10/10/2024 - 92nd Annual Dinner aboard the ss “Great Britain”
From the feedback received to date, this our 92nd Annual Dinner proved to be very successful. In total, some 18 companies supported either with sponsorship or their attendance at the evening.
The President, David Pegg, opens the evening with his welcoming address to the Members and Guest on the Promenade Deck, prior to Dinner.
This high-profile event was held once again in the 1st Class Dining Saloon aboard Brunel’s ss “Great Britain” a venue, which epitomises Bristol’ s Maritime heritage.
In total some 120 Members and Guests attended together with a Top Table of 16 Presidential Guests. The event, as usual attracts a great deal of interest from the shipping community of Bristol and the Southwest with several guests travelling from overseas at the invitation of the membership.
The Grand Raffle in support of the local QVSR Seafarers Centre proved to be successful with the 1st Prize, a cruise offered by sponsor Ambassador Cruise Line of a cruise for two from Bristol in 2025 being particularly attractive.
The formal proceedings ended with after-dinner entertainment provided by local rugby personality Gareth Chilcott in his own matchless style.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Bristol Port Company, David Brown, toasts the Association.
The Association Vice President, Peter James responds to the Toast to the Association and proposes a Toast to our Guests for the evening.
The Guest After-Dinner speaker for the evening, Gareth Chilcott in his own resolute style.
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Nick Hughes The Chief Operating Officer of the Ambassador Cruise Line present the Winner, David Booker, with 1st Prize, a Cruise for 2, In the evening Grand Raffle.
The Presentation of the 2024 “Tony White” Award
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At the 92nd Annual Dinner held aboard the ss “Great Britain”, the President, David Pegg presented Alan Morris with the 2024 “Tony White” Award.
The Award in the form of an engraved “Bristol Blue” Captains Decanter is in recognition of Alan’s contribution to the Association & the Port of Bristol.
Alan’s Career in the Bristol Channel’s Shipping Community
Alan commenced his career in shipping with Bethell Gwyn & Co. Ltd (a fully owned subsidiary within the P&O Group) in 1963 in the Port of Newport, South Wales.
Like so many port agency companies the agency was primarily engaged in Liner Agencies with services to Australia, New Zealand and West Coast Canada with short-sea services to Denmark, Norway, Germany and Portugal.
With his final Liner Agency position being the Company’s Line Manager for Saguenay’s Service to the West Indies.
In 1982 Alan gained his membership (by examination) of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, resulting in him later becoming Secretary and Chairman of the Newport Section of the Institute and later. Following his promotion to Manager of the Avonmouth Office becoming Secretary and later, Chairman of the Bristol & South West Branch. With the amalgamation with South Wales Branch at the commencement of the New Millenium he then took the Chair of the South Wales & the West Branch of the Institute. He also served as the Newport Secretary of the R.N.L.I. before moving to Avonmouth in 1989.
On his promotion to become the Manager of the then, Escombe Lambert Office in Avonmouth he was actively involved in the Bulk, Oil, Forest Product and Car Trades for many years.
His further development continued as he moved on to become Bristol Channel Area Manager based in Portbury, Regional Business Development Manager and finally becoming UK Commercial Manager, following a number of company mergers with Inchcape Shipping Services before his retirement in 2011.
On his retirement in 2011, following the sad loss of Tony White the former Secretary of the Bristol Steamship Owners Association, he took over the position of Honorary Secretary and Treasurer which, in 2020 Changed its name to The Bristol Maritime Trade Association, a position that he holds to this day. This year, Alan revels in 61 years in the Shipping Industry in total.
