ABERGAVENNY and District Tourist Association’s 34th annual general meeting celebrated the town’s continuing success as a tourist destination.

The meeting, hosted by the Association’s Tracey Evans, was held at at the Angel Hotel.

Abergavenny mayor, Councillor David Simcock thanked the Tourist Association for their work and urged support for the current access initiative at the railway station.

Councillor Simcock concluded that the Town Council would continue to support tourism as much as possible.

Kevin Ford of Monmouthshire County Council Tourist Department explained the Council had commissioned art work to promote the town. He showed the members tea towels and framed pictures featuring Abergavenny which would be sold on-line as well as in the Tourist Information office.

Wayne Lewis, of Brecon Beacons National Parks Authority, informed members that it was the 4th year the tourism association operated successfully from the Tithe Barn, enjoying record numbers of visitors in the last 12 months.

Despite cuts it was intended that the tourist information centre would continue in its present situation. Although many visitors planned their trips on line, the brochures produced were very popular when visitors arrived at the town.

Tracey Evans was elected as the new chairperson; other officers agreed to continue for another year in their current positions, but Tracey appealed for new committee members before thanking members and the Councils for their ongoing support.

This year’s speaker was Kate Bevan of Lambing Live fame. Tre-rhew, her family farm featured in the programme and she gave an entertaining account of how she became involved. She explained how the BBC wanted a three-generation family farm, eventually choosing hers from a eighty other families.

Kate looked on the programme as a chance to promote British farming. She now combines occasional TV appearances with lecturing, farming and running a variety of country courses at the farm.