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