WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND CHAMBER

OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY & TOURISM

PRESS RELEASE: 15 APRIL 2008                                                                     IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANNA-MARIA GEARE RECEIVES BANK ACCOLADE FOR WORK WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Anna-Maria Geare, organiser of the highly successful Business Breakfasts at Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism, has received the accolade of a National Achievements Award from her employers, Lloyds TSB Bank, to recognise the sterling work she does in the Weymouth & Portland community.

An accomplished thespian, Anna-Maria is often on stage with Weymouth Operatic Society and co-ordinates the bucket collections after each performance, which raised £600 in February- split between the RNLI and Alzheimer's. She raised £1,300 in September for Barnardos. Her fundraising for WOS has totalled over £10,000 in the last five years. It is Lloyds TSB who sponsor the Chamber's business breakfasts and these convivial monthly events have become a vital part of many business people's lives, an opportunity to meet others in the peaceful setting of the Rendezvous pub, by the Town Bridge.

Lloyds TSB Business Manager Anna-Maria Geare and her husband Colin were invited to the bank's prestigious Gala Awards Dinner last Thursday evening at the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington. One of only 50 staff nominated from all the UK for the National Achievements Awards , she was nominated by fellow Weymouth Business Manager Jeremy Weekes.

Although Anna-Maria usually takes centre stage with announcements at the Business Breakfasts, there was a surprise at April's event when Chamber president George Afedakis appeared with a huge bunch of flowers. "You have to believe what you are doing in your life," he told breakfasters, "and the Chamber of Commerce congratulates Anna-Maria Geare on being given such a well deserved accolade by the bank, partly for running these superb events so well for us all."

"I have been so grateful to have received this nomination and recognition for my work," says Anna-Maria Geare, "but without the help of my colleagues and supporters in Weymouth & Portland, the Chamber of Commerce and the participants at the breakfasts, these events would not have been such a success."

Photograph shows WPCCIT President George Afedakis presenting Anna-Maria Geare with a big bouquet of flowers. Photograph by Michel Hooper-Immins.