October 2023
Thank you for taking the time to read my first monthly update. I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome, support and advice. I assure you I will work with the Council to serve Manchester, the Lit & Phil and its members as we move forward and evolve.
Thank you to our past officers and President
Firstly, I want to acknowledge everyone who left or took office following the elections at the AGM. The passion and energy displayed by our Trustees is one of the reasons the Lit & Phil is well into its 242nd year.
I would also like to highlight the contribution of Ian Cameron, whose time as President has seen us take stock and begin a journey of change. Ian has already committed a tremendous amount of time to the Lit & Phil. And, to ensure continuity, he has agreed to take on the Vice Presidency. Please join me in thanking him for his ongoing commitment to our development. And thanks must also go to his wife, Sue, for her support.
Manchester, the slave trade & the Manchester Lit & Phil
Did you attend our event on 27th September: Manchester, the slave trade and the Manchester Lit & Phil? Professor Erinma Bell MBE, DL, JP, chaired a special guest panel that discussed the implications of the UCLan research report, which looked at the historical links that early Lit & Phil members had to the slave trade.
The event was well-attended, thought-provoking and powerful. And I was grateful to the panel for making several practical suggestions regarding our future response.
Our next event, in response to the findings of the UCLan research report, with Professor Robert Beckford, takes place in December. Former Vice President Tony Jackson and the team are discussing our next steps and actions.
Moving Forward
It is hard to believe that I met Ian for the first time on July 14th, having only heard about the Manchester Lit & Phil a week earlier. Over the last weeks, I have tried to meet as many members as possible, listened to people’s views and concerns and immersed myself in the society’s rich history. Over the next quarter, I will continue this journey with the membership, Council, Sections, and our team to develop our strategic plan and operating model.
Many of you know that Aude Nguyen Duc, our Finance and Operations Manager, will leave us in November after five years of working for the Lit & Phil. Aude has been a real asset to the society during a challenging period. We all wish her well for her future.
As a result of Aude’s departure, the focus for the next month will be on ensuring we have operational continuity and that our governance processes are robust and up to date.
A call to action
The lifeblood of the Lit & Phil is its membership and events. One of my first takeaways is that many of our members were introduced by a friend, attended one or two events, and then joined.
On that basis, I ask you to share details of our upcoming events with your friends and invite them to an event. We’re regularly adding new events to our programme, and I’m sure they’ll see something that interests them.
Peter Wright
President
