Presidential visit to Central Region and last plaque presentation

This now brings us up to date, with events from this week.

Firstly, a Presidential visit to the Central Region held at The Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame. It was good to see some familiar and unfamiliar faces when I did a presentation about the current activities of CIAT - the Regional Councillor even called it entertaining! I must have done something right!

Some of the Central Region including Gordon Cole MCIAT, Darren Bell MCIAT, Tony Keller MCIAT and David Enticknap MCIAT

Myself with the Central Region

Marjorie Smith MCIAT entertains fellow members from the Region

Then yesterday, 24 October, it was a visit to Scotland - to present the Highly Commended Alan King Award plaque to Stuart Davidson MCIAT who won it for South Lodge, Burnhouse. All plaques have now been presented and eagerly await to announce the winners for 2013 at the AGM on 16 November.

LABC and APS events

I now turn to the current month - October - which began with the LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Presidents Reception on 1 October - another opportunity to mingle with friends and colleagues new and old and to spread the CIAT word.

Then on 9 October, I was delighted to be invited once more by the APS (Association for Project Safety) to present an award at their National CDM Awards held at their Awards Dinner in the Titanic Building in Belfast - I was back once more since our Dinner Dance held there last year! I was accompanied by my wife, Val, and our Vice-President Practice Gary Mees.

All good friends... - Gary Mees, Val, myself, Richard Habgood and his wife

...and jolly good company - Myself, Paul Everall CBE HonMCIAT, Richard Habgood, Graham Watts OBE HonMCIAT, Stanley Barker-McGuire and our good ladies.

Two different inaugurations

At work, University of Wolverhampton held its graduation ceremony at the start of September and Louise Brooke-Smith, President Elect of RICS (due to become the first woman President in July 2014) received her Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology.

Louise and I

Then an inauguration of a different kind - this one was the new President of the RIBA. Along with our President Elect, Karl Grace, we attended this event at Portland Place on 11 September. Stephen Hodder MBE became the RIBA President, taking over from Angela Brady. It was good to see Stephen again and mingle with fellow peers from the built environment.

All in a blur! Myself and Stephen - two Presidents

Council approve our Strategy

My final Council meeting as Chairman took place on 7 September at Central Office.

At this meeting, Council unanimously approved the Institute's Strategy for the next five years - this has since been issued as a document to all members and will be promoted very soon.

Council meeting in full swing

July in a nutshell

On 10 July I attended the Construction Industry Council's Summer Reception held at the Goldsmith's Centre in London, It was there that the Association of Building Engineers announced that their Petition for a Royal Charter had been approved.

With that in mind, it was the eighth anniversary of the Institute receiving our Charter on 22 July.

Time for an update!

Gosh, I hadn't realised that it was so long ago since I last posted here!

Time to update you all on what I have been doing and particularly as I enter my final month as President.

My final month as President! I cannot believe that I have reached that time already - incredible and what a journey the past two years have been as I prepare to pass on the CIAT baton to Karl Grace.

Now, back to the diary and find out where I last left off!