Business Diary: April 13

YOU might have thought that Leeds's land-locked business community had little in common with men and women who risk their lives on Britain's coastline.

As the new chairman of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Leeds Business Branch, solicitor Katie Simmonds is keen to raise cash to help those in peril on the sea.

With a full-time role in the Litigation and Sports, Media and Communications department at Cohen Cramer, Ms Simmonds has volunteered to lead the RNLI branch into its second decade of fund-raising in her spare time.

She said: "Life is going to be very challenging, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

"I've been involved with the charity for two years now and am both humbled and inspired by the courage and commitment of the RNLI's volunteer crews.

"I've come to realise how important fundraising like ours is to the RNLI, which receives no Government funding and so depends on donations to enable its lifeboatmen and women to carry out their vital life-saving role.'

She recently visited Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat station and accompanied them on an exercise at sea on board their lifeboat, Betty Huntbatch.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Leeds RNLI Business Branch or other RNLI activities in the area should contact Catherine Kaye, RNLI Corporate Fundraiser, North, on 07771 504313 or at [email protected]

Hero's welcome

Law firm Eversheds has welcomed George Cross holder Lance

Corporal Matthew Croucher to its fund-raising event in aid of the charity, Help for Heroes, an organisation formed to help British servicemen and women wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr Croucher was invited by Eversheds to attend their cake sale in aid of Help for Heroes in Leeds, which raised more than 600.

He was awarded the George Cross in 2008 for lying on a grenade in order to save the lives of his comrades who were accompanying him on a reconnaissance mission in a Taliban bomb-making compound.

Since returning from Afghanistan, he has written a book about his life in the Marines and the events that led to him being awarded the George Cross.

Keith Froud, senior office partner at Eversheds, Leeds, said: "It was great to welcome Matt to our offices. To raise this amount of money through one event shows how much our people wanted to support this fantastic cause."

Responding with zip

THE University of Huddersfield prides itself on its links with the local business community.

This pride was on show last week when the Duke of York visited to open the institution's new international study centre.

Speaking before a business lunch with Prince Andrew, Professor Andrew Ball, pro-vice chancellor for research and enterprise, told guests of an emergency an hour before the Prince's arrival.

"My zipper came off in my hand," he said. The professor rushed across to the creative arts building, went into the department for fashion design and found a technician who helped repair the zip on his Marks & Spencer pinstripe trousers.

"That's how responsive we are," he said.

Stores' main investor

YORKSHIREMAN Arthur Harris is now the biggest single investor in Haldanes Stores, the UK's newest mid-sized supermarket chain.

Graeme Hay, the chief executive, has left the business after the six-month launch drive to pursue his other business interests, said a company spokesman.

Mr Harris, who is from Scarborough, has taken over Mr Hay's holding.

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