Message from our Chairman

I am enjoying my tenure as Chairman of the ESU more all the time, as the organisation we all love and admire continues to go from strength to strength. Credit for that progress rightly belongs to all the members, but once again I must record my personal thanks to Valerie Mitchell, whose personal contribution to the development of the ESU is really without equal.

Valerie and her team are indispensable and I cannot thank them enough. I am pleased to report that membership of ESU branches in England and Wales has continued to rise – slowly but steadily – and a number of further recruitment initiatives are in progress. Branches are becoming more and more involved with the ESU’s international activities as well as running their own scholarship exchanges and programmes. During the last year they contributed over £38,000 towards educational awards and grants.

At a more personal level, it has been my pleasure to visit many branches in the UK and beyond during the past year. Everywhere my wife and I have received an outstanding welcome from the members. In February, I had the opportunity to visit some more far-flung overseas outposts of the Union, including Santiago in Chile, and Wellington in New Zealand. The programmes in both these countries organised on our behalf were unforgettable and I now look forward to enjoying more visits in the next year.

I was delighted to be able to welcome so many of the young people with whom we work to the Chamber of the House of Lords in May. This was a truly historic occasion, marking the first time either Chamber of Parliament had ever been used for external purposes. We were privileged to witness a display of outstanding oratorical skill from the English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish debaters present, and that august space provided a fitting setting for the final of the Schools Mace in its 50th year – a remarkable achievement for all concerned.

My priority for the months and years ahead is to put my own shoulder to the wheel as the ESU endeavours to strengthen its foundations by attracting new members, in particular younger members. That is how we shall survive, flourish and develop, and I know I can count on all of you to play your part as we build for the future.