Celebrating Heritage at the York & North Yorkshire Chamber Annual Dinner

The great and the good of North Yorkshire were out in earnest at the York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce annual dinner.

Staged at the iconic York Racecourse venue, this year’s black tie dinner was themed around the Business of Heritage, making the most of the region’s incredible history.

York & North Yorkshire president Sarah Czarnecki used her remarks to reflect on the chamber’s successes over the past 12 months and to champion the region’s business community.

Ms Czarnecki said: “We are all, in our own way, custodians of York’s incredible history and tonight we intend to celebrate it in full. 

“I am very proud to be president of this chamber of commerce, and I am grateful for the opportunities it brings. 

“This city has a world-class business community and it is my honour to represent it.” 

She also announced The Press’s business reporter Darren Greenwood as the winner of this year’s Andrew Digwood Award, handed out every year to honour a business or individual who had made a contribution to the region’s business community.

Two panel sessions followed, chaired by Chamber CEO James Mason.

The first featured Christopher Ridgway, the head curator at Castle Howard, Brigadier James Richardson, chief executive at Merchant Adventurers of the City of York and Delma Tomlin, chair of the York Civic Trust. 

The next session that followed featured Alex McCallion, director of works and precinct at York Minster,  James Brennan, head of marketing and sponsorship at York Racecourse, Andrew Tunstall, division manager at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough and Guy Bower from York Conservation Trust.

The event also raised funds for the chamber’s chosen charity for the year, York Against Cancer and was presented by Andrew Edwards.