Welcome to my blog. I had one thought in mind when I first expressed a notion to write an infrequent blog of my activities as Chair of BIFM, openness. All too often the workings of an organisation seem distant and irrelevant and I wanted to try and introduce the human element. This is it. Over the coming two years I plan to upload some thoughts, accounts of actions and events and to generally make some comments on the facilities management industry and BIFM. I plan to do this on average every two weeks, we'll see if that idea lasts.
After the Ball
06-07-08, 11:18
Back on the train again on our way home from the North Region Ball last night. We had a great night at Ian Broadbent’s table and I was sat next to Gordon Burns. Gordon who I hear you cry? He is the current anchor for the BBC news in the North West, still struggling? He was the host of the Crypton Factor for 18 years. You will have him now unless of course you’re twenty years old.
He was a very nice man, and that’s all I am prepared to say about him, principally because I don’t want everyone I meet in my tenure as Chair to think I am going to dissect them publicly in my blog. Nevertheless it was a pleasure to meet Gordon (we are on first name terms now) and he very capably ran the formalities at the Ball.
There is no doubt in my mind that the BIFM Balls are a great night out, the formula which is the same as it was when I was Chair in Scotland is simple. Pick a good central venue, dress the room fantastically, provide good food and provide top class entertainment, and most importantly, keep the formalities to an absolute minimum. FM Events pretty much invented the formula and they continue to deliver it with aplomb.
The main sponsor Harrow Green did have a couple of minutes to speak and Nigel Mews spoke about the FM business in the region and how it was flourishing, it was well delivered and heartfelt and I think it resonated with the crowd.
So it was at the North Region Ball, and everyone had a great time, some were having the best time they had ever had, and were telling people so. I heard at least one “this is the best night I have ever had” and several “I love you I do”.
I have to give credit to the Midland Hotel which hosted the event, the meal was one of the best meals I have ever had at a large scale event like this. It never ceases to amaze me, the logistical effort of feeding large numbers of people, all at the same time, and to a high standard. The venues that consistently do it are the most popular, and rightly so in my book. The kitchen last night served up a main course of pork, an inherently difficult meat to keep moist, and they did, so well done the Midland Hotel.
During the evening there was a prize draw, and the prizes were as usual first class. My wife and I predicted it, Gordon Burn and I discussed it, and embarrassingly it came to pass. Not only was my entry pulled out of the tombola but so was Gordon’s! Before you get on your high horse, we both declined our prizes and had them redrawn. Mine was a VIP Brian Adams concert trip and Lorna made it clear that morally we did the right thing, but if the prize had been a fortnight in the Caribbean she would have murdered me for handing it back. I think the answer is to contribute to the charity, but not to enter the draw in the future.
So here I am, heading home on the train after my first official engagement, I wish they were all so easy, turn up, accept the thanks from the Regional Chair for doing so, drink and eat, glad hand as many people as possible and dance the night away. In truth though, it really was a pleasure to mix with the members and their guests, and it is great to see a Region doing so well. Ian Broadbent and his team are to be congratulated and I look forward to next year’s event, on the 4th of July 2009 at the same venue. I wonder if they will have difficulty thinking of a theme………
