Feast to hear of ‘can do’ attitude

LORD Heseltine and Angela Knight will be among the guests at the Cutlers’ Company’s 376th annual Feast who will hear that a “can do” attitude is helping the region to prosper.

As an MP, Lord Heseltine served in government between 1989 and 1997. His appointments included  Secretary of State for the Environment, Secretary of State for Defence, President of the Board of Trade and, under John Major, Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State.

Born in Sheffield, Angela Knight served as a Conservative councillor on Sheffield City Council before entering Parliament in 1992 as MP for Erewash.

Ms Knight was appointed chief executive of APCIMS (the Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers) in 1997 and in 2007 she became the chief executive of the British Bankers’ Association – a position she resigned last month.

Other guests will include people from industry, the civil service, the military and City of London Livery Companies.

During the annual Feast, which is taking place on Thursday, senior warden Neil MacDonald, who is expected to be elected as the next Master Cutler, will address the company. 

In his keynote speech he will say that, despite the continuing difficult economic conditions, there is success and confidence in the region, helped by a “can do”, positive attitude.

He will point to local political and economic bodies working together for the good of South Yorkshire and the region and will stress the need for coherent national strategies to support manufacturing.

The Feast is recognised as an opportunity to showcase the region as a centre for high value, modern, effective and efficient manufacturing using both innovation and technology.