Three new board members were approved at Bees United’s ninth annual general meeting (AGM) last Thursday.
They are Trevor Inns and Greville Waterman, who stood unopposed for election; and Trevor Mant, who is the new loan-note holder representative. He replaces Paul Stedman, who has decided to stand down. Elected board member Natasha Judge’s term of office ended this year and she decided not to stand for re-election.
Trevor Mant was born and brought up in Ealing, but now lives in Ruislip. He’s been coming to Griffin Park since he was four years old, some 50 years ago.
For the past 20 years, Trevor has been Group Treasurer of Slough Estates plc, the largest industrial property investment and development company in Europe. During that time, he has raised several billions of pounds for the group, including most recently managing a new £300 million bond issue.
Although only 54, he has chosen to retire on 31 December and has promised to spend some of his free time diligently representing the loan holders’ interests on the Bees United board.
Trevor Inns previously served on the Bees United board from August 2006 until he resigned at the 2008 AGM as his work had taken him overseas. During his time on the board, he was Deputy Chairman with specific responsibilities for investor relationships.
Working for an investment bank in the City, Trevor has a particular interest in Bees United’s long-term financial planning. He has been attending Griffin Park since 1973 and owns and runs the fans’ website known as the Griffin Park Grapevine.
Briefly a Director of Brentford Football Club a few years ago, Greville Waterman has fervently supported Brentford for over 40 years. He brings to the role of Bees United Director more than 30 years’ marketing and sponsorship experience, including acting as an advisor to Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers.
Chairman David Merritt took the opportunity at last week’s Bees United AGM to thank Natasha Judge and Paul Stedman for their contributions. He also thanked Chris Gammon who is standing down as Secretary.
“Natasha Judge stood for election some three years ago with a clear focus on fund-raising, and she has fully delivered on that election promise,” he commented. “Her participation in sponsored walks to far-flung Brentford matches, both as organiser and as walker, achieved nationwide fame for both Brentford Football Club and Bees United.”
Turning to Paul Stedman, David Merritt noted he was a man “many of us involved with Brentford Football Club have met in a variety of capacities”. All of these had benefited from Paul’s significant efforts over the past decade, he noted. “Bees United has been the latest organisation to benefit from his considerable experience and tireless contribution, and I am very grateful to Paul for all his efforts over the past three years.”
Noting Chris Gammon had been involved with Bees United since its earliest days, and had been Secretary since the Supporters’ Trust had bought its shareholding in the Club, David Merritt said it was “impossible to overstate” Chris’ contribution.
“He has fulfilled all his Secretarial duties without fail, at the same time as being at the very heart of the negotiations with Matthew Benham. Chris’ professional experience and skills have been exactly what we have needed, and his contribution has been invaluable.”
“Although I am naturally disappointed to be losing him as a core member of the Bees United board, I am pleased that his contribution to the Lionel Road stadium project will be very much continuing.” David Merritt said.