Clearview National January 2019 - Issue 206 | Page 4

PROUD SPONSOR OF
INDUSTRY NEWS
FROMTHEEDITOR
THE FUTURE
IS NOW
While we can never be
really sure of anything, I’m
certain that I’ve never heard the
word ‘uncertainty’ as much as I
did last year, and though I’d like
to be proved wrong, it certainly
doesn’t look like the near future
will be much different…
» » NEW YEAR IS TRADITIONALLY ABOUT
ringing in the changes, out with the old and in with the
new, and a fresh start. Yet, at time of print, with so much
political confusion and complication, it’s very difficult to
imagine how 2019 is going to pan out. And while I’m a serial
list-maker and a seldom risk-taker myself, even the most
meticulously organised person would be hard-pushed to
calculate what life – and perhaps even more importantly,
industry – will be like after March.
They say: ‘fail to prepare and prepare to fail’, but how
do we prepare for something when we don’t know what
that something is? Well whether we are in the EU or not,
(or half in, half out or somewhere in between), we do what
we’ve always done and keep going. I’ll be the first to admit
that if I never see another ‘Keep Calm & Carry On’ tea
towel, fridge magnet, biscuit tin, or whatever, it’ll be too
soon; but over recent months I’ve definitely started to
appreciate the sentiment behind the slogan.
In 2018, I saw some people (outside of the industry)
worry so much about what was going to happen – or
not going to happen – that they lost focus of the ‘here
and now’, but in fenestration I was enthused to see so
many companies ‘plan for the worst, hope for the best’,
but most significantly just get on with it. Something that’s
really impressed me over the last six months, working on
this publication, is the tenacity and determination in this
industry to make it work. Furthermore, excitingly, with so
much growth in 2018, lots of the new year submissions
show companies preparing for another great year, no
matter what.
Like it or not, the ‘B-Word’ is going to be in and on
the news for a long time to come. What are you doing
to prepare your business for Brexit, can you even plan
for something that isn’t definite? Get in touch with your
action plans, I know our readers will be just as interested
as I am.
Happy New Year and see you next month.
Gemma,
Editor
4 » JA N 2019 » CL EARVI E W- U K . C O M
GGF TRIBUTE TO A
TECHNICAL PIONEER
» » STAFF, MEMBERS AND
former colleagues of the Glass
and Glazing Federation (GGF)
were saddened to hear of the
passing of former employee,
John Weir on Saturday 17
November.
As the Federation’s first
Standards Committee Secretary,
John was a stalwart who
developed the GGF’s Technical
Department and helped develop
many of the early standards in
the industry. In the late 80s,
John was instrumental in helping
the UK to Harmonise Standards
within the European Union.
From the GGF’s earliest days
in 1977, John was involved
in the GGF’s technical set up.
His wife Rosemary was the
GGF Membership Secretary
and he was Technical Secretary.
Rosemary was involved in the
negotiations which brought the
four Glazing Associations (Glass
Benders, Safety Glass, Insulating
Glass and Flat Glass) together
to form the Glass and Glazing
Federation.
Not only did John drive
forward industry standards,
but he also helped develop the
Federation to ensure that it
became the credible face for all
matters technical. In doing so, he
enabled technical and legislative
discussions at local, national
and international Governmental
level.
Steve Rice, GGF Director
of Technical Affairs led the
tributes; “John was an incredibly
knowledgeable, loyal and
passionate person. He was
pivotal in the co-ordination and
production of “The GGF Glazing
Manual” in late 1977. It was a
landmark, the first significant
technical publication the GGF
ever launched. I was extremely
sorry to hear this news and my
thoughts are with his family at
this time.”
Ian Chisholm (former GGF
Deputy Chief Executive), shares
his memories.
“It was good to see John this
year and even though he was
far from his old self, we enjoyed
some precious moments when
his old sense of humour would
re-emerge. John was an important
figure in not just the GGF’s
history, but also that of the
entire sector. My thoughts and
sympathies are with Rosemary
and the rest of the family.”
John Agnew, GGF President
added. “I knew John for many
years and admired his vast
knowledge and passion for the
glass and glazing industry. He
was a true pioneer of the industry
and advanced the GGF on many
fronts. My sincere condolences go
to all his family and friends at this
difficult time.”
www.ggf.org.uk