New chairman for the Craft Guild

Taking over the reins from Nick Vadis, Green, an award winning chef as well as general manager for Transport for London with contract catering giant Sodexo, said he was ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead. "Each previous chairman has brought something different to the position, and the Guild as a professional body has benefited immensely from their contributions. "They have all brought new dimensions to the role – different, sometimes challenging and often forthright – but all done in the best interests of the Guild. I will also bring my own style. "There will as always be tough decisions to be made along the way, ones that I and the new committee will make with the Guild's best interests in mind. "We are still seen as the strongest and most talked about chef organisation in the UK and this is only possible with the continued help and assistance from business partners, colleagues and suppliers. We do have a brand that we can be proud of and we should not be afraid to use it where we can." Christopher Basten, executive chef at the Marriott London County Hall Hotel, was elected to take over Green's role as national vice chairman, working alongside a new committee of management that includes the Guild's first food development representative following its amalgamation with the former Food Development Association last year. The full committee of management comprises: National chairman – Andrew Green National vice chairman – Christopher Basten National treasurer – Geoff Acott PR/Merchandising/Website – Ian Nottage Corporate events organiser – David Mulcahy Competitions manager – Gary Hunter Exhibition manager – Lee Maycock Culinary team captain – Fergus Martin Schools and colleges representative – Matt Owens Food development representative – John Feeney Following the AGM, around 130 members, family and friends attended the lunch specially prepared by executive chef Allister Bishop and his team at Le Meridien Hotel in Piccadilly, London, after which a host of Craft Guild members were recognised for their unstinting support of the Guild during 2009. Honours & Awards Bronze Medals Ben Ford Stefan Gruebel Richard Hunt Ashley Spencer Sophie Wright Silver Medals Lee Maycock Gold Medals Cam Faherty Mark Hill Alan Melville Richard Tucker Darren Thompson Fellows Martin Bates Michael Godfrey Ian Nottage Matt Owens Governors Arthur Voggenburger Alan Reynolds David Marriott Company Awards The Horseshoe Public House Nestlé Unilever College Awards Bristol City College Leeds City College Stratford College Chairman's Award Kraft Chairman's Shield Bournemouth & Poole College Presidents' Trophy Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons