A Change at the Helm for Amberley Shop & Café
Our 4th Annual Members Meeting on the 15th of October marked a significant change in management structure for the Amberley Shop & Café. Operating teams now run the day-to-day business under the leadership of our Manager Lou Trigg. With these teams reporting monthly, the Management Committee is free to take on a more strategic role.
The meeting approved the re-election of Sarah Goodwin, our Treasurer, for a further term. The Chair, Neil Truphet, thanked the four committee members who are leaving the Management Committee to continue their work in the operating teams and to make space for two new members. Nominees, Tim French and Jackie Davis were duly proposed, seconded and elected.
Clare Bassett continues on the Shop Supply Team, Rosemary Bailey on the Café Team, Rachel Postlethwaite on the Marketing and Comms Team and Alison Truphet as Volunteer Coordinator.
Deb Herbert who becomes Interim Chair, thanked Neil for his leadership of the project to open the shop and café and his dedication, hard-work and infectious positivity. He continues in the lead on Facilities Management for the shop & café and the church.
Neil has worked tirelessly for eight years on the delivery of the Amberley Shop & Café project. In May 2017, at the Black Horse, a packed pub all cheered Neil when he spoke out in favour of creating a community shop in the village.
He led the Steering Group comprising a determined group of volunteers, through hunting for a venue, fund-raising, bid writing, putting together a share offer which raised an initial £72,000 in a few months. At every turn, Neil was there flying the flag for the shop. Even during Covid, he chaired meetings on Zoom and spent months on designs and negotiations with the Diocese, often working alone due to Covid, resolving issues and scoping out potential solutions to obstacles. At times the project looked like failing, but Neil never lost sight of his mission and finally in 2022, he began the build in bold and dramatic style.
An enormous protective sheet from ceiling to floor allowed business as usual in the church while the old vestibule was demolished, the balcony flattened, and the shop took shape.
Neil oversaw all the work, pro bono, stepping down briefly as Chair to project manage the build.
With Neil at the helm, the shop and café were built, decorated, fitted out and stocked and we opened in June 2023. Neil resumed the Chair.
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Our vision is viable. The shop and café currently thrive under the leadership of the committee and direction of our manager Lou. The operating teams are effective, and the volunteer team is strong and capable. We have so much to thank Neil for – leadership, vision and sheer hard work with an energy which is breath-taking.
Now it time for change. We look forward to continuing to work with him as he leads the Facilities Team and maintains close links working with the church and Parish Room committees.
We wish him well and say a huge thank you.
