Sir John Banham is a Cornishman, a former Director General of the CBI and has chaired some of Britain's most successful businesses, creating more value than any other FTSE leader.

(click here for more details of Sir John's background).

When given details of the objects of the Trust, Sir John offered his immediate support - and started floating ideas on ways to proceed.

Sir John's outstanding experience will add support to a board which already includes a local MP, a barrister and Fulbright scholar, a chartered surveyor, a professional engineer and successful local business people.

In addition, Sir John knows how local government works having been the first Chief Executive of the Audit Commission when it was established in 1983 to monitor efficiency and seek better value for money in local government. Under Sir John's leadership it identified improvements worth over £2 billion a year and launched a range of reforms now being implemented in local government finance including the management of secondary schools, council housing and community care.

In 1992 he became the first Chairman of the Local Government Commission for England. This resulted in the creation of 48 new unitary authorities in England, and the restoration of the historic boundaries of the Counties of the East Riding of Yorkshire, County Durham, Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Somerset and Rutland.

Board members are extremely pleased to be able to call upon the wealth of knowledge that Sir John brings. This is excellent news for the future of Hayle Harbour.

Following the formation of Friends of Hayle Harbour, a mandate was given for the creation of a charitable trust with the intention of bringing some or all of the harbour into trust ownership.

To promote the preservation, protection, development and improvement of Hayle harbour and associated and related lands and properties for the benefit of the people of Hayle, Cornwall & the nation while maintaining and enhancing the natural historical, environmental, architectural & constructional heritage, features, objects and projects of historic and public interest, including buildings of particular beauty or historical, architectural or constructional interest.