Although
the proceedings and events of our Conference in Cardiff last October was extensively reported on in the last
issue, I feel it is also necessary for me to formally thank all those who made
this a unparalleled technical and social success. The whole event and
especially the Banquet, in the Cardiff City Hall, exceeded my expectations and
I personally thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I was most pleased to see
all parts of the Institute represented and fully involved. What must however be
recognised and not just taken for granted is the tremendous amount of time,
effort and commitment voluntarily given by great many different individuals
over a long period. For some, especially the Organising Committee under the
expert Chairmanship of Professor Frank Walsh, the hard work started in the
previous year. Discussion and planning started even earlier with the Corrosion
Science Division and particular thanks are due to their Committee under the
Chairmanship of Dr Alison Davenport.
To
thank everyone involved would make this article look like a who’s who of the
corrosion world, but I must name a few more. The Plenary Session at the start
of the Conference was given by Dr I F Adel, the Immediate Past president of
NACE who lives in Saudi Arabia. I am most grateful to Iba for taking time and
trouble to attend our Conference and deliver a most interesting paper on the
global commercial aspects of corrosion. Electronic copies of his presentation
are available through ICorr Head Office. Professor Santu Datta gave an
important keynote address on Nanotechnology and thanks to the Nautical
Institute and IIMS we had the mock courtroom arbitration to round off the
Conference. The king-pin job as Chair of the Technical Committee must have been
one of the most onerous, time consuming and thankless tasks, but this was
skilfully undertaken by Trevor Osborne, whose Committee produced one of the
best technical programmes seen anywhere.
The
excellent Banquet in the magnificent splendour of the City Hall will be one of
my enduring memories of my Presidency. This was very much the concept of Peter
Morgan who worked tirelessly to make it happen. By the end of the banquet Peter
was exhausted, but happy. Andrew Marsh and Clive Stephens gave Peter a hand
with some of the local arrangements. I was particularly pleased that my cousin,
the Reverend Canon John O’Shea was able to attend to say Grace and provide me
with much needed moral support throughout the evening. Dr Davenport was
charming company at table, but I am much indebted to Alison’s proficiency in
making sure that I had the correct award to present at the right time as each
recipient was announced. I would like to congratulate all of these and thank them,
including Alison, for their services to our Institute and industry. I know all
their awards were well deserved.
The
final group I must thank are the sponsors and exhibitors. Their financial and
public support was essential. Advantica Technologies proved to be an ideal
co-sponsor and I am grateful to all my Advantica colleagues for their support
and efforts and especially Mike Brown who was the main driving force. June
Nicholas was a tremendous help in supporting Linda Upcraft with the
administration throughout the three hectic days at the Conference. The
Institute is most grateful to all the other sponsors and exhibitors who were
much needed and greatly valued in supporting the Conference. Sigma Coatings
were the most generous sponsors of the Conference Delegate bags and I am very
thankful to their European Manager, David Mobbs for his continuing support of
the Institute and especially with London Branch.
Finally
I must thank Eddie Field who was the mastermind behind the financial controls
and administration which took a great deal of time and effort behind the
scenes. It was for such sterling work as this over many years, that the
Institute saw fit to bestow him with a well deserved Honourary Life Fellowship.
To everyone who helped and supported this Conference – Thank You.