Colchester Business Lunch Club recognised as Compassionate Community Champion

The Colchester Business Lunch Club, presided over by Thompson Smith and Puxon Director Robert Ashworth, was recognised as a Compassionate Community Champion at a presentation ceremony that took place at Colchester Town Hall yesterday afternoon.

The Compassionate Community Champions awards honour individuals, groups, and organisations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing difficult challenges. Following a nomination process, the CBLC was one of 10 new individuals and projects selected by a review panel to receive this award. The event honoured the extraordinary individuals and organisations whose acts of kindness and compassion make Colchester a better place to live and celebrated their efforts to create lasting change in the local community.

The CBLC, led by Robert with support from committee members Simon Pinion (Scrutton Bland) and Johanna Little (Handelsbanken) has been presented with an award in recognition of the kindness and compassion the organisation has shown in helping improve the lives of people facing serious or life-limiting illness, ageing, caregiving and loss through its charitable donations to Colchester-based charities including Beacon House and St Helena Hospice. You can read more about these donations here.

The Colchester Business Lunch Club (CBLC) is an informal business lunch club that is designed to connect local professionals from in and around the Colchester area. It was formed some 25 years ago by Jack Merrill, a manager of Lloyds Bank in Colchester and the late Jim Porter of Thompson Smith and Puxon. Director and Head of the Wills & Estates Team, Robert Ashworth has been President of the Colchester Business Lunch Club for the last six years. Since then, the club runs about 8 lunchtime events a year, with each attended by between 20-30 people. Details can be found on the CBLC LinkedIn group here.

As the club takes a donation from each lunch and combines this with the proceeds taken from other fundraising initiatives, the committee has been able to make a number of donations to local charities over many years, most recently to Beacon House but also to St Helena Hospice (topping up the donation of £500 Thompson Smith and Puxon made to St Helena at Christmas in lieu of corporate gifting – more details here and here).

The compassionate nature of the CBLC is mirrored in the approach of TSP’s Wills & Estates Team, which Robert leads. Priding itself on having an innate understanding of client needs, the team doesn’t just provide a service; they are a trusted and integral part of client’s lives, often being there through life’s most difficult stages. As such, TSP’s Wills & Estates team treat every client with compassion, forging client relationships that last generations in the process.

Of the award, Robert Ashworth said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the Colchester Business Lunch Club. Thompson Smith and Puxon’s colleagues have done a great job of supporting and administering the CBLC and it’s great to see its achievements recognised. This award underscores Thompson Smith and Puxon’s proud tradition of building connections in the local community for the last 150 years. I am honoured to be President of this long-established club and it is a privilege to be able to lead it and use it to make a difference in the community.”

Committee member and nominator, Jo Little, Private Banking Manager at Handelsbanken, concluded: “The CBLC has been running for over 40 years and for the last 10 has been managed by Robert Ashworth and the team at Thompson Smith and Puxon. It’s a real community at the CBLC, offering an opportunity to meet other local professionals, share ideas and spread knowledge all whilst providing invaluable support to each other. The club have been able to raise vital funds for local charities such as St Helena Hospice, Candles, The Food Bank, Beacon House and many more.

Put simply, this club would not survive if it was not for Rob and the team at TSP. Whilst we do have a committee of three, really and truly the team at TSP are the back bone of this club and the contribution they are making to the local community goes largely unnoticed.

I have been part of the committee for the last 7 years and have been attending for the last 10 years. The club has given me confidence to network, the opportunity to meet new people and learn new things as well as having provided me with a supportive network of local professionals who I can call upon for my own or my clients’ needs. Attending these sessions is also important for my own mental health and wellbeing, taking time out of the office to meet with like-minded people gives me a valuable sounding board outside of the business I work in.”

CBLC committee member Johanna Little was in attendance, with Thompson Smith and Puxon Director Caroline Nicholls attending on behalf of President Robert Ashworth, who was unable to make the ceremony.

The ceremony took place on Thursday 10 April and was hosted by the Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Lesley Scott-Boutell.