It is with great sadness that we report Mrs Anne Stephenson, the Association’s first lady secretary has died after battling with long-term illness.
She leaves behind her daughter, Debbie and husband of over 40 years Alf. Anne retired as Company Secretary on the 1st June 2007 having worked for the Association for the last 19 years. She continued to attend the Annual Dinner as a guest of Thomas Mawer Ltd until a few years ago when her health started to deteriorate.
Records show that Anne started working as an Administrative Assistant for the then Company Secretary, Mr Ron Lang in 1988.
Mr Lang retired in 1993 having served as Company Secretary for some 27 years. He was succeeded by a Mr Alan Spiers who only served in the post for two years.
The Association’s minute book from the 10th May 1995 makes reference to Alan Spiers resignation and records that “The Chairman informed the Committee that when Ron Lang retired two years ago the offer was made to Mrs Anne Stephenson to take over the secretary-ship and considered it appropriate that she should be approached again. It was proposed by Robert Spriggs that subject to her final acceptance, Anne Stephenson be appointed as Company Secretary for the Hull Corn Trade Association.”
The rest as they say is history, Anne flourished in the role and turned many of the gentlemen’s heads at the biannual Dinners held at the Guildhall, but that was just Anne she had a truly charismatic personality and would light up a room whenever she walked in with her smile.
Despite Anne retiring 10 years ago, she has kept in regular contact with the Association and was always interested to know what was happening. She was a lovely lady who will be sorely missed by all who knew her, may she can rest in peace. Our thoughts are with Alf and Debbie at this very sad time.