New FoBCM Chairman - 10/3/2010

The Dean and Chapter appointed Kate Thompson as Chairman of the Council of the Friends of Blackburn Cathedral Music on Wednesday, 10th March 2010. The Dean also expressed his thanks to outgoing Chairman, Rodney Swarbrick saying that “Rodney did an excellent job not only in raising awareness of the quality of our music throughout the County, but also in ensuring that the FoBCM constitution was put on a more formal footing and that there has been effective communication with Chapter. Under his Chairmanship, FoBCM has consistently balanced its books and the Chapter are grateful to him and the entire council for their care in ensuring that this happened”

Kate Thompson was born and brought up in Lancashire. Kate entered public life at an early age when she was the youngest person ever to be elected to the Borough Council at 24 years of age.

At this time, Kate, who left school after ‘A’ levels, worked in the retail sector.

In 1984, Kate co-founded Crown Optical, a company based in Blackburn which manufactures spectacles and contact lenses. With its own dedicated outlets and franchises in the UK, Sweden, Norway and Spain. The company currently employs 350 people, and has a turnover of £16m.

Kate, who is Operations Director, is responsible for Head Office, buying and the Swedish operation. She is one of only four directors and is a shareholder.

Kate’s mother worshipped as a child and young person at the Cathedral. After Kate’s parents were married the family, including Kate, worshipped at St James Lower Darwen. Kate became re-connected with the Cathedral five years ago, when her nephew Niki Zohdi joined the Cathedral choir.

She has been a member of the FoBCM Council of Friends since its inception.

As a company Director with a lifetime of commercial experience, the Dean and Chapter, along with the FoBCM Council, believes Kate to be the ideal person to take the Friends forward with particular reference to attracting additional, much needed funding.