Going for Gold - CMPE

CMPE events
CMPE AGM 2011
This year’s Annual General
Meeting of the Contractors
Mechanical Plant Engineers
(CMPE) was held at the Marriot
Hotel in Northampton and
very professionally organised
by Mr Gerry Hill, National
Treasurer and Northampton
Branch member. In idyllic
surroundings, CMPE members
converged for a day of lively
debate, formal business
matters and networking.
Top of the agenda items were marketing
and promotion of the association (led by
Mr Gerald Bingham, Preston and Fylde
Branch) and a comprehensive update on
the Certificate of Competence (CoC) card
scheme. Mr Bingham emphasised the need
for CMPE to continue in its commitment
to market itself far more vigorously and
provided examples of major national
events, including Scotplant and Hillhead,
where CMPE exhibition stands had been
extremely well received, attracting new
members and generating considerable
attention for the new CoC Gold card.
Welcoming in the new
National Chairman
Each year, the CMPE rotates the post
of National Chairman, with the outgoing
Chairman retiring to make way for the
previous year’s National Vice Chairman
to step up to the post. This year the
association extended its thanks to retiring
National Chairman, Mr Malcolm Webb
(Sussex Branch) and issued a warm
welcome to the incoming one, Mr Bob
Nugent (Northampton Branch).
Outgoing Chairman, Mr Malcolm Webb, Sussex
Branch
In his closing speech, Mr Webb
thanked CMPE members for
their help and support during his
tenure as National Chairman,
and extended particular
appreciation to the branches he
had visited for their hospitality
and encouragement. Although he
was sad to step down, Mr Webb
said he was confident that the
incoming Chairman would do
equally well in his tenure.
The incoming National Chairman,
Mr Nugent, was unfortunately
Mr Pete Attwood, Wessex Branch (left), receiving the Frank
unable to attend the AGM due to Hooper prize shield from Mr Pat Bowring, acting National
a hip fracture he had incurred in a
recent incident, a real tragedy for
Chairman (right).
a man who has always been passionate about an outstanding contribution to the CMPE
the CMPE and industry affairs.
and industry. This year’s deserving winner
was Mr Pete Attwood who has made a
One fellow branch member paid tribute to tremendous contribution to enhancing the
Mr Nugent and said: “Bob has been a long
term member and stalwart support of CMPE
professionalism of the industry.
over many years and has an industry insight Mr Bowring said: “Pete has made an
and professionalism that is second to none. outstanding contribution to improving
He has made some superb contributions industry standards and has tirelessly worked
to the management and promotion of the to ensure that both his branch and CMPE
Northampton branch and the members have National are promoted within the heart of
every confidence that Bob will be an invaluable
asset to National Council as our Chairman.
industry. No one deserves this award more.”
These are difficult times given the economic Incoming National Vice
crisis that we still face as an industry and so Chairman
members in the association will appreciate and A surprise announcement was that Professor
value his strong leadership at the helm over David Edwards (Staffs and Midlands
the next 12 months.”
Branch), Founder of OPERC and Director
of the Centre for Business Innovation and
Mr Frank Fiveash (Sussex branch) added: Enterprise at Birmingham City University,
“Bob joined the CMPE Northampton Branch in had been approached to apply for the
1986, serving the branch well since that time, position as National Vice Chairman.
and in 1996 he became National Chairman Professor Edwards accepted the position
for the first time. Joining John Laing and Son upon the understanding that he wished to
as an apprentice at 15, he worked his way work in partnership with National Officers to
through all the vast range of mechanical plant
owned by that company, repairing everything
bring about changes to CMPE.
mechanical from a BSA Bantam motor bike to He said: “I have been a member of the
walking draglines and Euclid dump trucks. He CMPE for many years and it provides a
has spent the last 10 years involved with crane conduit through which I can maintain healthy
hire and its operations. We wish him a speedy links with industrialists and also share my
recovery and look forward to seeing him in ideas and research work. CMPE has always
action again.”
been proud supporters of my research
work and the time is now right to make a
Frank Hooper Prize
contribution in return. My intention is to
In Mr Nugent’s absence, Mr Pat Bowring evoke change and to promote and grow the
(Wessex Branch) adopted the role of acting association for the greater good and benefit
National Chairman and had the pleasure of of members. We have to invest in products,
presenting the annual Frank Hooper prize for services and support for members to give
5 CMPE ��������������������Newsletter September 2011