Cowes politics

Donald Parr retires from Cowes Town Waterfront Trust

After 13 years Donald Parr is to retire from the Cowes Town Waterfront Trust. He has served both as a Trustee representing the Maurice Laing Foundation and subsequently as Chairman of the Trust Board.Donald Parr will be succeeded by Felix Hetherington as Chairman.

Stanley Malone who has been a Trustee for the past 6 years will also be retiring from the Trust Board at their Annual General Meeting to be held at the end of March.

Felix Hetherington (left) incoming Chairman commented: "Donald’s contribution to the achievements and success of Cowes Yacht Haven over the years has been immense and we all offer him our most grateful thanks. I’m honoured to succeed him as Chairman and am proud to have been involved since the Trust rescued the marina in the early 90s. I would also like to thank Stanley Malone for his considerable input over the past five years.

"The Yacht Haven plays a vital part in the prosperity of Cowes and the Island in hosting Cowes Week and other major international events. However, we face competition on a global basis to this success and the challenge is to continue and grow that prosperity in partnership with others who share in keeping Cowes as 'the home of world yachting'. The Trust welcomes a large number of new trustees to help shape our future success."

Four new Trustees will also be joining Felix Hetherington and Geoff Banks on the Trust Board as follows:

Christopher Bland - Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight & Chairman of Hovertravel
Peter Kingston - Chairman of Kingston & Grist Ltd
John Oldridge - Chapman Taylor - designer of the Maurice Laing Events Centre building
Charles Twiss - Solicitor - Ex Chief Legal Officer for British Gas

Donald Parr, outgoing Chairman commented: "There have been considerable changes and massive investment in the planned improvement programme for the Cowes site. Following the £1.5 million redevelopment of the North Basin at Cowes Yacht Haven in 1999/2000 the £1.3 million Maurice Laing Events Centre was officially opened last year and cements the Havens position as the number one eventing marina in northern Europe.

"There are already plans for a further £300,000 investment to replace the Eastern Breakwater. The Maurice Laing Events Centre (Haven Events Centre) has already been used to its full capacity hosting several major yachting events and private functions since the building was completed last May. The Cowes Yacht Haven team are working to secure additional business for the Centre especially throughout the winter months as part of the ongoing commitment that the Trust has to bring people and events to Cowes and the Isle of Wight."


Cowes Yacht Haven Board

Donald Parr also retired recently as Chairman of the Cowes Yacht Haven Board and has been succeeded by John Dudley who was elected chairman at their AGM in December.

John Dudley (right) commented: "I was delighted to accept the Chairmanship of the Cowes Yacht Haven Board and would like to thank Donald for his enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring that we have a bright future for the Haven, a legacy that we intend to build on to ensure that our clients have the best possible facilities expected from a world class marina."