When I decided to start the club, as many of you will know, it was vitally important to me that it should be for charity. I had hoped to raise £10,000 for Sir Roger Moore’s Charity of choice: UNICEF. Now, some three years later we have raised a staggering amount, far in excess of my initial hopes. Over £65,000 so far and thousands more for other charities.
Thank you to each and every one of you that has been with us on the journey. Thank you for sharing our endeavours on social media, attending our events, volunteering, submitting articles for the website or our very successful club magazine, for donating to the cause, buying raffle tickets, bidding on auction items and amplifying UNICEF, James Bond and the club.
Being the club President is a very rewarding, complex, time consuming and challenging position. Along the way I have made some missteps from which I have learnt a great deal, but undeniably accomplished more than many thought possible and always pushed the art of the possible to maximise the potential for a nonprofit club.
To my family and friends thank you for your patience, love and backing me all the way. I have been surrounded and supported by some very special individuals and community groups over the last three years and from the bottom of my heart I thank you all.
To the board past and present and the Bond alumni that have given so much time, my gratitude knows no bounds.
To my fellow Presidents from the clubs of the world, it has been tremendous to share all of this with you. I have a deep respect and appreciation for what you do and what we have done together. To the 007 brands we have worked with on events, thank you for trusting us to bring your vision to life.
To Barbara Broccoli & the team at EON, I thank you for allowing us to share our passion of James Bond and the kind words of support over the years to me personally.
For three consecutive years under my leadership, the club has each year been the largest James Bond Fan club in the world by paid membership, a testament to the variety of amazing activities we’ve offered. The club has inspired many organisations to adopt elements of what we have done, which is of course flattering and reaffirming. There’s no doubt we have taken charity fundraising within the Bond community to a whole new level. 007GB has indeed changed the landscape across the community for many years.
In a few weeks, a new chapter in my life begins overseas. Expanding my business in the USA and relocating there. To that end my journey as President must now conclude and with a heavy heart I formally announce my resignation. I appreciate the confidence the board showed in me continuing in the role when I relocate to the USA, however the club will be best served for the future by someone who will have the time as I did previously to take the club to the next level.
I didn’t take the decision to step down lightly, but I gave the club all I had and more. I have been its biggest donor, fundraiser and champion. I would not like to move forward in the Presidency unable to offer it the same commitment as I have these last three years.
The HMS Belfast & Operation: Concorde charity galas were huge scale events that raised so much for UNICEF whilst bringing together members from across the globe. The lifetime achievement awards we gave to John Glen, Luciana Paluzzi, Vic Armstrong & Chris Corbould will always & forever be etched in my memory as true highlights.
As founder of the club, I will give the next President my wholehearted support, friendship and guidance – if asked for of course. Some of the existing board will be reshuffled into new positions and some will depart as their journey has also concluded, each for their own personal reasons. I hope that 007GB will be fundraising and having fun for many years to come.
There are too many people to thank by name, but to the board specifically and my steadfast Vice President Miles, I dearly thank you and wish you the very best. I have made some lifelong friends on this journey and that is indeed the cherry on the top.
So for the last time, I’ll sign off – This is Philip Dewhurst, President of 007GB, The British James Bond Fan Club.
I hope you will look back at my tenure and say that I was always:
KEEPING THE BRITISH END UP.
Take care of yourselves and each other.
From Phil, with love
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MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THE INCOMING PRESIDENT AND NEW BOARD TEAM IN THE COMING WEEKS – STAY TUNED AGENTS AS THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 007GB WILL SOON BEGIN
Last modified: 5 May 2026
