IDE President presents school with cheque to fund new playground

We are happy to report that Helen Allison School was recently presented with a cheque for £22,000 by IDE President David Darsey.

The funds were raised by the IDE and NFDC with a view to funding a new playground at the school. Speaking of the campaign, Mr Darsey commented, ""I'm delighted to help support such a worthy cause and enable kids to benefit from the new facilities."

Source: The National Autistic Society

EDA President William Sinclair shares his thoughts on NDA Las Vegas

This past January, the NDA Annual Convention was held in Las Vegas. European Demolition Association (EDA) president William Sinclair was in attendance, and he returned to Europe with some new ideas and thoughts.

He discusses this at length on the EDA website, and it's well worth your time to give it a read. Here's an excerpt:

"The area that I thought was incredibly interesting was how the demolition industry could assist with Emergency Response for Disasters.

When your view the tragic consequences of disasters on your television screens, it is striking how so many show images of rescue workers bravely carrying out their duty amidst partially collapsed and dangerous structures.

Obviously, each and every emergency will require a bespoke solution coordinated with the rescue workers and authorities, but I cannot help think how effective, and how much safer, the task could be if the rescue teams has the experts assistance and equipment from the demolition industry."

Read more at the EDA website.

An Invitation From the IDE President

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.

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.

The International Association of Concrete Drillers and Sawers gets its first female president

Julie White is the managing director of D-Drill, a company specialising in diamond drilling and concrete sawing. This successful company over 40-years-old and has 8 offices around the UK. However, it is also now home to the first female president of The International Association of Concrete Drillers and Sawers (IACDS).

Julie has been vice president of IACDS since 2013, but last month became president, and is so doing, becomes the first female to do so.

Speaking of her appointment, Julie commented:

"I believe my appointment as president of the IACDs proves that, actually, construction has taken great strides over recent years and is becoming an environment where women can thrive."

We wish her all the best in her new role.

Source: Business Quarter

IDE Council elections are looming

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

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

The voting papers will indicate that you have UP TO 5 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 in to office who were not your preferred choice. As in effect using all of your five votes "dilutes" the election process.

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.

This election is crucial for the future of the IDE following the last two years of consolidation so please vote wisely and, please vote Woodward.

Former IDE President Tony Hurley passes away

We are sorry to advise readers of the death of former IDE President Tony Hurley.

It is with great sadness that we inform our readers of the passing of one of our colleagues in the demolition industry Tony Hurley. As some of you are aware Tony has been very poorly for a long time and he lost his battle with cancer last week.

Tony joined the IDE in 1984, being one of the longest serving members and was the President of the organisation between 1992 and 1994. I was delighted to present him with Honorary Fellowship status in 2013 in recognition of his hard work and support he gave to the IDE and when he received the award he received a well deserved standing ovation.

Tony rarely missed an opportunity to attend the Institute functions, even after his diagnosis, making the long journey from his home in Spain to be amongst those who appreciated his enthusiasm for the industry and its practitioners.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family at this time.

I will remember Tony for his Northern humour and his encyclopaedic knowledge of demolition. He was a demolition great.

Change at the top within The Institute of Construction Management

As current President Les Helliwell comes to the end of his successful two year reign, the IConstM have announced the key figures who will take the institute forward for the next six years.

The AGM on Saturday, 21st June 2014 at the Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran (which will be followed with a dinner dance on the same evening to welcome in the new officers), will rubber stamp the following appointments:-

President:- Gary Francis
Vice President:- Cliff Brown
Junior Vice President:- Kevin George

The task facing the new heads will be to increase both membership and revenue for the institute and to ensure that the "Competency Register" is up and running immediately following the AGM.

Regular readers of this site will know that John has been a council of management member of IConstM for the last year, but he has decided that, owing to a growing workload, he can no longer offer the time required to attend the meetings but he will remain a member of the institute and continue to encourage IDE members to join.

If you are a manager in construction, or in a construction related occupation such as demolition, then why not apply for institute membership by visiting the IConstM website and downloading an application form.

NFDC announce details of the 2013 convention at Gleneagles

The NFDC have announced details of this year's convention at Gleneagles. William Sinclair who becomes NFDC President on Friday, March 1st wanted his first convention to be in his native Scotland and he will have his wish.

The convention will run from Friday, September 13th through to Monday, September 16th 2013 and full details and prices are available at the NFDC website at http://demolition-nfdc.com/event/convention20130913.html

Changes at the top of the NFDC

Today, March 1st sees not only a new month but also a new President of the NFDC as William Sinclair takes over the chain of office from Gary Bishop.

William, MD of Safedem Limited, will take control of the NFDC at today’s AGM at the Dorchester and John & Jill will be there to see him do so.

Gary Bishop has been NFDC President for the last 2 years, coming into the chair in March 2011 just a few months after John became IDE President in November 2010, and the two have worked together at many events promoting the demolition industry and the need for competence and experience in that industry. Gary set out to do many things in his time as President and we are certain that when he hands over the heavy chain to William it will be done with a quiet satisfaction that he achieved what he set out to do in his two years and Gary can retire from the main job to enjoy quiet nights drinking a nice Rioja with Sarah and their girls Amy and Gemma, whilst still remaining involved as Immediate Past President of the organisation.

William, well known to readers of this website for his masterful demolition of tower blocks by explosives, most recently at Red Road, will bring his own views to the Presidency. From our dealings with William on many projects over the last few years, most notably Red Road and St. Nicholas House in Aberdeen, we will expect him to have many exciting ideas, to bring innovative thoughts to the table and to be a problem solver, all ideal attributes for the top job in what are still difficult times for this industry of ours.

We would like to congratulate Gary Bishop on a good two years, Martin Wilson on becoming NFDC Vice President, and finally our very good friend and colleague William Sinclair on taking the chains of office that may come with a heavy responsibility, but will be perfectly safe on the shoulders of a “Canny Scot” who will wear them with dignity and pride.