An appropriate heading I thought on which to end my year as IOSH president especially as we approach Remembrance Sunday and the 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War, and the actual hand over date to Nattasha is 11/11. In case you are wondering, the above words are from a well known (at least in 1914-18) music hall song.
As I write this there are but six short days to go before the AGM and I hand over the reins to Nattasha as she embarks on her presidential term of office. Not quite in the same league of course as the other presidential race across the pond, but nonetheless, for both her and I, it is a milestone moment.
I’ve left this particular posting until today (well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it) as my very last “public engagement” as your president, and other than twiddling my thumbs until next Tuesday I have little left to do except reflect on the last year.
I have of course been doing things since the last posting and this should update you on my activities.
8 October - The prestigious surroundings of the London Hilton in Park Lane beckon for the equally prestigious IOSH/SHP black tie awards dinner. The latest edition of SHP covers all the details of the well deserving recipients of those awards in various capacities/fields of endeavour, so it’s not my intention go over them again in this posting. I would merely say that the event was a night to remember for the award winners, guests and for me too. It was particularly pleasing to hear Lord McKenzie once again talk in glowing terms about the safety profession and IOSH.
9 October - Straight off from London on the train with Rob Strange IOSH CEO and other members of the SMT to Leicester. After some meetings and catching up on e-mails. It’s off to Rugby for the inaugural Allan St. John Holt Memorial Lecture organised through Royal Mail and RoSPA.
The lecture itself was, as Allan would have loved, both thought provoking and contentious in its scope. Allan was never one to steer clear of controversy when it came to the profession or IOSH – so it met its aim fully and gave attendees much food for thought. I look forward to next year’s lecture.
10 October - Get back from Rugby and find myself being interviewed for Anglia TV who would like to do a piece on the World Conker Championships. So off we go to a local country park (with no conker trees). In the meantime I learn that John Holden (who will be the next president elect subject to ratification at the AGM) has been doing something similar with Granada TV in Manchester.
11/12 October - Off up to Northamptonshire and Ashton for the conker championships itself. Massive interest in the IOSH stall (who would have thought that bonkers golf t-shirts would be so popular?!) and from the press with Anglia TV news doing another interview to cut together with what they did on the 10th.
A film crew from October films were there too - filming a segment for a Channel 4 Cutting Edge programme they are working on relating to OH&S. They’ve been following and filming some EHO’s (IOSH members) and some HSE people as they carry out visits.
To my undying shame I was knocked out this year in the first round by a Frenchman. Angie from the IOSH webteam was the only IOSH player not knocked out in the first round. We all had a great deal of fun and were able to spread the sensible safety message.
13 October - Get to see the segment filmed for Anglia TV on the evening news and I think IOSH and the profession comes out of it well. I also got a letter from my local MP wishing me well in the competition, I understand he has picked this up from local newspaper coverage (and the fact I mentioned it to him – more than once when we last met).
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