GLOBE-trotting businessman Peter Weidenbaum has attacked public relations for the UK as "sadly lacking." Mr Weidenbaum, President of Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce, was speaking at the 109th annual dinner in the Festival Hall at Bolton Town Hall. He told diners that having travelled in Australia and the Far East he found a great deal of goodwill and respect towards the United Kingdom and what it stood for.

"I find it therefore somewhat irritating that we as a nation always tend to sell ourselves short in terms of achievements and image," he declared.

"I feel that the responsibility lies to a large extent with some of our national press who for the sake of short term gains damage our image abroad.

"Typical recent examples you will find in the reporting concerning the Royal Family and lately the mad cow disease, not that I am suggesting a connection between the two."

Mr Weidenbaum, who is managing director of Trumeter Company Limited at Radcliffe, added: "One thing I am convinced of and that is the PR of UK plc is sadly lacking and perhaps that is one area in which the private sector has to have a more significant input."

Mr Weidenbaum said it had again been a good year for recruitment.

A second social evening for new members had been held at Bolton Wanderers Football Club - recent recruits themselves. The speaker was yachtswoman and adventurer Rosie Swale, who sailed to Australia and back in a catamaran in 1972-73 and later embarked on various other expeditions such as trekking on horse-back in Chile and driving a team of huskies north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland.

The girl who found herself categorised at school as suitable only for the sack race and the slow bicycle event spoke with infectious enthusiasm about her activities, which included running in Sunday's London Marathon.

"It's the wanting to do things that makes things happen," she said.

"Every day is an adventure and every day takes you by surprise."

There was also a culinary trueism: "If you are a single-handed sailor you can have all the garlic in the world."

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