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HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL HELPS TO MARK OUR 175TH ANNIVERSARY
Liverpool Chamber was proud to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to celebrate its 175th Anniversary at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The event at the iconic waterfront venue welcomed more than 100 guests from the Liverpool City Region’s business community, local politicians, civic dignitaries and charity partners.
Upon arrival, HRH was escorted on a tour of the stadium by Chamber chief executive Paul Cherpeau and Colin Chong, Chief Real Estate and Regeneration Officer at Everton FC, taking in the players’ tunnel and going pitchside to experience the scale of the newly-constructed 52,000-seater arena.
HRH was then introduced to assembled groups at The Yard events space on the first floor, including patrons and strategic partners of the Chamber and members of the Everton team responsible for developing and operating the Hill Dickinson Stadium, before unveiling a plaque commemorating the Chamber’s anniversary.
Before departing, she was handed a commemorative pin badge by Mona Hassan, chair of the Future Impact Board and a posy of flowers from Fiona Hornsby, a former patient of Liverpool Women’s Hospital, which is the Chamber’s charity partner of the year.
Prior to the arrival of HRH, guests enjoyed lunch and heard speeches by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, headline sponsor of the event.
Bill said: “It was Liverpool Chamber which inaugurated the Business Improvement District and that decision was taken to improve the trading conditions of business in the city. That legacy continues today and Liverpool Chamber remains a trusted representative body for the local business community.”
Guests were treated to a violin performance by a duet from Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and heard from its new chief executive, Vanessa Reed, who talked about the organisation’s In Harmony programme for young people in North Liverpool, and the importance of business engagement with the Arts.
“The Chamber’s role as a cornerstone of our business community has been baked into our city’s fabric. From connecting businesses with contacts and opportunities across global markets to helping connect the world of education and business, we’ve sought to go where business needs us and ensure that we continue to be a trusted, authentic partner for them.”
Chamber CEO Paul Cherpeau said: “This was an incredibly special day for everyone associated with Liverpool Chamber. We were privileged to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to help commemorate this most special anniversary and we were delighted to have so many of our patrons and strategic partners with us, as well as the entire Liverpool Chamber team.
“The Chamber’s role as a cornerstone of our business community has been baked into our city’s fabric. From connecting businesses with contacts and opportunities across global markets to helping connect the world of education and business, we’ve sought to go where business needs us and ensure that we continue to be a trusted, authentic partner for them.
“We have been delighted to welcome all of our guests to the new home of Everton Football Club. The Hill Dickinson Stadium represents one of the most exciting and transformational projects in our city’s recent history. We are all excited about the impact it will have on both the football club itself and the wider area.
“As we celebrate 175 years of impact, we renew our shared commitment to the future. We will build on the legacy of those who came before us, and work together with our businesses and partners to ensure that Liverpool remains a vibrant, dynamic, and thriving place to do business, for many years to come.”
Closing the event, Alison Lobb, Chair of Liverpool Chamber and managing partner of Morecrofts Solicitors, said: “Liverpool has always been a city that faces the world, and Liverpool Chamber continues to play an important role in that international agenda through our trade and export work. Everton’s new stadium, the latest addition to our city’s landscape facing out to the Mersey and The Irish Sea, certainly fits that global bill.
“The city’s prosperity was once built from these docklands, and it would be fitting if the next phase of its renaissance were to emanate from this very same place. As we look ahead to the next 175 years, the horizons for this venue, our Chamber and our city region, appear truly endless.”
