IDE calls for visiting lecturers at the University of Wolverhampton

The launch of the world leading Demolition Degree gets ever closer with the first students commencing their study at the University on Thursday, 28th September this year.

The content of the course has now been agreed by the IDE Education Committee. Dr. Terry Quarmby and our own John Woodward are on-board to deliver the relevant lectures. However, there is a need for additional lecturers to assist with the course and anyone interested in offering their time should contact Richard Dolman with a copy of their CV and relevant training qualifications.

Please note, lecturers will need to make themselves available on various dates throughout the academic year.

To contact Richard Dolman, please email info@ide.org.uk

Changes to Midlands Regional Meeting Dates and Venues

Following discussions with Adrian McLean and Richard Dolman the IDE have decided to make the following changes to the Midlands Regional Meetings:-

Tuesday 17th January: Venue is changed from Armac Group to an AR sponsored venue. Details will follow but date remains the same.

Wednesday 5th April: Date is now Thursday 30 March at Armac Group Quarry to coincide with the launch of the new Volvo Demolition Range at the venue on the following day.

IDE Bus drops off and picks up this week

This week sees the last few IDE members going through their emails, finding the one from Electoral Reform Services with the voting details in it, and reading the biographies of those wishing to stand for election to the Council of Management and Vice President before they place an electronic tick in the relevant voting boxes and sit back and await the results at the AGM. They did this last year and probably the year before, but why is this year different?

This year is an important election and a major junction for IDE members getting full recognition in the construction industry as true "Engineers" as we head down the road to a Demolition Degree and Chartered Engineers.

During his Presidency, Duncan Rudall has steered the IDE bus along the road towards these goals and done a very good job in the driving seat. After the AGM he will sit behind the new driver, Dave Darsey, and Dave's assistant (either Gary Bishop or Richard Dolman) as the bus trundles along the route and he will make sure the bus gets to the destination.

When the bus stops at the AGM it will drop off a couple of passengers who have a few years of experience of IDE matters, Steve Jack & myself, and pick up a few passengers who will be new to it all having been given a travel ticket by the Membership. When you cast your votes you will be giving someone that ticket so please consider the following before you vote:-

• Will they be able to stay on the bus for the whole of the route?
• Will they concentrate on where the bus is going and the massive amount of work to get it there?
• In their application for travel on the bus did they tell the truth? As this bus does not want fare dodgers & wheeler dealers.
• Do they understand that the IDE is for individuals NOT corporate entities and that the IDE Council has a "duty to it's members"?

These are very exciting times at IDE as the degree is now a whisker away so if you haven't used your vote, and if not why not, use it NOW and use it well.

"It's goodbye from me and it's goodbye from him"

Next Friday sees the 2016 IDE AGM when Dave Darsey succeeds Duncan Rudall as President and either Gary Bishop or Richard Dolman becomes Vice President, but it's also the day when Steve Jack steps down from the CoM after over 20 years round the table and I also step down after 10 years round the table!

Will we be glad to step to down? I am sure that Steve will agree when I say that it will be strange not attending CoM meetings, but we both believe that now is the right time to go to make way for a younger element on CoM who can continue our work and take us to chartered status.

The days saved by not attending the meetings will be used by Steve to improve his golf and by me to improve my fishing as we both move towards retirement.

When I asked Steve about his golf this week he said:-

For some time, my wife's had this ridiculous idea that I'm playing too much golf. Actually, it came to a head at about 11.30pm last night. She suddenly shouted at me: "Golf, golf, golf. All you ever think about is bloody golf!". And I'll be honest, it frightened the life out of me. I mean, you don't expect to meet somebody on the 14th green at that time of night.

And for myself:-

This week I was asked to do a very important after-dinner speech. I said: "Do you want me to be funny?" They said: "No, just be yourself."

Goodnight!

A message to all members as IDE Council elections are looming

This year sees changes at the top of the IDE with David Darsey taking over the President's jewel from Duncan Rudall and places on the Council available in the election.

The nomination process is now complete and all members have received their voting papers via email along with full biographies of those standing for election.

This year, for the first time for eight years we have an election for Vice President that is between Gary Bishop and Richard Dolman and your choice is very important to the future of the Institute. During Duncan's presidency we have moved to within a whisker of chartered status and we now have a demolition degree from 2017 and we cannot let the progress end.

Both candidates will do the job in their own way with Gary bringing his steady hands from his time as NFDC and NDTG President with him and his ability to consider proposals and to discuss and debate those proposals to find the best solution for the members, whereas Richard brings experience in organising IDE events and sitting on IDE Council and couples that with an enthusiasm for the IDE membership and all things demolition. Please read both biographies carefully and consider who deserves your vote.

The voting papers will indicate that you have votes to use on your selections and I would urge you all to vote and to think carefully as to how you use those votes. If, for example, you really like three candidates then just vote for those three as if you cast your "spare" votes for others who are not your preferred choices then you could, inadvertently, end up voting candidates into office who were not your preferred choice. As in effect using all of your votes "dilutes" the election process.

Please read the biographies from all of the candidates and decide if what they say is factual and is in the best interests of the IDE before placing your vote with those who have the IDE at heart.

Please remember that the IDE is an organisation for Individual Demolition Engineers and not company organisations and that the core membership is individuals working within our industry. During my time on the Council and during my Presidency I tried to make the IDE an institute for the people, please vote for individuals who want it to remain that way and who have the best interests of the IDE and it's core members in mind.

Richard Dolman discusses the benefits of OilQuick systems

C&D customer AR Demolition recently purchased OilQuick coupling systems from Haulmark Equipment and has since taken part in the video you see above discussing its benefits. Speed of changing, the convenience offered, and removal of the issue surrounding hoses getting damaged all factor as reasons to use OilQuick as far as Richard Dolman is concerned.

The fact AR Demolition now operates seven of them across its fleet makes it clear the automatic coupling system is seen as an asset.

Here's another video showing off the different attachements OilQuick can use as well as how the quick decoupling system functions:



Source: Haulmark Equipment

Demolition News interview with Richard Dolman

Demolition News has an exclusive two-part interview up with AR Demolition's Richard Dolman.

The focus is on "all-risk contracts" and the concerns that brings up for AR Demolition and demolition contractors in general.

We've included both parts below:

Richard Dolman raises over £7,000 for The Breast Care Centre

C&D customer AR Demolition and owner Richard Dolman has raised over £7,000 for The Breast Care Centre, Glenfield Hospital.

Women from across Leicestershire are to benefit from more than £7,000 after the demolition of two massive chimneys earlier this year.

The money has been raised by businessman Richard Dolman, whose wife Kellie has been treated for breast cancer at Glenfield Hospital. Richard's company, A R Demolition, raised the money by offering the public the chance to push the button and demolish two massive chimneys at the Desford Steel Tubes factory.

Hundreds of people turned up on a Sunday morning in September to buy a raffle ticket, and to watch the two chimneys, each measuring 150ft, eventually crash to the ground.

Richard said:

I'm obviously thrilled to raise that much money because I only thought we'd get half that. I'm pleased that we've managed to get something good out of a bad situation and it's certainly raised awareness of breast cancer among people around me. If you're in a position to be able to put something back then it's the least you can do really.

IDE Midlands Regional Meeting Report

The IDE regional meeting, sponsored by AR Demolition, held last night at Old Silhillians Rugby Club was well supported with 16 members and 5 guests in attendance.

Those present heard presentations from:-

* Richard Dolman (AR Demolition) who spoke about managing non ferrous scrap.

* Holmbury Hydraulics who spoke about hydraulic hose connection solutions.

* John Woodward who spoke about current HSE “Hot Topics” during site visits.

The presentations led to questions from the floor and lively debate around a number of the HSE issues.

Past President John Law was present at the meeting, having flown in from Cyprus immediately prior to the meeting, and he joined Richard & John on the podium for the presentations.

The meeting closed at 6.30 with an excellent curry and drinks sponsored by AR Demolition.

The next Midlands regional meetings, venues to be confirmed, are on:-

Wednesday 16 September 2009 at 5.00pm.

Wednesday 11 November 2009 at 5.00pm.