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CAMRA chairman resigns
Nik Antona has announced that he is stepping down from his role as chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) with immediate effect due to illness.
Antona, who has served in the role of chairman since early 2019, announced that he would be resigning in order to focus his attention on his health. The nature of his illness has not been specified.
“It has been a privilege to serve as CAMRA Chairman,” Antona said in a parting statement. “It has been a challenging time for the organisation, but we have emerged from Covid and the cost-of-living crisis in as good a position as possible, thanks to the tireless dedication of our active members and volunteers, and the support of the wider membership across the country.”
During the Covid-19 Pandemic (and resultant lockdowns), he pushed the government for several measures to help protect the beleaguered pub sector, including permitting them to trade as off-licences.
Antona has volunteered for CAMRA for more than two decades, working for his local branch of Burton-on-Trent, serving as a regional director and a national director prior to his election as chairman.
Among those to pay tribute to the time Antona has invested into the organisation was vice-chairman Ash Corbett-Collins, who highlighted his leadership during the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis and said: “We all wish him a speedy recovery from his illness and look forward to welcoming him back as an active member of CAMRA soon.”
“The entire CAMRA staff wishes Nik and his family well as he rightly focuses on treatment and recovery,” added CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer. “Nik has led the organisation through one of its most challenging periods and we’d like to thank him for all his hard work in an incredibly difficult and often thankless role.”
It is understood that CAMRA’s National Executive will now conduct an election process to select a new chair.
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