Bangladesh and Hong Kong

This was a very important and interesting visit, the first region in Bangladesh, the second female President and the first female CEO of the SDC. We visited the College of Textile Engineering and Technology in Dhaka and four other companies BDL, Bextex, Pertex and Dird Composite where we got an overview of good fabric production. The traffic made us late on several occasions. We had an inauguration seminar where both I and Arthur Whelan, previous President, spoke about best practice and getting it right first time. There were about 200 attendees. I would like to thank Mr Barmma for both making us welcome and organising an excellent seminar and series of visits.

Afterwards we travelled to Hong Kong for their AGM and to visit several key educational establishments and retailers. The Hong Kong region now 36 years old and is crucial to our links to China. There were several key awards with the top one being John Xin who won a silver medal and the ultimate Fellowship award. There are very key opportunities here in HK and China for our Diploma Courses and consultancy. I would like to thank the committee and the friends of Hong Kong who have made this a very successful region.

I would like to say that or new CEO, Susie Hargreaves, was an excellent ambassador for our company as well as learning about our membership and regional requirements. I am sure she will ensure all membership and regional needs are met in the UK and abroad.

North of England Lecture

I never reported on my lecture to the North of England, Education Education Education. My theme for my Presidency is education and as this is a key theme of the Society as an Educational Charity, the lecture was appropriate. I not only talked about the traditional qualifications but the Colour Experience, and the new Colour Management Diploma Courses. Education is a wide topic if you take Training and Skills into account. The SDC provides publications, electronic news letters and the Colourist to provide news items which can also be called educational. Due to feedback every member should see a new styled Colourist which was announced at the North of England Region. It was great to see a lot of familiar faces

Czech Republic visit 16th 17th October

I attended and gave two lectures at the centenary of the Czech Association of Textile Chemists and Colourist in Dvore Kralove nad Labem, about two hours drive east of Prague. One lecture was about the Society the other was how we can improve efficiency and colour communication through best practice. The Association is part of IFATCC, International Federation of Associations of Textile Chemists and Colorists and there were the Presidents of the Polish, German and Italian Associations also present at this event. I was invited to give a paper at the next International meeting in Italy in 2010. The events showed there is a keen interest for the remaining industries within Europe to share know how and improve the efficiencies of the remaining factories. We also visited where there was a plaque commemorating the start of the Association and a 16th century castle where the current family was also celebrating their centenary of ownership.

Visits this week

This week I attended the second RITE conference in London. (RITE is Reduced Impact of Textiles on the Environment). The SDC sponsored students to attend this conference and had a table at the exhibition manned by Anika and Quentin. The speakers varied from politicians, journalists, world wildlife fund and retailers to suppliers of genetically modified crops. The question and answer session was very stimulating and at times contentious. On Wednesday night I attended the Swan Dinner, invited by the Dyers Company. The dinner was held at the Cloth Workers Hall, another magnificent building in the City of London. I was made very welcome at this dinner in celebration of the Swan Uppings carried out in July. I sat next to my friend and ex President David Blackburn and a major in the Royal Signals whose regiment is sponsored by the Dyers Company. Please visit the Dyers Company Website for more of the history.

Visits in October

Since I have last written in my blog I have been very busy. We have now virtually completed a Visual Standard and Best practice guide for visual and instrumental assessment and have accredited two more tutors in the UK, and one in India for our Colour Management in Textile Diploma Courses. After a successful visit to Hong Kong in July we are returning in November to set up the training program there. Next week I am attending the RITE conference in London and then the Swan dinner at the Worshipful Company of Dyers in London. The week after next I am speaking at the North of England Region and then in Czechoslovakia at the Czech Textile and Colourist Association Centenary. I will certainly report back on all the events!

Back from holiday

I have just come back down to earth after a lovely relaxing visit to Spain. I thought I would show an elevated view of the beach close by the pool at the villa. You can see why I miss it all, having a sangria by the beach and a BBQ by the pool. Anyway back to work and I will keep you posted with the progress of our training courses and the visits to China and Hong Kong.

The President in Hong Kong

I left China to go to Hong Kong and meet with various retailers, research establishments and our Patron Supporters both colleges and Companies. I had excellent and positive meetings welcoming our diploma courses. I held a seminar with over 200 attendees and covered the principles and innovations in colour assessment. The Hong Kong SDC Region welcomed and hosted the events together with HKRITA. I do have to mention special thank you to Clariant who hosted my visits as part of the SDC to some retailers and brands in HK

China Conference

The first joint conference betweeen CTIC, AATCC and SDC was held in Shanghia 23-25th July. It was a great success and congratulations and thanks need to be extended to the organisers, speakers and sponsors. We are planning another in less than two years. You will see all the pictures from the Colourist later but I have included a few photographs anyway. The SDC and AATCC speakers were from Clariant, Dystar, M&S, Levi Strauss & Co, Polo, Luen Thai, J C Penney, Rhode Island University. Thank you from me to all of you what excellent speakers!

Arrival in China

I arrived in Shanghai on Thursday 17th July to a phenomenal heat and humidity. Luckily I didn't have a visit that day just an update of the visits to date made by Ken, Clare and our Chinese consultants and translators Betty Hu and Prof. Dominic Lo. On the following day we went to Jiangnan University where it was my pleasure to present their accreditation certificate for their MSc course in Textile Chemistry, enabling the graduates to apply for the ASDC. In the afternoon we formally inaugurated the new Jiangnan region, the first in The People's Republic of China, and thanked and welcomed the new committee for all their efforts. Again congratulations to all of the committee for all their efforts. Professor Fang, the Jiangnan Chairman, was presented with the prestigious award, the Fellowship of the Society award, only the second Fellow in China and one of the elite group world wide to have had this bestowed on them for their contribution to the colouration industry.

The first seminar of the new region was then held in the afternoon. Ken McGhee and I gave presentations but what impressed us was that two Chinese speakers gave presentations in English on very technical topics, Dr Zhong, from Donghua University, and Dr Wang from Jiangnan University. You will see a report of this seminar when we return to the UK. I will also try and attach a photo of the region and attendees at the inauguration ceremony.

The Royal Garden Party

Well where do I start? The morning began with heavy cloud and it looked as if it was going to rain. The afternoon turned out to be sunny and hot. We entered Buckingham Palace through Grosvenor Gate in order to experience the gardens rather than queue at the Grand Entrance, on the recommendation of a previous visitor. Wow this was some magnificent garden, seemingly some 40 acres with a 3 acre lake. The whole experience is now impressed on my brain as we couldn’t take photographs! First of all, my partner Geoff and I met Adrian (immediate past President) and Mary Abel and we had soft drinks and finger sandwiches with cakes. It was obvious from the good organisation with no queuing that Buckingham Palace had run such an event before!! There were some 5000 people from all parts of society, military from UK, Australia and Canada, the church, , politicians, diplomats, local councillors and chartered societies such as ours.

The National Anthem greeted the Queen and the Royal Party flanked by the Yeomen of the Guard. We lined the ‘walks’ on either sides defined by the Gentlemen in Arms and hoped the Queen would walk down ours as we were at the front! In fact Prince Philip was the Royal who walked down our line. He was fantastic and looked younger than his photographs but he was smaller than we expected around 5 feet 7 inches. He could certainly ‘work the crowd and we were only two feet away from him, really exciting.
We then made sure we could see the Queen as several people again were presented to her, as with Prince Philip, as she walked down the walk way of guests lined on either side like a road. She wore essentially a delicate blue suit and hat that had a delicate brown leaf in the pattern and looked really lovely and relaxed. We walked around part of the grounds and lake seeing the rose garden, it was truly magnificent. Once the Queen and the Royal Party finished their tea they returned to the Palace and we were right at the front watching her walk back, again no more than 3 feet away! Prince Philip followed by Princess Ann, Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Princess Ann looked particularly nice and slim in a green dress and hat.

There were two bands playing at opposite sides of the garden. On the playing of the national anthem we left walking back through the Palace and exited through the Grand Entrance with many tourists pressing their faces to the railings expecting to see very famous people, but just us. Outside we came down to earth and walked back to the car via St James Park and Adrian bought us all an ice cream. What a wonderful day!

Now on to China!

A busy week

Last week was very busy with meetings in the Society but culminated in a wonderful Heriot-Watt University Gala at Galashiels on the 11th July. I wanted to travel by train but there isn’t a railway station at Galashiels so I had to drive the day before. That was an event as I found the A7 was blocked by landslides, due to our wonderful summer deluge of rain, the journey taking me over five hours. The intention was to meet Prof. Roger Wardman to see around his department, as he is the Head of the School of Textiles and Design, but unfortunately I arrived too late. I was met in the evening by the Prime Warden and the Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Dyers and David Blackburn, an ex President of the SDC and ex Prime Warden and we had a lovely meal. On the Gala day itself the rain thankfully kept at bay and the graduation awards were held at St Paul’s Church at Galashiels, which was an excellent venue. Earlier this year Vivienne Westwood was given an honorary Doctor of Letters in recognition of her outstanding achievement in fashion and design and it was announced at this ceremony. The students filed to be ‘capped and hooded’ and receive their certificates, mostly female graduates. Afterwards we spoke to the Best Final Student medallist, Alexandra Wild, who had a job at Johnsons of Elgin, and Grace Maran a University medallist for outstanding merit in her third year. We will have to watch out for these names.

Well today is exciting as I am preparing to go down to London to Buckingham palace to the Royal garden party, but I will talk about that later.

Holidays in Spain

Almost one hundred and fifty celebrations of "Moors and Christians" take place over the length and breadth of Spain. The origins lie in the battles following the re-conquest in the 16th and 17th century. As early as the 17th century, groups of "Moors and Christians" drove through town, accompanied by noisy bands. A "battle" ensued with skirmishes and dances, ending with the triumph of the followers of the Cross, who surround the Moors and defeat them. Then it's conversion or death for the Moors, and finally homage to the patron saint of the town. Everything goes on amidst the noise of fireworks and the ringing of bells. This was the case in Moraira where I went on holiday to my villa in Spain for two weeks. I have enclosed some pictures of the groups including Richard the Lionheart as leader of the Christian Crusades. The fireworks are unbelievable. I spent a relaxing time with three different sets of guests. The swimming pool temperature was 30 degrees centigrade!

The 5th International Conference in Mumbai

The conference title and theme was called Global Retail Logic or Magic. I attended last year’s conference and this one was even better. The organisation was fantastic and so professional. Well done Siva and the committee for making such as successful day. Although the monsoons had started that day and certain flights were cancelled there were still 300 delegates. Students from UICT University and College of Home Science, department of textiles and Fashion technology, volunteered as helpers, made the day complete. Well done everyone!!

The speakers were also excellent and you will be hearing all the detail in the Colourist and on the SDC website soon. We saw speakers from Ikea and H&M as well as our own Derek McKelvey and Phil Patterson. A panel answering specific questions ended the conference and was a wonderful educational experience. The theme was best practice and compliance. The lead speaker from Ikea, Mark Astley, actually came from one mile away from where I live in Stretton Warrington, how amazing was that.

Now we are on to the next conference in China on July 23rd to 25th July.

A very special saree

I wanted to honour the Indian SDC by wearing India’s traditional dress at their annual conference. Rakesh, the managing trustee, asked his wife Saloni to help. She did a brilliant job so I thought I would show you the saree. I am indebted to Saloni for making my dream come true and making my conference day special. I shall talk about the conference later, but thank you very much Saloni and Rakesh and I wish you well in London at your daughter's graduation.

A message from India

There have been difficulties getting onto the internet at our hotel so I haven’t been able to report as quickly as I wanted to. The first day in India, 2nd June, involved Ken McGhee and I meeting with the trustees of the Mumbai region. We discussed the progress of the two regions and the Indian charity SDC CE. All the hard work of the chief operating officer and the trustees have ensured a successful two years of operation, with increasing membership and respect of industry. I thank them for their professionalism and hard work.

It looks as if it is going to be a full house at the conference on the 6th June with over 300 delegates

Next year’s global conference was discussed and it was decided to hold this in Goa on 25th to 26th June 2009. The second global fashion competition will be held in 2009 with the winners from regions around the world going to Goa as finalists ,where the gobal winner will be announced at the gala dinner. More news later

Travel Arrangements

I have spent time last week and this week preparing for our travels to India which begins on 1st June and then to China in July beginning the 16th July. We shall be meeting many people in India but the culmination will be the conference in Mumbai, Global Retail. Logic or Magic on 6th June, but I will keep you informed. In China we will be meeting with Universities and also welcoming our new region in Hangzhou. Our first joint conference with AATCC and CTIC will be held on 23rd to 25th July just prior to ITMA. I must admit I shall be pleased to leave this weather behind on Sunday but knowing my luck the weather will be excellent here. Also I hope I fully recover from my gastric flu before travelling to India!

The going got tough

We had a long and successful week training representatives of our partners at CTIC. They were all very good and worked very hard. As I stated before I can disappear to a corner in Spain when the going gets tough, and I did so on Friday 16th. We did have a few electric storms but the weather improved, as you can guess, on the day we were going home. The good news is I am now in contact on the internet at the villa so I will be in closer contact!

Chinese visit this week

This week we have three representatives from CTIC, China Textile Information Centre, visit Bradford to be trained on our new Colour Management Courses for Textiles. Unfortunately their flight was late on Sunday night, so they didn’t arrive in Yorkshire until Monday morning minus one of their suitcases. This week is going to be quite intense as we have 4 modules to be delivered in 4 days! We do have a challenge with language, which is being addressed by our Chinese consultant Hu Bei, Betty, translating as the courses are delivered to ensure the clearest understanding.

First council meeting as President

Yesterday was my first council meeting as President. Previous Presidents have normally been Chairman of the meetings for their year. Adrian Abel set the precedent and I followed where a chair person is elected from a nominee from the council of trustees and then the remaining trustees vote for that person. Chris Sargeant was the first Chairman 2007/2008 and this year we had two nominees, Derek McKelvey and Chris Sargeant, with Chris being elected as Chairman for 2008/2009. We must ensure all our regions are represented at the council meeting. Chris said that on September 10th , our next meeting, that representatives from especially from overseas regions will be invited to participate either by conference call or video.

The day began with a training session for trustees and this was my second training session. I have personally found them to be excellent and helping with defining trustees’ responsibilities and also what does ‘public benefit’ mean and the necessary requirements for querying a charity’s investments . In fact every trustee MUST ensure they are familiar with their responsibilities. Ken McGhee offered to provide any help for those who may not have been able to attend. Please contact me if you have any problems.

The Second Week

I have been very busy, so I am sorry I haven’t written anything for a week. We have been working on the final stages of the four modules which build to become the Diploma in Colour Management of Textiles. It has been great fun, although hard work, ensuring the correct content and the course materials as well as compatibility with our other diploma courses. Thanks to the introduction by our ambassador Richard Straughan, I have also been invited to speak at the 40th Conference of the Czech Association of Textile Chemists and Colourists in October, in celebration of the centenary of their formation. This is a new opportunity for the SDC to forge links with Eastern Europe. We are also putting together the final details of our conference in Shanghai which is held jointly with AATCC and CTIC on 23-25 July 2008, more on this later.

Court and Livery Dinner

As President of the Society I was invited to a Court and Livery Dinner by the Worshipful Company of Dyers on the 23rd April as one of the guests of honour. The dinner was held at The Hall in Dow Gate London. For those who haven’t been, The Hall is truly magnificent and if you want to read more about the Dyers Company please go to their web site www.dyerscompany.co.uk. I was made so welcome initially by the Prime Warden James Chambers, who I met on the 18th, then the Renter Warden and The Clerk. I spoke to members of the Court and the Liverymen, two of whom are Peter Diggle and Peter Lockett. Our own David Blackburn was a previous Prime Warden and Mike Bartle, our President Elect will become Prime Warden in the near future. The dinner was absolutely scrumptious with the most delightful wine. At least I could have a drink on this occasion! It really makes me feel very proud to be British with such wonderful traditions as the Dyers Company which was formed in 1188! I am pleased that I decided to wear a long dress and felt really grand sitting next to the Prime Warden. The evening ended at about 11 pm so Cinderella safely returned home before midnight!

The second day

Well what a day, I have just learnt that as President, I have been invited to meet the Queen on July 15th at a garden party. What a privilege. I will keep you informed.

The first working day as President

I had a tremendous day on the 18th when I was inaugurated as President. I went on to chair the AGM and except for one small mistake, it went according to plan. I want to thank Adrian Abel again for his contribution to last year's activities. The award ceremony in the afternoon is really what the Day of Celebration is all about. It was my privilege to open the ceremony and introduce our guest speaker Ann Priest, Dean of Nottingham Trent. I really enjoyed watching the diplomas and medals being presented to such distinguished scientists and designers. It was my honour to present the medals together with Peter Duffield, our Honorary Secretary and Ann Priest awarded the diplomas introduced by Dr Jim Nobbs the Examination and Accreditation Board Chairman. The evening was tremendous fun, starting with a fashion show. I talked about the year ahead and my intentions of promoting and delivering a new range of courses and qualifications. The Society had a tremendous year last year and all the staff, trustees, members, and committees deserve a great thank you. SDCE moved successfully to new buildings without disrupting their business and is now in control of their own fabric production. We presented the award to the winners of the innovation and global design winners as well as the 50 year member awards. You will hear all about it later from Carmel. I would like to thank the staff and all my friends and colleagues in supporting this day. Speak to you soon.