October Update

Well here we are and October has gone!! so time to update you all as to what’s been going on since my last blog.

Earlier in the month the Executive Board held it’s annual strategy day in London , the aim of which was to review the progress of growth for the Institution over the past year to learn from any issues raised by the members and to produce a strategy going forward for the next 5 years. More will follow on this as the year progresses and decisions are taken, I will keep you all informed.

Following on from that the CEO and I attended the IET Presidents Address held at the Royal Institution the home of The Charles Marques Lecture with over 200 of their members. Barry Brooks, the new President of the IET, used his Inaugural lecture to remind their members of some of the many engineers who have been the leaders and innovators and  who have made a difference to the world, and how their example needs to be followed by today’s engineers and technicians. Along with a familiar call for volunteers to support the IET and announcements of further events we also had the winners of the recent Lego League in attendance

For the first time in the competition’s history, a UK team was crowned Champions at the FIRST World Festival in the USA.

Over 20,000 teams take part in FIRST LEGO League globally. The teams have a multitude of tasks to complete each season, and are mentored by volunteers.

The team, Untitled 1, and their robot called The Beast, won the Champion’s Award  in St.Louis, MO, USA, beating 79 other teams taking part in the festival. Over 21,000 teams from around the world had taken part in the past year’s competition.

 

Team members Freya Alder, Tom Mason, Dani Workman, Rafi Borries Gruber, Joe Mason, Max Workman and Claudia Moorhouse are all students at two Bath schools – Ralph Allen and Kind Edward’s.

The team came up with a revolutionary doorbell fingerprint scanner, a project which took more than 300 hours to complete that impressed the judges at the event. The team also had to build and program their own LEGO MINDSTORMS robot, a task which they spent more than 500 hours on.

A huge congratulations to all of them from the ILP.

Many contacts were made at the event and I hope to see some collaborative working with other Institutions happening over the next few months.

On 23^rd October the Executive Board met with the Vice Presidents as a follow up from the strategy day. Further ideas were put forward with regard to improving communications and structure. A great meeting and very productive; the ideas now need to be moved forward and implemented.

Finally I attended the L&SE evening event on the 24^th Oct. Fantastic trip and a pleasure to catch up with people The landmarks of London looked amazing lit up in all their splendour. Well done Eddie and the committee for sorting out a great event. I was unable to attend the technical session due to the day job but kept up to date on twitter, the feedback was again very positive and so encouraging that so many people attended the session for the day and found the papers interesting.

My thanks must go to my employer Skanska (IS) for supporting me with the time required to fulfil the duties as your President without this full support it would be extremely difficult.

Finally I am now on twitter you can follow me  @mjrugby1968
Until next time
Mark

Marks 1st blog

The ILP Summit at Glasgow

 

Welcome to my first blog as ILP President

It seems like only yesterday we were in Glasgow for the summit yet almost two weeks have passed so I must apologize for the delay in posting my thoughts.

Despite the time elapsed I am still on a high from the event and extremely thankful for the encouragement and support from so many of my peers and friends. I just want to take the opportunity via this blog to say THANK YOU to you all.

I will not apologize for saying this yet again but a huge thank you must go to Jess, Jo & Chantal(who were at the event) to all the HQ team involved with the event, to Alan Jaques (VP Events) and finally to Richard Frost for making sure I was ok! all have worked so hard to make the summit the success it was.

To the Thistle Hotel staff - fantastic venue, fantastic service and great food.

To the Exhibiters - I am glad I had time to visit you all and to say thank you. Your support is so appreciated and a huge thank you to those who have already signed up for next years summit in Solihull.

To the speakers and Session Chairs – Thank you all, some fantastic and informative papers and for those of you that didn’t see Doctor Peter Hughes from Primary Engineers you missed something very unique!!!.

The celebration dinner – Great food, great company Thank you to Peter Hughes and Bailie Allan Stewart who kept me entertained with their stories and to the amazing mind of Drew McAdam I still don’t know how he got Steve Anderson Number!.

Finally to the award winners well done all.  

I hope all who attended the summit enjoyed it as much as I did.

On Tuesday(10^th Sept) of this week following an Executive Board Meeting the Board attended the launch of Light School. This event will be part of the Surface Design Show at BDC in February next year. The event is being run by Light Collective Light School consists of three parts: The School Room, Product School and the School Newspaper.

The aim of Light School is to provide you with some education about lighting design and lighting products. Light and Surface are inseparable partners and they want you to leave the show having learnt something that will change the way you see light.
They have asked leading members of the lighting design community to take a lesson in the school room. They want to explain how light works, why we love it and why you should too. Come and be inspired…
More details will follow
Finally I am now on twitter you can follow me  @mjrugby1968
Until next time
Mark

Pete's Last Blog

To those of you that followed my sporadic blogging, my thanks.
I hope you have enjoyed the photo's and my diverse ramblings.
You have followed me through the seasons of the years as I have sought to make this blog personal.

So today is no exception. I went to a business meeting this morning and I was so saddened to hear that a person I had worked with (civil engineering - not lighting) and who had become a friend, took his life this weekend. We all sat at the meeting stunned and in the end, decided that it would be better to re-schedule the meeting.
 I have just finished reading the book Ecclesiastes - written by King Solomon and the verses
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven
a time to be born and a time to die - Chapter 3:1-2
came to my mind.

Life for me only makes sense, when I acknowledge and have a personal relationship with my Creator. Nuff said

I am looking forward to handing over the badge of office to Mark Johnson, who I know will do an excellent job.

Looking back over the year I have really enjoyed getting out to the Regions and meeting the members and those who give of their time to run the committees. It has been great to wish outgoing Chairman, The ILP's thanks for a job well done and to welcome in the new Chairman and wish them the very best in their year.

One thing that so many Chairman have said in their summing up of their year, is how quickly it passed. All I can say is it is exactly the same for this President. The year has passed so quickly.

I love the diversity of the regions, all committed to lighting and yet all with slightly different perspectives. All doing a similar thing, in a slightly different way. Long may it continue.

It would be wrong to single out a specific favourite, to me you have all enriched my life in so many different ways - So to all of you, each region, each member - My grateful thanks.

To all who work so hard for the ILP at Rugby, my thanks. To the Executive Board members that give so much of their time, thank you.

Lastly to Richard Frost the ILP CEO, thank you for putting up with me on all those train journeys and flights. Thank you for all the wisdom and patience you have given to get this current President through his year. From memory, Richard has steered and patiently guided 17 Presidents through their years.

So, when Mark starts his Presidency, please read his blog and give him the support he will need.

Shalom

Pete

ps- the last photo is a sunset, it has been my screen saver for a year

"Time Waits for no man" - especially Presidents

First of all an apology for not writing a blog for quite a while! Time passes by so quickly, and in the business of our lives we prioritise. I confess the blog went on the back burner. However, yesterday it was pointed out to me that it has been a while, so here is the August blog. I recently took a short break from work and went over to see Trix's family in Italy. I had a couple of opportunities to take photographs, two of which are shown. The main thing was seeing family. Trix is a great Aunt to triplets and to see them was a joy. The more I reflect on life, the more I realise that realtionships, whether work, social or family are the most important things. People and the relationships between them is the most important thing (for me) of the institution. All that we do, I hope, is for the members, who are not just names on a spreadsheet, but people, with lives and aspirations. So, spending time with family, having some great meals, sitting out late and enjoying a bbq and the conversation was for me, the best part of the holiday. I also got to enjoy a 100 year old brandy. A bit special and very very smooth!! i know August is the quiet month - holidays etc, but come September the ILP will be getting very busy. The Summit in Glasgow and a new President. I am looking forward to seeing mark Johnson taking on the role of President and doing this blog. So I hope to see you at Glasgow. The pictures. The lantern and bracket are attached to the ruin of a castle, which sits high on a hill. I particularly liked the moon and sky that evening. The second picture is of the sun setting. The rich colours and the grasses. So the contrast is between manmade and natural - enjoy

Summer is here!

We really are enjoying some warm sunny days, plum trees are covered in plums, so looking forward to September for more than one reason.1- Plums,  2- Handover Presidency to Mark Johnson!!


Decided that our cottage will now be known as Plum Tree Cottage. How original is that. I suspect if I had named it in Welsh, I could have got away with a snappy little title - y bwthyn ar y bryn gyda choed eirin a barcutiaid coch yn hedfan uwchben. Which translates as -the cottage on the hill with plum trees and red kites flying overhead.

Longest day has gone and each evening the sun sets a little earlier. I have two pics , the first was the sunset on longest day - that is the sun set behind a cloud, but the pic came out ok and the next pic was  the actual sun setting a couple of days later.
I have one last sunset to show, which is my screen saver and will be my last blog. (7th September 2013)

So, the last week had the Charles Marques memorial Lecture, which was given by Prefessor Semir Zeki. How does the brain perceive colour. A fascinating look, with sorting scientific testing, at how our brain works with colour. We see absolute colours, intensity and time of day does not come into it. Green is green, etc.  There was a good half and hour of questions, followed by more discussion over drinks. A great evening.

The next day was the Surveyor Conference, which I chaired in the morning and gave a paper in the afternoon. I think that is my last official engagment. A good conference, with the challeges of cost saving and how technology can help, + a look at some of the ILP Prefessional Guides.

This week is my last Executive Board Meeting. Lots to engage us, and we will have Mark Cooper (Senior Vice President - Designate) sitting in on the meeting. Just to remind you, Mark's job as VP membership is available, so if you think you could make a difference, do apply. Talk to Richard Frost (richard@the ilp.org.uk)

I wish all who read this well until my next blog - whenever!!

Pete

7th AGM - Irish Region

In the middle of last week, I attended the SLL AGM and awards. My congratulations to Iain McCrae for a good year as the SLL President. We met at several events and even had a glass of whisky together at the Scottish Spring meeting. I wish Kevin kelly all the best,  as the new SLL President.

Not long before I hand over to Mark Johnson at Glasgow. I also wish Mark Cooper well as he is the SVP designate. Mark's role as VP Membership is available. Put your name forward if you think this is a role you could do.

I have just got back from a fantastic few days in Ireland. The Irish Region AGM, dinner and technical seminar was held at the Marine Hotel, Howth. A great venue and my congratulations to Michael Doherty for a sucessful year as Chairman. I wish the new Chairman, Colm Carton all the best in his year. It was a well organised AGM and John Walsh gave an excellent presentation on CMS. My thanks to Paddy Craven for all his hard work as the Region's Secretary. Not only a past Chairman and past ILP President, but still working hard for the ILP in the Irish Region.

Not only did the AGM and dinner go well, but I was able to get 18 holes in at Howth Golf Club. Picture below gives you an idea of the spectacular views overlooking Howth and beyond to Dublin.

 

 



I have been enjoying the weekend and today June 1st is the first day of summer, so I hope we all have agreat summer!!

 

Don't forget Lightscene at Uttoxeter on the 4th June.

 

I won't be blogging next weekend as I am away walking in the Peak District.

Have a great week. Pete

Catch up

First of an apology. I have not managed to blog in May, until now.
I have been very busy with ILP duties that occupied some weekends, and left me with no time to sit down and write a blog.

So back tracking to 30th April
The afternoon was the Executive Board (EB) Meeting. First thing to report was the appointment of Jo Wilkins. I wish Jo all the best in her new job at the ILP.
Jo@theilp.org.uk

The  EB is grappling with Marketing and will be looking to take on a part time marketing specialist. We can then assess how effective this role is in promoting the ILP and what we do.

I then had four hours to kick my heels waiting for the sleeper from Euston to Edinburgh for the Scottish Spring Technical Meeting - Dinner and AGM ( and a bit of golf!)  Sleeper is a bit of a mis-nomer for this train. I may have dozed but was not over refreshed when the train pulled into Edinburgh at 7.30am. No worries. A three station hop down a local line and met David Duncan (the Scottish Region Councillor)   Had a great game of golf at the local course and congratulations to Past President - David McNair, who was the winner. I did not disgrace myself with 31 points. Good but no cigar.
A great evening dinner and a Glaswegion Footballer regaled us with stories. I had a glass of Talisker Whisky with Ian McCraie, who is President of the SLL and also one of the speakers at the Technical Session the next day.

I would like to congratulate Bobby Borland on an excellent year as Scottish Region Chairman, and also wish Darryl Bullock a great year as the new Chairman.



Thursday 9th May was the Past Presidents Meeting. Great to see Alsitair Scott ,Chris Hardy , Paddy Craven and Shaun Capper, our distinguished Past Presidents. Sorry Mark Burrows  and Allan Howard had to give apologies . Watch out for the porposed nomination for the next Senior Vice President and a need for a replacement Vice President in the next E News letter.

The next event was the Midland Region Dinner Dance, held at the Forest of Arden Hotel and Golf Club on saturday 11th May.

Another opportunity for an enjoyable game of golf. Manged joint 1st with Dave Beniston, but lost on count back

I would like to congratulate John Hall and the committee on an exceptional event. After the dinner thjere was an Elton John Tribute band. Great songs and several pictures of people wearing silver or gold star shaped glasses!  Everybody had a superb evening.

Friday 17th May was the North Eastern Dinner Dance, held at Durham and Emily Bolt's first official event as the new Chairman. Well done Emily and the committee. A super evening. Trix and I left early on Saturday to go to Suffolk for some time with Grandson. Fish and chips at Southwold on the Suffolk coast line. A lovely weekend with family.

I went to Rugby on 21st of May. No not to the ILP offices, but to he National Association of Memorail Masons (NAMM) for a city and guild exam on assessing graves in church yards. I work for a local authority and we have a number of closed church yards that have to be inspected. I am now qualified and classed as competent. As you can see, competency affects several areas of my work. Not just lighting!

Yesterday was the Lighting Industry Association Luncheon. I sat next to Bill Wright, the New Light Monger Master and Lou Bedocs. We got talking about LED's and how they may affect the human physiology. More research needed.

So that brings me up to date.
Bank Holdiay weekend, so I thought I would get this blog done now and leave the weekened for family.

I hope you all have  a great Weekend. I would like to wish Alistair (Scott) and Mandy (soon to be Scott) all the best for their forth coming wedding. I hope all will go well for them.

Next week is the seventh and last Regional AGM. I will be in Ireland for three days. I am really looking forward to going over. Paddy Craven, I hope to have a whisky or guiness with you.

All the best and have a great week

Pete

In difficult times there is light at the end!