New Secretary for the Cornish Branch

A new secretary of the Kernow Branch of the League has been appointed following an extra ordinary meeting of the branch last month.

It was decided at the meeting on 26th November in Roche that Michael Chappell should be approached to take up the position of branch secretary again following Iwan LeMoine announcement that he wished to step down for personal reasons. Mr LeMoine consequently invited Mr Chappell – who was not present at the meeting - to consider being reappointed as branch secretary in view of the good work that Mr Chappell had undertaken in organising the branch during his time as branch secretary between 2005 and 2008.

Mr LeMoine told members of the branch that:

"One of the conditions I placed upon accepting this post (a post which I warned at the time would be difficult for me, due to family and work commitments) was that my appointment would be temporary... " "I simply do not have the time and resources to dedicate to the League, as a secretary surely must, which has meant a somewhat haphazard organisational performance from myself; in turn, this has led to members being let down on a number of occasions, sometimes at the last minute, because of my own severe time constraints.

"Mike Chappell has been back with us, in Cornwall, for several months now, and has, in that very short time, demonstrated to me, both directly and through second-hand reports, that his commitment to all things Cornish is greater than ever before, if it could ever be!"

Mr LeMoine proposed to members at the meeting that he resumes his "position as ordinary member of the Celtic League, and return the post of secretary to Mike - its 'rightful owner'."

Mr Chappell resigned as Kernow branch secretary in 2008 after moving to Spain and suffering ill health. However in July 2009 Mr Chappell returned to Kernow where he played an instrumental role in organising the 2009 Celtic League AGM in August. At the November meeting Mr LeMoine went on to say that the success of the 2009 AGM "was largely thanks to the skill, support, organisational abilities and, eventually, the presence of Mike Chappell."

Learning that Mr Chappell had accepted the invitation to take up the role again was warmly welcomed by branch treasurer Tony Leamon and Kernow branch member and general secretary of the League Rhisiart Tal-e-bot. Mr Leamon said:

"Mike is a great personal friend of mine, but he is also someone who has a commitment to Cornwall and the other Celtic countries that is second to none. In addition he is a fantastic organiser and gets things done. I am so pleased he agreed to take up the lead again. He is the natural choice for secretary."

At the meeting it was also decided - if Mr Chappell agreed to return as branch secretary - that Harvey Lander should become chair of the branch and Iwan Lemoine become vice chair, which was agreed to by all.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

24/12/09