A new high-profile appointment - among others - has been revealed to the board of the company driving many of the cultural events putting Gloucester on the map as a visitor attraction.

An update to paperwork for the limited company, which has brought us the likes of the Tall Ships Festival, has revealed a flurry of comings and goings.

Most notable, as it is the most recent, is the addition of Owen Acland, the boss of Gloucester's waterside retail outlet The Quays.

And worthy of mention too - albeit an appointment made back in April 2018 - is the news that former editor of The Citizen newspaper and Gloucestershirelive.co.uk website, Jenny Hawthorne is also a director.

Mrs Hawthorne (nee Eastwood), edited Gloucester's newspaper and website until early 2018.

Mr Acland, who also ran the Beechwood Shopping Centre in Cheltenham, joined as a director of Marketing Gloucester in June this year. 

Perhaps the most high-profile name to exit the business, which is wholly owned by the city council, which has been seed-funding it from its birth in May 2008, is Paul James - currently also leader of the city council.

Jennie Watkins, chairwoman of Marketing Gloucester since May, which has also brought us events including Gloucester History Festival, the Summer of Music, Art & Culture, the carnival, Gloucester Rhythm & Blues Festival and Gloucester Goes Retro, paid tribute to all of its board members - and hinted at a company gearing up for a new era.

"All board members of MGL are non-executive unpaid volunteers who give their time and skills because they are passionate about the city.

"We have a strong board of varied professional individuals who are working hard behind the scenes to support the staff and the company to deliver on its ambitions for Gloucester to be a great place to live, work, study and visit.

"The board are actively reviewing the future role and remit of the company and has appointed independent consultants to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and find out what their aspirations are for the city and the role that they would like Marketing Gloucester to play in its future success. It's an exciting time to be a leading the team."

Traditionally the board has been made up of business people and other committed to the city and outgoing names - some of them long gone, but only just revealed - include the businessman David Pealing, of Severnprint, former Gloucestershire College and now University of Gloucestershire business development manager, Peter White, and Alison tenant, former marketing manager fort Gloucester Quays.

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