The East Anglia Timber Trade Association completed it’s 25th year in its current format, thriving and growing well during this period, despite the machinations of Brexit and the political uncertainty for all of its members.
I am pleased to report that the 2109 – 2020 year excelled its expectations and is in a position of strength to move forward further.
Our membership stands at near the highest level in its first ¼ century
Our funds and reserves are secure and increased proportionally during this calendar period and we now have sufficient funding on reserve and set side, to fully expand our project base over the next two or three years.
We have had new and younger persons join our committee and although not yet in the proportion we would like now, we have, at last, a growing gender mix on the committee, both of which we see that as a key driver going forward.
We have had extremely well attended meetings, in differing locations throughout this period.
A few words on our projects and initiatives during 2019 /2020 involving Engagement with our industry, Educational with our Universities and Colleges.
Earlier last year EATTA assisted and supplied materials to Anglia Ruskin Design and build Dept Architectural Faculty enabling students’ hand on experience in design and Build -EATTA provided Lecturers with practical support for this project.
We also hosted a delegation including overseas Town Planners to BRE @ Watford.
During this period, we actively toured and promoted to new universities in our Region our programme for Lecturers in Architecture, Structural engineering and Carpentry “Who Teaches the Teachers “all pledged to participate.
In May, EATTA sat on a judging pane on building design awards and assisted students in setting out initial criteria for low-cost high-density accommodation housing.
In June, EATTA attended and spoke and awarded two prizes to students with the best designs in timber at Anglia Ruskin University Architectural design awards.
In September EATTA kindly sponsored by VIDA Timber AB hosted it’s latest WTTT Project accompanying a tour of Regional University Lecturers in South Sweden of VIDA forestry and sawmilling operations which highlighted our products sustainability and was an outstanding success.
On the 22nd September EATTA celebrated it’s 25th year with a celebration dinner in Kings College – we were able to invite many of it’s past Chairman who were instrumental in the development if this Association.
October, we highlighted the alarming spread of the Spruce Bark beetle and our concerns to The UK Forestry Commission – this is ongoing. This year we plan yet again to further the WTT programme.
During this next forthcoming period, headed by myself, a new aim is to start a new project in 2020 / 2021 with a combined knowledge and networking day bringing together our members with Trade
professionals i.e. Architects / Structural Engineers / Designers then lecturers/researchers, regulatory people…aiming to bend our members knowledge into all these areas to benefit both educational, practical and commercial opportunities to further our members opportunities.
I believe The Association is well placed now to pursue the goals.
After many years we will not be able to enjoy our Annual dinner at Kings College so we have taken this as a challenge to find a radically different venue offering us the opportunity to finally reward members without restriction of places to celebrate with us.
The EATTA Annual Dinner 2020 will be held at The Imperial War Museum at Duxford in the fabulous Air Space Room and our aim is to utilise this splendid location and capitalise and also attempting to hold the largest Annual Timber Trade function outside of London yet recorded, whilst strictly maintaining our remit of ‘quality not just quantity’ A large number of tickets have already been requested, so please contact Sheila with your requirements – Go spread the word!
Finally, it is time for me to bow out after being longer in The Chair than any previous incumbent passing the office, onto Richard Fatkin, to oversee its next period of development. The King is dead long live The King!
I leave handing over a strong, forward looking Association, well financed with new projects to run in both within our region and to participate nationally.
I could not achieve many of these successes without the trust, dedication and support of our Secretary and many of the committee to which I am indebted to and acknowledge with gratification.