ORDRE DES COTEAUX DE CHAMPAGNE -
CONSULAT DU NORD D'ANGLETERRE
OFFICERS
CHAIRMAN/CONSUL
W.Jerzy (“George”) Bergier - Consul North of GB Consulate
George (as he is universally known in the “trade”) came in 1968 from Poland to Manchester holding a Diploma in Hotel & Catering Management. His UK career began at the famous Midland, in Manchester, where he remained for some 14 years, utilising and developing his considerable knowledge of wine and food. George subsequently held senior posts at well known gastronomic and wine venues in and about Manchester including some 6 years, as Food & Beverages Manager at the by-then refurbished Midland Hotel under the Crowne Plaza banner.
From 1986 to 2011 George served as Chairman of the Manchester Guild of Sommeliers, personally winning awards, as a finalist, in the Champagne Ruinart (in collaboration with the Academy of Food & Wine) UK Sommelier of the year Competition. He now serves as a Judge of this prestigious competition. In 1999 George was awarded the Dom Pérignon Award for Excellence for services to the Hotel & Catering Industry by the Academy.
His links with, and membership of, wine and food organisations are far too numerous to list in this profile but, having been a member of the OCC for several years, George was invested as Consul for the North of GB in 2013 and, from January 2014, is now the leader of our North GB Consulate.
HONORARY TREASURER
David Chapman - Chambellan
I am a retired lawyer, who became a member of the L'Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne in 2005. I had long enjoyed the delights of this wonderful beverage and had undertaken visits to the Champagne Region including leading one for a group from the International Wine & Food Society (Manchester Branch). I have many other vinous interests which include the wines of Bordeaux (being the treasurer of the Manchester branch of la Commanderie de Bordeaux) and those of the Rhône and Loire Valleys. I have managed to pass on my love of champagne to both my adult children - my son and daughter-in-law are regular visitors to the region and purchasers there of the wines.
HONORARY SECRETARY
Darren Baddeley - Chambellan
Darren started attending our champagne dinners as a guest in 2012, the year he also achieved a pass with distinction at the Advanced WSET (Level 3) examination.
As a regular guest attendee Darren became a Chevalier of the L’Ordre des Coteaux at our 40th Anniversary dinner on 2nd December 2013. Since then Darren has attended most of our events and as attended three of the Ordres investiture events in Reims in 2014, 2016 & 2018.
In conjunction with wife Jacky, Darren has set up and maintains this web site and facebook page.
Darren's continued support of the order lead to him joining the committee and being promoted to Officier in November 2016.
Darren took of the role of Honorary Secretary in the summer of 2018 and was promoted to Chamberlain in October 2018.
COMMITTEE
Committee Member
Ross Kennedy - Chambellan
Ross was always destined to work in the drinks industry with a father who worked for Scottish and Newcastle Breweries for over 25 year and a grandfather and great grandfather who were publicans.
Ross started his career wanting to be an accountant and after roles at Liverpool Wine Merchants Scatchard’s and pub group Brunning & Price realised that he wanted to work with wine. After spending five and a half years at Treasury Wine Estates, in 2011 Ross joined Champagne Lanson where he has had a number of roles, most recently as a National Account Manager in the off-trade.
Ross enjoys all things food and drink and joined the committee in 2016 taking responsibility for sourcing Champagnes for our dinners
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Committee Member
Tom Lowe - Chambellan
Tom joined OCC in 1983 and was primarily responsible for liaising with Champagne Houses to source champagnes for our functions in the North of GB. For 23 years Tom and his wife Lesley were the licensees of the Pack Horse Inn in Failsworth. Tom gained the Higher Certificate award of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust at the University of Salford and Manchester. Now retired (apart from his efforts for the OCC) Tom enjoys fly fishing – and Champagne!
Committee Member
Joanne Kain - Officier
Joanne started her passion for Champagne at an early age, growing up in a pub in Salford and she attended the Licensed Victuallers School in Ilkley. Her parents John and Pat Kain joined the Ordre through their friend Tom Lowe in the 1980s.
After university and travelling around the world she started her career as an on-trade sales representative for Whitbread afterwards becoming the brand manager for the off-licence chains Wine Rack and Bottoms Up. After studying for her Wine and Spirit Education Trust certificate she became product manager for wine at the Co-op and launched “Les Pionniers” Champagne which we have enjoyed here at an Ordre dinner, the only own-label Champagne to do so.
Joanne has recently joined our committee and, working with Darren and Jessica, is keen to help the Northern Ordre grow its membership and prosper.
Committee Member
Jessica Nield- Officier
Jessica has long been surrounded by a love of Champagne - with grandparents Tom and Lesley Lowe it would be difficult to avoid.
In 2012, Jessica joined the Ordre Des Coteaux and enjoyed her first investiture dinner as an incoming Dame Chevalier. At the time Jessica had recently finished her studies at the University of Manchester where she achieved a law degree with honours after years of hard work. She joined the world of executive search and financial services recruitment, with Oliver James Associates but the big opportunity of her Oliver James career came in late 2015, when she was offered the chance to go to their brand-new New York City office. By January 2016, Jessica had moved across the Atlantic to begin a two-and-a-half-year adventure making memories, working hard and, of course, still drinking Champagne there.
On returning to the UK office last year, Jessica has taken a more active role in the ODC. Following in her grandad’s footsteps, Jessica has joined the committee. She is working closely with Joanne and Darren specifically to conceptualise new events to interest a new demographic of members and to ensure we are active and present on Social Media. Jessica has also recently started a new job, returning to her former university, The University of Manchester. Now she is an Executive Careers Coach to the MBA programme of students at the Lord Alliance Business School. Jessica hopes, as always, to ensure she can maximise on all opportunities given to introduce her growing network to the fantastic Ordre Des Coteaux de Champagne.
