Tuesday 13 August 2019

Penultimate Presidential Update


Welcome to my penultimate Presidential letter! Where has the time gone?  It’s been another busy month representing the IRRV. You may recall that when I left you last month I was preparing to head off to the East Anglian AGM. Well, I’m pleased to announce that the sun shone in Norfolk at Peter Beales Roses where the Chief Executive and I were treated to yet more marvellous hospitality. 

Unfortunately David then had to leave but I stayed on for the tour of the grounds and gardens and even survived the demonstration. It’s probably just as well David had gone as the gentleman providing the demonstration of all things rose related became very enthusiastic about the quality of his secateurs which promptly flew from his hand and skimmed my leg, much to the horror of Chairman, Adrian Mills and other Exec members. Imagine being known as the Association who maimed the President! Hopefully I managed to allay their fears and calls for First Aid were turned away as unnecessary but it did provide a little humour for the afternoon as we teased the gardener especially when he threatened to show us how to prune roses with an electric hedge trimmer……I maintained a safe distance.

Actually, perhaps the President should get danger money as writing this I’ve realised that the next event was the IRRV Association National Golf Day organised by Council Member Mr Bob Trahern. Not being a golfer, I was happy to help out selling raffle tickets and even agreed to sit in a hut at the half way point to catch those I’d missed in the club house. Getting to and fro said hut proved interesting on occasion! However, it was well worth it to also persuade the teams to make a further donation to my chosen charity – Planets - raising a tot of whisky in memory of Mike Peterson an extremely active member of the Scottish IRRV Association who sadly passed away suddenly and whose funeral was that very day. The Scottish Association team did him proud. An all-round excellent event culminated in dinner and prize giving. The Association prize going to the West Midlands and the sponsor’s prize to Rundles - see left and below.  I've also decided that I really do need a box to stand on when having photographs taken like this! 

As I say, I couldn’t really comment on the quality of the golf but I must say that there seemed to be a healthy rivalry with regard to golfing attire, with many teams going all out and purchasing bespoke shirts emblazoned with their team and, in some cases, individual member’s details! Being an Exec member of the London and Home Counties Association, I have to say I am a little biased in favour of their emerald green outfits. 


 







That was the Monday and on the Friday of that week, I headed off to the final dinner event of the calendar – the South Eastern dinner. Some may say they saved the best ‘til last but I couldn’t possibly comment! Set in the beautiful surroundings of Chilston Park, it was wonderful to catch up with colleagues from the region including Association President Patrick Knight who, I’m pleased to say, didn’t have any unusual gifts for me as he did when he presented Kerry with a vinyl copy of Puff the Magic Dragon many years ago! You’ll have to ask Patrick to explain I’m afraid.

A quick trip to the Council House in Birmingham the following Monday saw the Chief Executive and I represent the IRRV at the CIPFA President’s dinner. Keen followers of these tomes will note that there were no unforeseen trips and the weather had significantly improved since my last visit to the City. Unfortunately, CIPFA and IRRV Council member Mr Richard Harbord had to change his plans at the last minute and wasn’t able to join us for the dinner. However, we did manage to meet him briefly for a coffee at a local hostelry. It was one of those venues where you have to ask to use the facilities, which he wisely did prior to boarding his train home. Having been escorted to the door, which the young waitress duly opened using the key code, time ticked by while the Chief Exec and I waited for his return. And it ticked by. And it ticked by……….. then I suddenly realised that there was rather a lot of banging coming from the toilet. It transpired that Mr Harbord was in fact “trapped” inside. Even with the assistance of the waitress, it took a few attempts to rescue him. Sadly, he had tried to call the Chief Exec for assistance but his phone was on silent and went to voicemail. Suffice to say Mr Harbord was less than impressed.

I’m glad to say that no such issues were encountered at the next event, the Wessex Association’s AGM and min-conference which took place in the beautiful city of Winchester where we welcomed in new President Terri Horner. I’m ashamed to say, Winchester wasn’t somewhere I had ventured previously but somewhere I certainly intend to return to. While it’s been a pleasure to attend all the AGM’s it was a privilege to be able to present a certificate in recognition of Long Service to Exec member Stuart Dawson. I couldn’t possibly describe his achievements as eloquently as Ray Hatchard did but hope the picture give you a flavour! 


So, until next time............Louise.

Thursday 1 August 2019

August update from the President!

The world of the IRRV gets smaller by the day, as our President finds out in her recent round of travels

Dear reader

Well, I closed my last article with details of my trip to Dubrovnik and I'll open this one with details of a trip which was somewhat closer to home - Birmingham for the Investigation and Fraud Workshop. Eagle-eyed readers may recall that my last trip to Birmingham ended in literally a trip!  However, I’m pleased to say that there were no such accidents this time, despite some weather which was truly reminiscent of the wettest Welsh day. Amid the wonderful setting of the Council House, fraud and investigation practitioners gathered to hear speakers from a wide range of areas discuss some of the most topical issues of the day and to engage with the exhibitors. 

It was also my pleasure recently to host the annual Past Presidents and Honorary Members’ lunch in London. It’s fair to say that this select gathering gets together once a year to reminisce and catch up with good friends. There were absences, as a number of IRRV individuals have been drawn to warmer, international climes of late and I’d like you to indulge me a moment while I retell a tale which demonstrates exactly how international the Institute really is. 

One of the managers at RBWM, let’s call her Sarah (after all this is her name!), recently took a break in Cyprus and she and her partner became keen attendees at the afternoon quiz in the hotel. Being the friendly sort, and noticing a gentleman on his own, she and her chap got talking to him and quickly established that “Pete” was originally from the north-west like herself and was not in fact on his own at the hotel but with his wife, who preferred to take some time out of the sun while he went to the quiz. They also quickly established that he now lived in Telford!  

A few days later, Pete’s wife, Sue, did however join him and the two couples started talking. This being the first time Sue had met Sarah, the conversation turned to Telford and the fact that Sarah usually attended a conference there in October, so knew the area a little. Hearing this, Sue said something along the lines of “Conference? In Telford? In October? Would that be the IRRV conference?” - which of course it was. It turns out that Sue worked within the Revenues team of Telford and Wrekin Council. So it just goes to prove that when you’re an IRRV associate, it’s a very small world indeed! I look forward to meeting Sue and her colleagues in October. 

We’re not quite there yet, of course. There are still presidential duties to attend and I’m so lucky that the most recent have allowed me to catch up with some more good friends and former colleagues. On 20th June, I attended the Wales Conference in Llandrindod Wells, expertly organised as ever by Executive members led by Islwyn Lewis Jones, currently North and Mid Wales Association president, and Lisa Hayward, South and West Wales president. Just to re-emphasise the “international” theme, Laura Smith, Thames Valley President, was also in attendance. It’s so much more accessible now that we don’t have to pay to get into Wales across the Severn Bridge! 

Tomorrow also sees me attend the East Anglian AGM near Thetford.  I’ve worked across the breadth of the country, having started in South Wales, then moving across to Ipswich in Suffolk, so I’m looking forward to returning to that area.  The coming weeks see yet more travel around the UK as I form an inspection team for the coveted Performance Awards with our esteemed Chief Executive. I look forward to meeting the teams and following their success on the night - in Sue’s home town!  

Yours

Louise

Louise Freeth is President of the Institute