Mike Bayless (pictured left) due to be intalled as Master of the Worshipful Company of
Environmental Cleaners in just four weeks, failed to explain the background
to his choice of jacket. We reckon it may have been to help those he'd planned to meet at the show, (but who may not have met him before) to recognise him...

"You won't fail to recognise me - I'll be the one in the brightest, brashest jacket!"

Mike recently sold his business Berncastle Cleaning Supplies who took the decision to exhibit for the first time (pictured right) - a decision made easy by the offer from non-exhibitor Greyland Chemicals to use their own stand design. Commercial Director Sarah Plumridge was delighted with the clean bright result.

Contico's Vernon Holmes (pictured left) was also trying out some bold attire. Now was this because he was trying to avoid being recognised or was he simply 'punch drunk' from trying to look after all the potential customers on his stand - which as usual, was 'heaving' throughout?

Chemspec's Julie Roberts took time away from her customers to officially thank Bob Jennings, Head of Infection Control at Portsmouth Hospital, for his support (pictured right).

Bob uses a lot of Chemspec products and training methods in his work.

"I've been a customer of Chemspec for years," he enthused.

Another 'official' piece of business carried out at the show was the signing of an agreement between the UK's Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association and the US ISSA, which means that
CHSA is now the voice of ISSA in the UK. Our picture (left) shows CHSA Chairman David Garcia (proprietor of Polaris Plastics) and ISSA's John Garfinkel.

Also on that stand, CHSA's General Secretary and ISSA/Interclean's Mark Armitage (pictured right) were helping to promote the CHSA's quality standards for paper disposables, black bags and mops.

Is this an industry first? On their stand which had a Victorian magicians theme Selden Research used a 3D movie in a magicians booth to promote the company's new launches. John went inside and was glad he did before the lunchtime beers...

OspreyDeepclean's Mike Osiadacz said that this show was the "best ever" in the UK that they had experienced, demonstrated by the number of visitors who made their way to the biggest stand ever operated by the company (see pic below left).

"Existing and potential clients from all market sectors visited to discuss steam cleaning technology and its benefits", said Mike.

Unger's new General Manager John Sobucinski who we met for the first time at the show and saw again on the last day, declared that his only regret was "that I didn't make everyone go to bed at 4.30 this morning!"

The still from of our movie (see right) of Disposables UK's Emma Wood is deceiving. At first glance she looks as if she's drinking alone on an empty stand, but we actually caught her stocking up the fridge with beers prior to the start of yet another very busy day and so naturally John asked her for one. Click the image to see the bar slide!

Peter Holt of Truvox had a fantastic show, with lots of visitors keen to learn more about his new 'low end of market but still great quality' equipment. Of particular interest, we understand, was the new 'Air Mover' range of high performance carpet and room dryers. The one Peter is holding in our picture can dry a 20 metre x 20 metre room in just 20 minutes and yet is easily portable as our picture (left) shows.

ESP's Carl Theakston also had something new to show off - a fantastic boat and a Big Issue vendor! Carl is working flat out to raise money for homeless charities such as The Big Issue and is soon to join three others in rowing the Atlantic for charity, (more of that in a future issue of Cleanzine).

Someone else doing his bit for charity was Brian Chappel of Signature Aromas. He'd installed a chocolate fountain and anyone helping to fill his Comic Relief charity collection box was able to help themselves to fresh fruit and marshmallows, before dunking them in molten chocolate. John said it was "Out of this world!"

Also "out of this world" according to those gathered around was the sight of these two ladies on the motor bike that Hydramaster sponsors.

One name from the past is forensic scientist Jeff Charlton, who used to fascinate me with his cleaning stories when I first joined the industry in 1992. I'm still fascinated by his stories and think you will be too - he's going to be writing a regular monthly column for us, starting soon. Jeff was showing advanced products and metering equipment available from the newly established Instutute for cleaning technicians and explained some of the courses that are being held in England and Spain.