jackman, owner of LJ and TJ’s Fish Bar, is the group’s new vice-chairman, while Wings Accountancy, run by Andrew and Katherine Wing, will take on the role of treasurers, replacing Annette Baskerville-Smith.

Annette has become the committee’s projects advisor, while engineer Andrew Downing has officially joined the committee as the chamber’s new digital secretary, having been helping out in an unofficial capacity.

Richard Cosgrove said he hoped that Wings Accountancy’s decision to use their business’s resources to help the chamber would be ‘an inspiration to other businesses’ to help the chamber in such a way.

Speaking of the new committee, Tim said: ‘Annette has been fantastic as our treasurer. It is a very important role, yet it’s easy for accounts and similar tasks to get lost in the mix. She has done a brilliant job and will continue to do so in her new role.

‘We are a small little unit and when Andrew came on unofficially, one area that needed focus was our digital output. It is so important for how we communicate to our members and Andrew has been fantastic in improving that.

‘We are delighted to see Louise Jackman joining the committee. She is a fantastic businesswoman and a real asset — we could definitely use her tenacity!’

The next meeting is on Monday, May 13.