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Apr 2021

Last Updated: 20/04/2021

Community

Harrogate International Festivals appoints successor to Dame Fanny

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 20 Apr, 2021

Peter Blackburn has been named the arts charity's new honorary president. He will take on the role following the death of Dame Fanny Waterman in December.

Harrogate International Festivals has named Peter Blackburn, the former chairman and chief executive of Nestle UK, as its new honorary president.

Mr Blackburn joined the charity as a trustee in 2003 and went on to serve as chairman for a decade.

He will take on the title of honorary president following the death of Dame Fanny Waterman in December.

The charity is known for hosting big names and events but in the past year many of these have had to be moved online.

The charity is celebrating its 55th birthday this year and hopes soon to be holding big live events again, such as the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival.

Mr Blackburn said:

“It an absolute pleasure and honour to accept the role of Harrogate International Festivals president. My association with this wonderful arts charity goes back many years and even now the team never fails to surprise me with their inventiveness.

“The last 12 months has been particularly hard on the charity sector and those organisations in the events sector. However, the HIF team’s ingenuity, vision and creativity has meant that on more occasions than not, the ‘show has gone on’, digitally rather than in person."

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Born and raised in Yorkshire, Mr Blackburn has held a number of high ranking posts in various food companies.

After qualifying as a chartered accountant in Bradford, his career was in the food industry, starting at Mackintosh’s, which merged with Rowntrees in 1969, becoming a director in 1982.

After the acquisition of Rowntree by Nestlé in June 1988, he became chairman and chief executive of Nestlé UK and for a period president-directeur général of Nestlé France.

He retired in 2001 and has since been president of both the Food and Drink Federation and the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers.

Harrogate International Festivals chair, Fiona Movley, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that Peter has become our honorary president, joining a long and distinguished list of predecessors holding this office.

“Peter has been a fantastic supporter of Harrogate International Festivals, serving as a generous and driven trustee. Even after retiring as our chairman, Peter continued to play a pivotal role as a vice-president.”

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Harrogate International Festivals appoints successor to Dame Fanny

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