Kintbury man to become new canal trust president
Businessman David Bruce will succeed Michael Ancram as president of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust
KINTBURY businessman David Bruce says he will bring passion, energy and business experience to the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust as he succeeds Michael Ancram as president.
Mr Ancram, who has been the trust's president for two years, advised the trust he wished to step down as he is now based in Scotland and felt unable to commit his time to the association.
His successor will be Mr Bruce, the current vice chairman of the trust, who lives in Kintbury with his wife, Louise, and is no stranger to the canal having run the Bruce Trust for 21 years and provided 11,500 people with special needs cruising holidays on the canal.
Mr Bruce's first involvement with the trust was as Chairman of The Last Lock Appeal which raised £10,000 for the restoration of Widmead Lock near Thatcham, prior to the reopening of the canal by The Queen in 1990.
The father-of-two, who founded the Firkin Pub chain and Bruce's Brewery, which he sold in 1988, said: “In the past, the trust has had respectable people as presidents like admirals and my predecessor, the Right Honourable Michael Ancram. I'm just a normal bloke but I'm passionate, energetic and want to take the canal trust forward.
“You've got to run it like a business to take on all the challenges we're going to face as a trust and I've got 44 years of business experience. I lean towards leisure and tourism and I also run a charity myself.
“There are members at the canal trust who have been here for 40 or 50 years. For 27 years, those guys campaigned to restore the canal and reopen it as a waterway and in 1990 the Queen reopened the canal. This was thanks to their back breaking work. These members have twice as much experience as I do so I'll be listening to them.”
The 62-year-old is a busy man with his two businesses, The Capital Pub Company PLC, which has just floated on the London Stock Exchange and Convivial London Pubs, as well as his role as Executive Chairman of Country Food & Dining which owns Cobbs Farm in Hungerford where a five acre vineyard has just been cultivated.
“My wife keeps saying when are you going to slow down? But I just find so many things interesting,” he said. “I don't go off and play golf three days a week like most people of my age.”
Chairman of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Dr Mike Rodd, said: “Michael has been a wonderful president, representing us on many occasions, always available to prod and guide the council, and also managing to attend a large number of trust events. For many years he has played a major role in helping the Trust to achieve Cruiseway Status for our Canal. We are all very sorry that he is unable to continue. We are delighted, though, to announce that David Bruce has agreed to succeed Michael.”
