Alresford Chamber of Commerce has reached the grand old age of 70 and members marked the occasion with a gathering of former chairman in the Edward Knight Centre.

Present incumbent, Andrew Merry, was joined by seven of his predecessors, among them Brian Champion, who had chaired the chamber for 21 years.

After cutting the anniversary cake, Andrew paid tribute to Sue Gentry, who had been chairman, president and committee member over a good many years.

She is leaving the committee and he presented her with a vase of flowers, thanking her for her tremendous work for the chamber.

The AGM followed, during which Andrew said the town has seen a great deal of change since 1933 within trading and business and he added that he was quite sure the chamber would be involved as much in promoting and supporting the town's businesses in the future as it had been in the last 70 years.

He looked back on the last year, reflecting on the chamber's role in Alresford's celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Probably the most exciting development this year was , he said, when the chamber was propelled into the 21st century with the launching of its own website, www.alresford.org, comprising 72 pages of information, its success being entirely due to the work of Roy Gentry.

The chamber, together with a number of other organisations, had instigated a campaign to bring broadband to Alresford.

British Telecom had been lobbied until a commitment to install broadband by May 14th was received.

In the Business of the Year Award, there were 18 nominations and a number of new names in the frame.

To help retailers with security a new, updated "ring round list" hd been prepared and implemented, to ensure a fast and early warning system against trouble or "shady characters".

Andrew said it was with great pleasure and renewed vigour that, after a year's gap, due to foot and mouth, they had seen the return of Alresford Show. He took great satisfaction in seeing the number of visitors from near and far who passed through the chamber's marquee to meet the wide range of businesses represented there.

Andrew paid tribute to a dedicated and hard working committee and said it was with great sadness they were saying goodbye to Richard Mills but, at the same time, welcoming Beryl Griggs as the new treasurer.

For the chamber members to prosper, Alresford had to prosper; for the chamber to serve its members best and keep it a wonderful town to live in and work, it needed all their support, said Andrew.

Elected were president - Margaret Parker; chairman - Andrew Merry; vice-chairman - Emma Duveen; treasurer - Beryl Griggs; secretary - Rachel Black; membership secretary - Joan Hoar; committee members - Jennifer Laing, Nick Kingsford, Sarah Thorne, Barry Framp, Nicola Barker.

After the meeting, members enjoyed a tasting of three French wines presented by Simon Evans, of Alresford Wine Rack.