NEWS 7
Graham Alan Elsey
22 June 1961 – 18 December 2016
Graham , born in the United Kingdom on 22 June 1961 , started his working career in the Royal Navy in 1979 , where he was trained as an engineer , after which he served his apprenticeship as a plumber with a company called Therm-O-Vent in Sheffield , England . Here he received a City and Guilds qualification as a plumber , with a distinction in Plumbing Advanced Craft and Design .
By
Industry members
In 1990 , he decided to emigrate to South Africa where he became involved in project management , but in 1992 , his restless and ambitious nature led him to establish his own consultancy in the fields of wet services design and project management . This he did most successfully and with great enthusiasm .
Graham also served on many SABS panels , where his expertise and knowledge were received with open arms . He was a regular and frequent contributor to South Africa ’ s leading industry magazine — Plumbing Africa
— in providing informative and topical articles . Graham was a well-known and respected force on the South African plumbing scene , always happy to assist and share his knowledge and technical information .
His departure leaves a large void in the industry and so he will be sadly missed by all who knew him or who made use of his invaluable services .
The thoughts of the industry go to his wife Ann , daughters Rebecca and Jennifer , and granddaughter Daina . PA
Tribute to Brian Williams
I met Brian Williams in the early 1990s while I was a junior buyer for the company Buchel , says Scott Parnell .
During the years , I not only got to know Brian on a business level , but also personally .
The amount of knowledge and advice that Brian passed on to me is something you cannot buy or learn overnight ; it comes with many years of experience . I would always call Brian if I was uncertain about products and the applications for the different types of products , being PVC or HDPE . I always knew that the information I was receiving would be invaluable .
On a personal level , Brian enjoyed many activities and , once again , his knowledge about wildlife and fishing was incredible . Brian experienced many things in his life that some of us can only dream of .
Brian was a man of great stature and respected by both close friends and the industry .
Brian was one of the pioneers of introducing PVC into the South African market .
Brian started his plumbing career with Durapenta in the late 1960s , with Durapenta later becoming DPI , where Brian was the sales manager .
After his retirement from DPI , Brian joined Sekunjalo / Petzetakis . Brian remained with Sekunjalo / Petzetakis for many years before joining DPI again in 2009 , bringing with him a lifetime of knowledge and experience . Brian continued working for DPI until the ripe age of 80 .
Brian leaves behind a legacy in the PVC industry where knowledge such as his cannot be replaced . Rest in peace , Brian ( 8 December 1935 – 22 November 2016 ). PA
Brian Williams : a plumber and a friend of note .
Alan Lane
It is with sadness that we report the passing of Alan Lane of House of Plumbing over the holidays . A full obituary will appear in the March issue of Plumbing Africa . www . plumbingafrica . co . za February 2017 Volume 22 I Number 12