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