We could have written about it earlier, but without the photos you wouldn't have been able to see what a good time we were all having... Well the photos are here now and we're delighted to report that the recent British Institute of Cleaning Science's Annual Awards bash was as much fun as ever and that the 'networking' continued into the early hours of the morning.

These events always offer a great opportunity to spend time socially with those we do business with throughout the rest of the year and this one was no exception. I know we didn't get to speak to everyone but it was delightful to catch up with Linda and Vincent who had flown over from Singapore as well as Mike Sweeney, Leslie Smallman and Gary Keenan who'd travelled across the Irish Sea to be with us.

As well as congratulating the winners I have to say a big "well done" to ex-Institute Chairman Mike Fletcher who made a marvellous job of holding everything together and caused several outbreaks of raucous laughter as well as a few blushes here and there. If he ever decides to leave the industry I think there's a job as an entertainer out there somewhere for him!

If you didn't manage to get to the dinner, our rundown on the Awards winners follows... (click each pic to view larger image)

Pic left: Colin Hanks (r) of Premiere Products accepts the Alan Edward Memorial Award for centre excellence in Cleaning Supervisory Skills provision from David Driver of Vileda Professional.

Pic right: Gary Keenan (l), on behalf of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Institute takes the Arthur Ayres Award from John Ayres, one of the original members of the Institute. The trophy is for best annual branch recruitment.

Pic left: Mike Sweeney (l), former BICSc Chief Executive, is presented with the BICSc World Wide Award by Colin Hasson.

Pic right: Leslie Smallman is awarded the Eric Hill Medal for Past Services to the Institute by Jane Hill, daughter of Sybil Hill, who has endowed the award in memory of the BICSc founder Eric Hill.

Pic left: Judith West, the choice of the BICSc Council to receive the Sholom Gordon Trophy for outstanding service to the Institute and the Industry, deservedly accepts the trophy from John Wilkins, former Sales Director of Columbus Dixon, on behalf of Sidney Gordon. Sidney originally presented the trophy to the Institute in memory of his father Sholom.

Pic right: Professor David Bellamy is pictured with the winners of his Evironmental Awareness Award, Brabins Endowed School of Chipping, Near Preston and the runners-up, Bingley Primary School and Potley Hill School Hampshire.

11th October 2007