Edwina Currie to speak at women's business lunch

FORMER Tory MP and television personality Edwina Currie has been announced as the guest speaker at this year's Women in Business lunch at Lynford Hall Country House Hotel in Mundford, near Thetford.

The event, sponsored by the Shadwell Estate, brings together some of its 450 members for a Christmas lunch and networking opportunity as well as the chance to meet and listen to some of the country's most influential women.

Since her 14-year career in government, notably in the department of health during Margaret Thatcher's reign, Ms Currie has carved out a successful media career with a radio programme, several celebrity reality show appearances and presenting jobs.

She was once described as having “a brass neck, a silver tongue and a golden pen”.

The Women in Business group was launched in 2004 and its members are all decision makers or owners of business based in and around the Norfolk area.

Apprentice finalist Ruth Badger is now Patron of the forum, whose members have attended women's meetings at the European parliament and many key functions at the Houses of Commons.

It is the first time the Shadwell Estate, which manages 6650 acres across Norfolk and Suffolk and represents a global thoroughbred breeding operation for a member of the Dubai Royal family, has sponsored the event and chairman Mirza Al Sayegh said they were delighted to be approached.

She said: “It is entirely appropriate that Shadwell should support this celebration of Women in Business. In a traditionally almost exclusively male rural workplace, Shadwell is proud to be able to report that over 40 percent of our 150 strong staff are females.

“This mirrors Dubai's pioneering drive within the conservative Middle East to facilitate the progression of women to positions of authority both in the vibrant international market place and within government.”

The lunch is on Wednesday, December 9 and tickets cost �35.

For more information contact WIB on 01842 768368.