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!

It's about people

Sitting at my kitchen table, I am looking out over a sea of beautiful white plum blossom. Lots to still do in the garden, but it is taking shape. Missed my blog last week as I took a short break in Portugal. Refreshed, I have returned and had two engagements to carry out.

Firstly I went over to the Exterior Lighting Diploma (ELD) Course to present an Honorary Member Certficate to Malcolm Mackness, lecturer on the ELD course. This was Malcom's last lecture, and it was a privelge to honour him. Malcolm taught me, when I did the course many years ago. Malcom has lectured for over thirty years. I know that the ILP, many others and myself are grateful for all that Malcolm has given to the Institution.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Anthony Smith, who has taken on Malcolm's lecturing duties.

Great to see the ELD continuing to be such a success. I would also like to thank Jean Norton who has taken on the running of the course. I need to keep her sweet, as she books my flights and hotels!

Second engagment was  the North Eastern Region AGM, which was held at the Black Sheep Brewery at Masham. The do brew a good pint!! I was delighted to be there and see Emily Bolt become the first Lady Chairman. Well done Emily, wishing you and the Region a great year. I will be going back to their Dinner Dance, and I am hoping to get to one of their technical seminars, when Anthony Smith speaks about Durham Cathedral lighting. Should be good!!

Next week is Executive Board and then up to Scotland for the Scottish Region AGM.

I hope you the reader have a good week.
Pete

It's warming up!

I guess living on an island next to the atlantic ocean does make us susceptable to very variable weather, couple this with spring finally coming in, and I sitting in my kitchen looking out on bright sunshine (great), 18 degrees (great) and strong winds (not so great). however two out of three is not so bad!.

It really is good to start to see that subtle hint of green coming out on the hedges, as the buds finally start to burst out. I love this time of year, as the rich vibrant colours emerge. The greens are all fresh, and it won't be long before they start to deepen and become set for summer, before again changing to the range of browns and winter. Now lets not rush, we have only just got spring on the go. Across the road, the farmer has been preparing the field for planting, so if it is the same crop as last year, the green wheat shoots will soon start appear.

Also been enjoying watching the Masters, and seeing not only great golf, but beautiful blossoms on a stunning golf course.

Last week I went to a llghting liaison group meeting and the second of seven regional agms. This time it was the Western region, with Roger Joy taking over as chairman. The Western Region have been through some challenging times, which they have faced up to and dealt with. I wish Roger and the Western Region well for the coming year.

Next week is the Midland Region AGM at the NEC and the Northern Region at Warrington. Two motorbike journeys for me. I will then be out of the country for a short break, so won't promise a blog next week.

The  photo is of Scar Fell on a similar day to the Western Region AGM, rain and mist, but some blue sky.

No Title!

Finally the weather is warming up!  I have been busy with home projects, fitting a kitchen and enjoying Easter.

Enjoyed going to the Lighting Design Awards and presenting the ILP sponsored award for external luminaire to ACDC for the Fusion.  A great night celebrating good lighting design. Since Easter, I have been to  L&SE Committee meeting and the first technical meeting, under new Chairman Eddie Henry. It was great to get along to my own regions Technical Meeting.

As I have said before,  the next few weeks will be very busy, with six more Regional AGM's to meet many members around the regions.

This week I will be attending a Lighting Liaison Group meeting and then on thursday going to the Western Region AGM. A short blog and to finish a picture of a Vulcan Bomber photgraphed on a warm sunny day.

 

Have a good week . Pete

L&SE AGM and other things

Yes, I know snow. I would prefer no snow. Enough said!!

Attended Council on Tuesday of last week, ably chaired by Mark Johnson, soon to be President (September is not that long away, and this year is going very quickly) Some good discussion and feedback between Regional Councillors and Vice Presidents.

Been a great week with a Professional Industry Partnership (PIPs) Forum on Obtrusive Light.  Watch out out for an article by Carl Gardner in the LJ.

Absolutely delighted to attend my first of seven Regional AGM's at the London & South East Region, and well done to Laurie Socker for a good year as Chairman and congratulations to Eddie Henry - his first words on receiving his Chairman's chain of office -
"Now that's some real bling."
A big hearted man, that has a passion for this Institution. I wish him well , in what I know will be a great year for the L&SE Region.
I hope those of you from the L&SE region will give Eddie all your suppport.

This week (today being Sunday ) is a little quieter, with an Easter break at the end. Went to church today and our Pastor reminded us what Easter is really all about - Jesus  - his death and resurrection. Whatever or however you celebrate the Easter break - have a good one. I have paint purchased and jobs lined up. It amazes me how enthuiastic Trix is, when I said, I could do a few jobs around the house. I blinked and we were at B&Q. Ouch
The picture was taken on a warm sunny day in July in the Scilly Isles. Warmed me up !

Have a good week. Pete

A busy President

I am sitting in the kitchen watching a lesser spotted woodpecker getting peanuts from a bird feeder. It is stunning and I feel very privelged. Heading towards spring, although, snow and a cold week may make you think otherwise!

A very useful Executive Board Meeting, with several clear strategies being developed, some of which I will be speaking about next week at the first AGM of the year - the London & South eastern Region. Looking forward to meeting everbody and see Eddie Henry become the new Chairman. I am delighted the dinner after the AGM is sold out and the event promises to be a sucess - well if you survive my AGM speech!!

Went to the Lightmongers Annual Members Dinner and was able to present to their Master - John Harding an Honorary Membership Certificate. A worthy recipient.

Next week is also Council - chaired by Senior Vice President -Mark Johnson. This is one of the key meetings of the year, as all the Vice Presidents and Councillors from each region, get together to discuss ILP strategy and how the various strands will be developed and taken forward by the appropriate VP. I hope you have been feeding into your region with issues that your Councillor can take to this meeting.

I have also got a lot of reading to do. I now have my copy of Professional Lighting Guide 04-Guidance on Undertaking Environmental Lighting Impact Assessments.  Working as a Local Authority Lighting Professional, I get involved in planning and lighting and this guidnace will be very useful.

I have also got my copy of BS 5489 - Part 1 :2013, which again has taken lighting forward and taken into account the latest knowledge and thinking.

Will also be attending a Professional Industry Partners discussion forum on Obtrusive light. Something that is so critical in understanding the impact of light of people - back to PLG04 again. This will be written up and published in the LJ.

Last thing to mention is the Charles Marques Memorial Lecture - see the website for information on Professor Semir Zeki - and what promises to be a fascinating talk on subject truths - how do we see colour. Have a read on the ILP website news page and don't forget to book your place at what I think is going to be a very special Charles Marques Memoral Lecture - well I would say that wouldn't I.  have a great week. Pete

 

ECO Build and Docklands Light Railway

Sometimes, it is good to get ahead of the curve!  So for a change this blog is with you a little earlier than usual. Tuesday I went to Eco Build, to meet with Jess and Chantal on the ILP stand, see the lightscene exhibitors and have a quick look around some of the renewable energy stands. ECO Build is huge. I have never been to the Excel before and never been on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) .

Tuesday was a warm misty day, so good light and seeing the docklands complex, with the sun and mist was quite amazing. I was able to sit right at the front of the train and take in the views, consider the brilliant engineering that went into building the DLR. A very pleasurable experience.  One the way back, I changed stations to catch a train to Bank and back on the Northern Line to Kings Cross. I noticed how strong a reflection was showing on each window as a train pulled into the station, so phone in hand, I took a self portrait of my reflection in the carriage window. Different!

Had a great time at Ecobuild and met the Light Scene Exhibitors, and fielded a number of questions from interested visitors. THe picture below is of the ILP stand and a conversation with Lynn Jones of Sight Designs (Gas lamps) the first  female gas lamp engineer in the world. Well done Lynn. Chantal will shoot me, but if you look to the left of the picture you can see Chantal talking to (I think) Dave Burton

On Wednesday went down to Gloucester on my motorbike to meet with the Midland Region Committee and attend a joint Western/Midland Region Technical Meeting. The standard of Technical meetings remain high and as ever I learnt a lot. Great to see so much good lighting being shared and knowledge being imparted. I also appreciated an opportunity to give the national perspective on a number of issues raised at committee. Also good to see Elizabeth Thomas, your new VP Higways and Infrastructure. I think you will be hearing  a lot from Elizabeth over the coming months!

Next week, I have Executive Board, as usual lots going on, which needs careful consideration by the Board. I will also be representing the ILP at the Lightmongers Annual Dinner. A busy week, but I am enjoying getting around meeting so many people.

Have a good week.  Pete