Page 45 - MarketTimesJune2015
P. 45

  Market Times • June 2015
NMTF AGM REPORT
Birmingham’s market manager of the year
 AMANDA Prosser-Davies, the relatively new market manager for Birmingham markets, has been named the NMTF’s market manager of the year.
She received the Dennis Williams Memorial Cup, which is awarded each year to the market official judged to have made the greatest contribution to their market following nomination by traders. It is in memory of a much-respected Past President, Honorary Life Member, market operator and trader.
An environmental health officer by profession, Amanda has won the confidence of the Birmingham market traders through her hands- on approach and her eagerness to listen to traders and take their views on board.
She now faces a massive challenge with the £500 million redevelopment of Birmingham’s markets area, which is one of the largest investments in infrastructure in the country.
Birmingham Markets Manager Amanda Prosser-Davies receiving the Dennis Williams Memorial Cup from NMTF President Michael Nicholson. NMTF members of the Birmingham Rag Branch are also pictured.
The plan is to move Birmingham’s wholesale market and redevelop 16 hectares of land in the heart of the country’s second city.
The existing markets including the Bull Ring market will
disappear, to be replaced by Market Square, a market area surrounding a new family and leisure centre. There will be a pedestrian route from the Bull Ring shopping centre and St Martin’s Church. The scheme includes 1,000 new homes,
and will create 3,000 new jobs. Amanda said the project would put markets at the heart of the city of Birmingham and the plan was to keep the traders in their existing markets until the new markets
were ready.
  Rachel hits a high note
AS THE NMTF’s Deputy Projects Manager Rachel Harban works tirelessly to solve problems for market traders and respond to members’ queries and issues.
But outside work she has another role as a talented singer in a band.
Rachel and her band, No Illusions, played at the dinner dance following this year’s AGM.
Rachel said: “I come from a musical family and I love music. It’s my way of relaxing.”
The band formed last year and they are proving popular at a range of musical venues.
The NMTF’s Benevolent
Fund continues its good
work
  45
THE NMTF’s Benevolent Fund is continuing to help market traders who have fallen on hard times, the fund committee chairman and NMTF Honorary Treasurer June Draper told the AGM.
She explained that grants were available towards living expenses and there were a number of
mobility scooters for people with mobility difficulties.
June also paid tribute to Martin Ingledew, from the Middlesbrough branch, who has raised over £1,000 for the Benevolent Fund over recent years through taking part in the Great North Run.








































































   43   44   45   46   47