RICK Wildridge has been elected chairman of Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce.He takes over from Lionel Thurlow, a partner in architectural firm Milburn Leverington Thurlow, who stepped down at the Chamber's annual general meeting on May 13 and becomes Chamber president.

RICK Wildridge has been elected chairman of Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce.

He takes over from Lionel Thurlow, a partner in architectural firm Milburn Leverington Thurlow, who stepped down at the Chamber's annual general meeting on May 13 and becomes Chamber president.

Mr Wildridge, managing director of Haldo Developments Ltd, a Bury-based firm making traffic management products such as bollards, said: “I am proud to be part of such an enthusiastic and committed team and, as chairman, I fully intend to follow the example set by my predecessors.

Chrissy Harrod, manager of Cornhill Walk Shopping Centre, retired after three years as president. She was recently elected chairman of the Town Centre Management Group.

Andrew Denny, managing director of Fix-a-Form, part of the Denny Bros group of companies, becomes vice-chairman.

Peter Gudde, of the Green Business Forum, and Nick Mager, of Barker Storey Matthews, have also joined the committee.