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I am delighted to be appointed the 3rd Governor of the Society of Mayflower Descendants (Europe) Ltd - 05 Sep 26.  My appointment is set for 3 years and will run to 04 Sep 29.  I am extremely grateful to my predecessor, Carmen Kew, for her leadership and service to the SMD(E) Ltd.  Carmen led in the transition and creation of society in the governance structure of a Company, Limited by Guarantee (not for profit).  On behalf of the SMD(E) Ltd Board we wish Carmen joy with her PhD and future career ambitions.

 

As Governor & Chair SMD(E) Ltd, my intent is to deliver on our Constitutional Objects:

 

1.    Understand the endeavours and challenges associated with the 1620 Mayflower sailing.

2.   Celebrate the community forged by the 1620 Mayflower ‘Compact’.

3.    Create a viable and sustainable Society of Mayflower Descendants (Europe), founded on the aims of the 1620 Mayflower sailing.

 

To achieve this my Board will direct and guide through the following statement of Strategic Intent:

 

*   Purpose [led Business]: Sustainable for Future Generations

*  Vision:  A viable European Society, centred on the community endeavours of the 1620 Mayflower sailing.

*  Culture: 

*  Values:  Commitment; Community; Connectivity 

*  Standards:  Compliance with the Rule of Law & Guided by best practice 

 

During my tenure as Governor, my priority will be Governance of the Society and the creation and delivery of Strategic Intent stated above.  

 

I have asked my newly appointed Deputy Governor & Vice Chair, Mark Primmer, resident in Paris, to lead on the development of a 3 year rolling plan that delivers on Strategic Intent.  This plan will be communicated to you as it develops but to assist us in that development I will be asking Mark to seek your wishes so that the Plan can be tailored appropriate to Member desire.  As an example of what I mean in this regard, I find my own desire is to understand the essentials of the Mayflower story and the detail of my own ancestor, a Merchant Adventurer.  Believing that there may others who feel similarly I sought the advice and potential assistance of Arabella Colcough, historian, former teacher and latterly Green Badge, City of London Guide.  Arabella is the Founder of a high-end tour company, ’The Rose of London’.  With deep City roots and a wide network of people and history on which to draw, she felt that it would be possible to facilitate creating a tour with a focus on the ‘Merchant Adventurers’, linked to City Investment, and the Livery Companies; as a result we will look at this as an option within our programme.

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07 Sep 26

William English, CBE, meets with Arabella Colcough, Historian and City of London Tour Guide in Watling St, East of St Paul’s Cathedral to discuss options regarding potential Mayflower related City of London tours.

 

On communication and community, I believe we and future generations have a fabulous and ready made global networking opportunity within our European and wider Society.  In so many ways, this is one of the draws to succession and membership growth.  Membership is how we will pay to ‘Keep the Lights on’, funding and running the management of the organisation.  Digital and in-person communication / events are how we can expand our thematic knowledge and meet people from different parts of the world with a common ancestral bond.  I will look into how best to communicate with you, my sense is to do so through an emailed link to this website, so encouraging members to use the website as our information waypoint.  In my own business I communicate to my board as necessary but to wider External and Internal stakeholders monthly - I may do the same particularly if there is an opportunity to drip feed information for those with less of a history-based background like myself.  One thing is for sure, that comes from our Constitution, is that we are the European Society within the wider General Society and this will therefore remain our pride and focus.  By building our knowledge and the way in which we communicate this information will be the key to how our ‘offering’ as a society and company, is of real and increasing interest to Members, Potential Members and Successors.  

 

In sum, as your Governor & Chair, I and my Board will work, as your appointees to provide you with the best Society we can with the time and resources at our disposal.  We will never compromise on Governance and I will be looking to ensure we have appropriate professional support where necessary. 

 

I wish you well and look forward to acting in your service over the next 3 years of my appointment.  Please feel free to reach out. I and my Board are here for you creating a society that is sustainable for future generations.

 

Warmest

 

W

 

William English, CBE

Governor & Chair

Society of Mayflower Descendants (Europe) Ltd