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.

A massive year for the IDE

This year will be the 40th year that the IDE has been the only institute in the world for demolition engineers and for promoting the science of demolition engineering, and they intend to make it a year to remember.

Not only do they have the usual Autumn Seminar on Friday, 30th September at One Great George Street but, for the first time ever, a seminar North of the Border in Edinburgh on Friday, 8th July ensuring that members from Scotland can get vital IDE CPD without the need for a costly trip to London.

As it is the 40th Anniversary the CoM have decided to hold a gala black tie ball on Friday, 1st July at the Science Museum and tickets are selling well.

All in all it has been a busy year for President Duncan Rudall in his last year in the position before he hands over the President's jewel on Friday, 11th November to David Darsey.

11th November will also see a newly elected Vice President. Members should think carefully before deciding who to vote for as by the time the election comes round the IDE will be in partnership with Wolverhampton University in delivering the first ever BSc and MSc in Demolition Engineering. That will place it a long way down the road towards fully chartered status.

As of today no-one has thrown their hat into the ring for the Vice President election and I am keen to see who intends to stand to follow Dave Darsey into the chair.

Exciting times for our institute!

OilQuick system advantages discussed by IDE Vice President David Darsey

There's an interesting article over on the IDE website about the recent investment Erith Group has made in new plant and equipment. Interestingly, David Darsey, Erith Group Director and IDE Vice President, insisted all new demolition machines be fitted with the OilQuick automatic quick coupler system.

The reasons are simple: safety and speed because operators "no longer having to spend time manually changing between attachments."

The article is well worth your time.

Goodbye to you my Old Friend

It is with a heavy heart that I have to say Goodbye to my old friend David “Ross” Turner who died at home on Thursday morning after a long battle against cancer.

David taught me a great deal during my time at Detech Environmental Limited, and during my time on the IDE Council of Management during his period as Vice President to John Law and then as President of the IDE.

He always had an opinion and was willing to give that opinion, he was a good orator and a great speech maker, and was always around to discuss demolition over a pint of real ale.

I will miss him.