So here we are, our last magazine of the year, the December issue. So let me start by wishing you all a very happy Christmas. Enjoy the break, as you deserve it, I’m sure. Before we go on our holidays let me bring you up to date with the latest gossip.
Let’s start by thanking you all for attending our last event of the year ST19 at Heathrow. We had 140 guests join us at the charity dinner where we raised £2,400 for Embrace: Child Victims of Crime. Here I am with Steve Emmins, who was at the dinner on the Wednesday evening and the event proper the next day on behalf of the charity.
Actually the charity is registered with the “Big Give” which means that if we make the payment to the charity on the right day the value will be doubled. So £4800; not a bad night’s work. In fact the six charity dinners we have held at the ST19 events this year have raised a massive (fanfare of trumpets, please!) £14,550. Thank you to everyone for helping us do that. I mean the exhibitors and companies that donated prizes. And to the delegates that played the heads and tails games and bought raffle tickets. Plus of course a big thank you to my team that sell and fold those tickets, count the money et cetera. Often giving up their dinners so we can fit it all in on a time schedule.
The show at The Park Inn Heathrow the following day was as usual well packed and attended and everyone seemed to have a great time. I’ve had a number of emails thanking us for our efforts in making the show work. And let me tell you that these shows don’t just happen. It takes a lot of time getting them to work but we have a winning formula so thank you to everyone for your support whether you are sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and of course the all-important visitors. It’d look empty without you!?
We are already starting work on ST20 which will see us visiting the same places as before. And they are: Birmingham on February 20, Glasgow on April 22, note that is a little different than previous years; Manchester on July 14, again slightly different time of month; Belfast and Dublin on September 8 and 10, and back to Heathrow on November 5. I hope to see you at one of these if not all of them. Details here.
Biggest bit of gossip this month for you is that Frankie Bellavia, or to give him his full name Francesco Bellavia has joined EET Europarts as the Sales Director for Surveillance and Security. Yep, that is the old Pro-Vision for those of you that can’t keep up. Frankie tells me they are opening an office in the north London area, handy as that’s not far from where Frankie lives. You may recall he was over at Security Dynamics for almost two years and prior to that was at Midwich, so as you can see he is a distribution man and we wish him all the best.
Advancis have been busy opening a couple of new offices, One in Canary Wharf and the other in Milton Keynes. Canary Wharf was chosen as it offers easy access from London City Airport as well as road and train links. That showroom is open from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6.30pm by appointment. Milton Keynes was selected as a strategic location for the new office because of its easy access from several regional airports including Heathrow, Luton and Birmingham as well as road links from M1 junction 14 and rail links from London and the north. With only five minutes’ walk to Milton Keynes railway station. Office hours there, from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
To arrange a meeting with Andrew please contact him on office +44 (0) 1908 440042, mobile +44 (0) 7917 652321 or e-mail: [email protected]. Talking of the company, were you aware that Allan Dickinson has joined them? He is their technical manager, you may remember him from Moose or I-Comply.
Charity
Now for something completely different, On Saturday October 5, and Sunday 6, Oprema hosted their first charity Carp Fishing weekend in support of Macmillan Cancer Support. Held at the RH Fishery in Shropshire, we had both Monument 1 & 2 which are the best lakes in the country, with carp in excess of 40lb in both waters.
With both customers and suppliers signing up to our event, it was a full turn out for the weekend with anglers coming together to socialise and network. Weather conditions were against them, however those who attended still managed to catch 12 carp over the weekend. Special guest and angler Tom Maker was on hand during the weekend to offer advice and guidance. On the Saturday evening, Tom caught a fish whilst the group were having drinks which gave everyone a chance to see him in action!
The event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of various manufacturers and partners from the security and angling. Overwhelmed with the donations and sponsorships for the weekend, Oprema are extremely grateful for the support received. The weekend included competitions, raffles and giveaways totalling to over £1800 of goods. Along with everyone’s generosity the weekend raised £835 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Oprema thank everyone who played a part in the event with a special thanks to Ashley Cardno for arranging the whole weekend.
So how has 2019 been for you? One to remember or one you want to forget? Let’s raise a glass to those we have lost this year and there have been a few sadly who I am not going to name as I know I will miss one off. Let’s hope we can continue to grow our businesses and survive another year of Brexit. I wish you all a very successful 2020. If we can help you then you know where we are. Just ask. And happy new year.
