There is a new president to one of the county's key chambers of commerce.

Lynne Gadsden, a director of Grovewood Wealth Management, based in Speldhurst, near Tunbridge Wells, has been appointed as president of the West Kent Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She succeeds Gillian Forsyth, who recently stepped down after retiring from her position as general manager of Halliwell Care Home in Tunbridge Wells.

Mrs Gadsden has been a chamber member for 15 years, when she and her husband Michael moved their business to the area.

She said: "I was very surprised and honoured to have been asked to become president.

“Within my own profession I have succeeded and now hold the highest qualifications in my industry and have 26 years’ experience in my career, but to be asked to take on this role from an organisation outside of our industry was an even bigger accolade.”

With a history which dates back to 1858, West Kent Chamber of Commerce is the leading support organisation for business in the area and boasts Hildenborough's Dame Kelly Holmes as its patron.

Mrs Gadsden is a chartered financial planner and fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

Grovewood Wealth Management Ltd is a senior appointed representative of St James’s Place Wealth Management and the newly appointed president gives financial advice to individuals and businesses. Her focus is generally people age 55-plus, who are coming up to retirement.

Adds Jackie Matthias, chief executive of West Kent Chamber: “We are delighted that Lynne has agreed to be our next president and grateful that she has given up her time to do that. She is very well known in the business community locally and we know she’ll work hard to promote the work which we do as an organisation across the west Kent area.”

The West Kent Chamber support organisations in the area bounded by Sevenoaks, Edenbridge, Westerham, Tonbridge, Hadlow, Paddock Wood, Cranbrook, Staplehurst, Hawkhurst, Tunbridge Wells.

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