Historic appointment for world’s oldest Press Club
THE world’s oldest press club is set to appoint its first woman chairman in its 151-year history.
Birmingham Press Club, set up in 1865, has opted for former Central News anchor Llewela Bailey to succeed Ed James.
Heart FM breakfast show presenter Mr James is stepping down after four years in office because of increased pressure on his broadcasting and business commitments.
The presenter, who has been a director of Birmingham Press Club for 10 years, said: “The club is part of the fabric of the city and is held in very high regard both in Birmingham and indeed across the UK.
“The quality of its events and calibre of guest speakers is testament to the hard work and dedication of its board of directors and for that I thank each and every one of them.”
He added: “We are officially the oldest press club in the world but today we are probably more relevant and important than we’ve ever been both for the industry and indeed the wider city. Birmingham is booming and the press club is ideally placed to drive the agenda and really capitalise on the energy and investment happening in our city at the moment.”
Ms Bailey, who previously co-presented ITV Central News alongside Press Club president Bob Warman, has been a member of the Press Club for 20 years and a board member for the past 11 years.
She said: “Having been involved with the Press Club as a member of the board for a number of years I am absolutely thrilled at becoming the club’s first woman chairman.”
Now the host of BBC Radio WM’s Sunday Breakfast show and a part-time lecturer with Staffordshire University’s Journalism Department, Ms Bailey said her aims would include engaging more with media students, strengthening links with academia and promoting events that will appeal to next-generation journalists and broadcasters.
Oliver Wall, head of external affairs at HSBC UK, which announced a sponsorship deal to support the Birmingham Press Club earlier this year, said: “Many congratulations to Llewela on taking over the helm of the club in what is a ground-breaking appointment. We look forward to working with (her) and her team in the future.”
