During my Management Dinner speech, I expressed my concerns about the affect of the present world unrest on our trading results and said: Good management will seek to adjust for turnover reductions by scrutinising the overhead costs and ensuring that any unnecessary expenditure is cut away and other expenditure is controlled.”

The message to all senior management was one of thrift.With this approach the Group will produce positive trading levels for the 2003/2004 financial year and be prepared for any economic downturn.

Apart from the opportunity for me to get serious messages across, the annual Management Dinner is also my opportunity to express my thanks, welcome new management employees and to award long serving employees. I was delighted to present the 10-year awards and gold pins to nine members of staff on this occasion.The recipients were Carol Courtenay (see photo), Jane McDougall, Eileen Knight, Maria Shaw,Alan Blenkinsopp, Dave Underwood, Gary Montgomery, Dean Armstrong and Eric Clark. Five-year pins were presented to David Lamb and Harry King.

I was also able to tell the Directors, Managers and guests of the Group’s future plans and direction.

One such direction is taking the decision to move the Bracknell Bees from the Ice Hockey Super League to the Findus British National League. Perhaps this was most surprising, yet everyone accepted the news graciously. My reasons for taking this decision have been well documented and I now look forward to the next playing season with some relish.We shall be playing more weekend games and renewing local rivalries which should make for a more exciting season. I appeal to all our fans and supporters to come along to the Bracknell Ice Rink to see for themselves.

Techmat 2000 is about to introduce a new ski matting to the marketplace under the trademark ‘Perma-snow’.The order has been placed for a new tufting machine to manufacture the product and it will be commissioned in May. Full production is planned to start in June and the first ski slope to use this matting will be Bracknell.The intermediate slope will be covered and it is planned to hold a ‘Marketing Day’ for the new product in July.The event will be publicised across the country and internationally by Techmat 2000 and invitations to the industry will be sent far and wide. Further news will break as the planned ‘Marketing Day’ approaches.

John Nike Leisuresport and Techmat 2000 were present at the 2002 Olympia Ski-show with their stands proving to be the most popular with the visitors.Articles are contained elsewhere in this issue of Connections about our stands and the prizewinners. My thanks to all members of staff for so splendidly representing our five dry ski slope centres.

Did you see the ice show ‘Christmas Carol on Ice’? If you didn’t, you missed a great performance. If you didn’t, make it a New Year’s resolution to come to the next Ice Pantomime in December 2003. See how the members of the community, young and old, enjoy our facilities.As always,my chosen charity for 2003 is announced during the show and this time it is ‘The Network for Surviving Stalking’ (NSS).This is a local charity, based in Crowthorne, and founded by Tracey Morgan who is a survivor of stalking.The charity aims to provide a nationwide service and can be found at www.nss.org.uk

Sadly, The Swan at Streatley was flooded in January.The extensive rainfall in the Thames Valley and across the country resulted in the River Thames breaking its banks. Despite this setback, the hotel is open and, thanks to the staff, the high level of service is maintained and will be maintained during the renovation works.

The Nike Group of Companies is 35 years old this year and will hold a small event to celebrate this birthday.As the Founder, I am thrilled with the 35 years of growth and proud of the business levels achieved.We are, without doubt, a diversified group providing entertainment, pleasure, housing, commodities and services within the community through a network of small companies with a large heart.