IRRV Council meeting

Last week I chaired my last Council meeting as President.

I have enjoyed chairing Council a great deal and feel it has been a successful year.    

At the last meeting we said our farewells to three very long standing Council members, Tom Dixon, Carol Cutler and Richard Guy. The three of them have done a huge amount for IRRV over the years and we should be very grateful. 

Council wished them well and thanked them. 

Richard Guy has been “father” of Council - that is to say the longest standing member. That dubious honour will fall to me after Conference. 

South Eastern Association Annual Dinner

Last Friday was the annual dinner of the South Eastern Association. This was a well attended event held in a wonderful location right next to the sea at Birchington in Kent.

The Restaurant was actually about as close to the sea as you could get and although it was a cloudy evening we were treated to grey seas and a “red sky at night”.    The food was excellent and a good time was had by all. 

The event was supported by Chris Rundle as a sole generous sponsor. The evening concluded with a raffle and I won my first prize of my Presidential year.

Richard's July update!

Richard at the Past Presidents' Lunch

It has been another very busy time.    Last Friday was the lunch for Past Presidents and Honorary members and there was a very good turn out.    We went to a small restaurant near HQ and had a very enjoyable time.    This is one of the nicest events of the Presidential year.   Many of those who came are of advancing years but there pleasure in meeting up again is evident.   5 could not make the journey because of not being very well and I have written to each of them and sent a card.

Then on Saturday was the annual dinner dance of the Yorkshire Association .   This was held in a hotel very near Emmerdale - whatever that is.     I was very pleased to award a Certificate of Service to John Clark to recognise all the time he has put in over the years for the Institute.    He somewhat took me by surprise by pointing out that he worked for me for 5 years when I was Director of Finance at Richmond.    He was obviously very good because I don’t remember him at all. 

On Tuesday evening this week was the CIPFA Dinner which I went to for the Institute as well as a CIPFA Council member.    It was held at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham.    42 acres of carefully manicured lawns, lawn tennis courts, croquet lawns etc. all completely surrounded by the houses and flats of Fulham.    On their website they encourage applications for membership but point out there is a 25 year waiting list – so I don’t think I will bother. The event was an excellent one with magnificent food and one relatively short speech. 

Sadly, the year has only another 3 months to go.