History

As a result, it was agreed to set up a steering group for a new organisation to operate within Didcot and the surrounding district, with the aim of Promoting Didcot Positively. At the first meeting of this steering group (March 2006) it was decided to make the organisation independent of the Chamber of Commerce and a working title was agreed: Didcot First.

At the end of April 2006 Didcot First ran a 3-hour workshop for key people within the town, representing all sectors of the community. Participants worked through a series of tasks aimed at looking at the mindset of people, the positive attributes of Didcot, the wishes of the general public for their town and the additional needs of businesses within the area; ending with a "which way now" exercise. Much positive feedback was received after this event, most of it from people and organisations in agreement that more positive promotion is required.

The Didcot First Steering Group reconvened at the end of May to discuss the way forward and to agree a Mission Statement and Vision Statement, while David Pryor was elected Chair and Julian Allen was elected Treasurer.

Over the following months, Alison Adams, Di Chesterman and David Pryor worked (in a voluntary capacity) on presentations to local businesses in order to secure funding and expertise for Didcot First. By the end of the summer they had received pledges of finance from 10 companies (see Board Members) who all nominated one person to join the Didcot First Board. Four other Directors were also recruited to offer further expertise in particular sectors. At the first Board Meeting at the end of October 2006, the Steering Group was officially wound up.

On November 17th 2006, Didcot First was officially launched at an evening held at Boswells Coffee Shop in the Orchard Centre. 70 invited guests heard David Pryor give a rousing speech about the need for continuing positive promotion of Didcot and the surrounding area. A statement in support of the organisation from Ed Vaizey MP was read out, and a toast was proposed by Rudi du Plessis, Orchard Centre Manager.

In May 2007 Didcot First became a not-for-profit organisation and a Company Limited by Guarantee. In July 2007, Didcot First moved into an office in the Orchard Centre.

All of the funders who were supporting Didcot First at the end of 2007 agreed to allocate further sponsorship in 2008. Additionally, in Spring 2008 the Diamond Light Source agreed to become funders, and Gerd Materlik joined the Board of Directors.

In Autumn 2005, Ed Vaizey MP attended a 'Community Lunch' in Didcot and mentioned that he would like a platform to explain his ideas for promoting the town positively.

As President of Didcot Chamber of Commerce, Alison Adams invited him to speak at an open meeting to discuss the issue, which he agreed to do. The Chamber marketed that meeting to interested individuals and organisations within the town and many of them attended. Much of the discussion focussed on the perceived negative image of Didcot.