This BCAS 80^th Anniversary Ball, held at the newly refurbished Savoy Hotel in London on Saturday 20 November, proved a major success. Outgoing president Martin Wright welcomed incoming president Colin Mander, who made the point that a large part of his focus for the next two years will be in promoting genuine manufactured parts, as well as publicising the activities and benefits of BCAS through a highly proactive public relations campaign. Impressive circus entertainment was provided at regular points during the evening’s festivities. Also, football legend Sir Geoff Hurst spoke in his role as president of children’s charity Sparks, while highly respected English television and film actor Robert Powell was the auctioneer for the evening, raising thousands of pounds for the charity. All monies raised from the Ball will be presented to Sparks and BCAS is very grateful for those who sponsored many of the activities that took place during the evening.

 

 

The final decade of the 20th Century saw BCAS celebrate its Diamond Jubilee and although the society was in a healthy position with 75 members, the UK market was flat, with members increasing their efforts in overseas markets where opportunities were available. This compares with the view ten years before when in our Golden Jubilee year the market was at a ten-year low. Evidence, if it was ever needed, that the members of the society recognise the value of membership during challenging times that come around.

The society activities were at an all-time high due to the European Harmonisation due in 1992 and the Pressure Systems legislation in the UK. Directives were being produced on what seemed to be a daily basis, and the need for the society and its members to identify what technical support standards will be needed, if any, continued apace.

In 1991 membership increased and with a question mark over the security of our tenure in Leicester House the BCAS board took the decision to move to 33-34 Devonshire Street, where the society benefited from an enhanced image and better facilities. It also reduced its costs because the society shared the offices with another trade association. Two seminars were held, one in Manchester one in Glasgow, in response to calls from the membership for events to be held outside London. Even though these two ran at a loss for the society it was felt important to support the members’ requests to hold some meetings outside London.

Monitoring and updating members on the growing number of Directives and draft Directives proved to be a valuable service to members and with the close liaison between PNEUROP and CAGI in the USA a joint publication ‘Acceptance Test Codes for serial built compressors’ was published. This ultimately became one of the Annex‘s in ISO1217.

The first of January 1995 saw the introduction of the Machines Directive, which added to the society‘s already busy schedule of informing members and assisting with interpretation and guidance. Outside of the core activity of the society, and after celebrating 25 years of members playing (serious) golf at Moretonhampstead, the members in 1995 formed the British Compressed Air Golf Society and honorary member John Broom Smith took on the captaincy under the guidance of vice-president Keith Sheldon. The Golf Society was planned to hold meetings a year at various golf clubs and members (of all handicaps) were expected to bring guests. It proved so successful it is still going strong today.

By 1997, the distributor sector of the society had grown dramatically and the strength of that sector was recognised by the launch of the BCAS Distributor Charter. Combined with the increased number of committees, sub-committees, working groups meetings, legislative and standards bodies meetings, the society saw a record number of meetings and increased workload. Within 2 years there were more than 40 distributor locations throughout the UK that had achieved the prestigious Charter status. The publicity, promotion and continual monitoring of the Charter would remain a priority for the society until it was to be replaced with the AirSAFE Register some 10 years in the future.

In 1999, BCAS launched its first website, which, along with the increase in editorial output and commercial activities on top of its core technical activities, placed the society in a strong position to meet the demands of the 21st century. Finally, at the 1999 AGM on 2 December the society was able to welcome its 100th member, a number that its has continued to build upon.

 

 

BCAS is currently taking bookings for the following BCAS training courses:

 

15 December BCAS London

More dates will be added throughout 2011 and listed in future issues.

 

6 - 10 December 2010 NDT Sheffield

For details, costs and booking your places on any on the above courses contact Rosie Harris at the BCAS office on 020 7935 2464 or email rosie@bcas.org.uk.

 

Following requests from members, BCAS is currently working on a new series of one-day and online courses for Compressed Air Service Engineers. If you would like to find out more about this course email technical@bcas.org.uk.