A THRIVING business networking association in the south has celebrated its 35th anniversary.

Executive Association Solent, founded in November 1989 by honorary secretary and treasurer Stuart Percival, marked the milestone with a special gathering attended by sixteen past chairmen and chairwomen.

The membership group welcomes representatives of upwards of 30 firms each month, comprising directors, senior executives, business partners and guests and employing hundreds of people between them.

Members take turns during lunch at the Chewton Glen Hotel in the New Forest to share updates, insights and best practice.

There are also guest speakers each month, including business leaders, opinion formers, sector specialists and public figures.

At the anniversary luncheon, past chairmen and chairwomen recounted highlights of their tenure and spoke of the importance of the association’s mentoring role.

Stuart, who is to retire from his 35-year role as the association’s honorary secretary and treasurer once a suitable replacement can be found, and who has only missed six meetings in all that time, spoke afterwards of the enduring appeal of the business networking group.

“An informal sounding board for director-level peers, Executive Association Solent has experienced great times and difficult times over 35 years to date.

“Highlights have included our annual sporting days which included yacht racing in the Solent every August from 1994 to 2008, the golf tournament at the Chewton Glen since 1982 and, in recent years, croquet.

“We have had inspirational business speakers over the years to date, with every luncheon also providing an opportunity for members to share the experiences of running a business, both good and bad.

“This support particularly came to the fore during the pandemic lockdowns, when we switched meetings to online, with interaction on WhatsApp.

“That a business networking club has ridden through the hard recession of 1990, the even tougher global financial crash recession of 2009-10, the subsequent austerity years and the pandemic, which saw the severest hit to the economy since the Second World War, is testament to the resilience of Executive Association Solent members.

“With the 35th anniversary nod to the past, we look forward, as always, to the future.”

Tribute was paid to Tricia Percival, the association’s co-ordinator, who is formally standing down after 25 years in the role and was visibly moved to tears by prolonged applause.

Her predecessor, Veronica Atkins, covering 1990 to 1999, also attended.

Nick Phillips, who owns and runs architects Barclay+Phillips Architects, based near Salisbury, is the 2024-25 chairman.

Katie Young, a director with Bournemouth-based Verulam Advisory, licenced Insolvency practitioners, is vice chair.

The Executive Association Solent traces its roots back to the Executives’ Association, founded in San Francisco, USA, in 1908 and still flourishing in American cities.

There are only two linked associations now remaining the UK – the Executive Association Solent and London-based Executives’ Association of Great Britain.