The British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) Annual Luncheon, underpinned by the annual Security Officer Awards, always makes for a pleasurable experience. I have good reason to harbour fond memories of this event, of course, having won the Chairman’s Award for Promoting the Industry back in 2005. It was a proud moment indeed for yours truly, and the cut glass trophy sits on my PC hard drive here in the office at Ludgate House to this very day.
Yesterday’s event certainly lived up to expectations but, as things turned out, pitching up at the Hilton Hotel on London’s Park Lane wouldn’t be the first time I’d encounter an industry luminary…
From Reliance to Leverstock Green
My journey to London from Hemel Hempstead on the Green Line 758 coach is normally characterised by the chance to catch up on some rest, listen to heavy metal on the iPod (or at least I could before I lost it at Luton Airport a few weeks back), read up on the day’s news or chat to a mate or three. Yesterday, I chose the reading option.
That being the case, until I alighted the coach at Hyde Park Corner I never even noticed the fact that a certain Ken Allison – the ever-popular former chairman of Reliance Security Services – had been chatting to the driver all the way to London!
Ken retired from the industry around five years ago. It was great to see him, and good to know that he lives in my home town. Ken harbours a wealth of knowledge, and I might need to tap into it at some point.
After a brief chat about SMT Online, the industry and the BSIA in general, Ken departed to meet a colleague at one of the many plush establishments along Piccadilly. I decided to head for the Hilton, as I’d arranged to interview Sir Keith Povey on the day that he was being crowned president of the Association.
Who’s Who? of the security sector
No sooner was I in the foyer than up popped Bobby Logue, editor of Infologue.com and my co-presenter that afternoon of the Building the Future Award for 2009.
We ventured upstairs and swiftly discovered that the first floor was where it was at (man). I bumped into a veritable Who’s Who? of the industry, including Stuart Lowden, VSG’s Bill Muskin and Leon Barwell, Security Institute chairman Mike Bluestone, Professor Martin Gill, Valerie Dale of G4S, Stuart Lodge of Lodge Service (who was attending another event in the hotel), Martin Rackstraw (also now of VSG), Barry Dawson and, of course, The BSIA Girls – Pauline Coombes, Elaine Hercombe and a smiley Christine Brookes (who made me insanely jealous by telling me at every turn how she would be flying out to Barbados on holiday tomorrow, ie today!)
Not sure whether it was a concerted effort, but The BSIA Girls were each clad from head to toe in sombre black. Was this a commentary on the food about to follow? No, it most definitely wasn’t, and at least Pauline lightened the tone (literally) by sporting a smart lime green jacket!
All of the girls were very interested in finding out how my new Yorkshire Terrier puppy Eddie is progressing. Well, he’s a little diamond. He’s loving, full of life and a joy to behold as part of the Sims household. Anyway, you’ll be able to read all about his exploits on i4s very soon. I’ll say no more for the time being.
The Return of DD
Having completed my video interviews with Sir Keith and Mr Lowden, it was time for a chat with former BSIA chief executive David Dickinson, who’d flown over from his new base in Italy specially for the occasion. David is always great company, and it was so good to see him looking so fit and well.
As always, attending the pre-luncheon drinks reception at the Hilton was akin to standing in the middle of an oven. I don’t know when the management plan on discovering air conditioning, but I’d rather they did so sooner as opposed to later.
Having just grabbed an orange juice, I turned around and there was Trevor Hunwicks, the sales and marketing director at First Security. We chatted about the decision made by the Government not to licence in-house – I think you all know my views on that one by now! – and then I introduced Trevor to Nigel Blackman and Ian Drury, two good friends and pillars of the (suburban) security community who defected from editorial to PR some years back.
I once rang Ian late on a Sunday night for editorial reasons. Actually, it was a bit of a spoof call and he has yet to return the favour. Nigel baulked at the suggestion that he and Drury should car share into London. “Bike share would be far more appropriate,” countered a bristly Blackman, at which point I began to fashion pictures of The Goodies in my mind…
Gordon Ramsay eat your heart out!
After the introductory speeches had been played out and the magnificent work of BSIA member companies’ security officers had been duly recognised by way of the Security Officer Awards, it was time to settle down for what turned out to be the best luncheon – and by some distance – I have ever eaten at a BSIA event.
The first course of warm cheese, bacon and onion tartlet with a fresh asparagus-based side salad was delicious, but that was only the precursor to the best fillet of beef I have ever eaten anywhere and at any time. The fillet – itself topped with a soupcon of cheese and caramelised onions – was accompanied by crisp green beans and Dauphinoise potatoes, and of course the obligatory red wine jus. It was a triumph on a plate.
A short interlude was broken by a delicious chocolate, fresh fruit (on skewers) and sauce ensemble that, again, was worthy of the finest restaurant. I couldn’t fault any of it, not even the bread that accompanied the main course (quite obviously made on the premises, and quite obviously fashioned that day).
Throughout luncheon, I was sat next to Martin Brunt, the crime correspondent at Sky News. It’s the first time I had met him, and he was nothing less than a fascinating character. He works primarily on policing stories and spends much of his time in the Old Bailey listening to trials. We debated (and lamented) the sentencing that’s being handed down to hardened criminals these days, and came to the same conclusion. On occasion, sentencing in this country is a joke, albeit an unfunny one.
There was also discussion over my recent article on Sir Paul Stephenson – the new Met Commissioner – that was published in The Evening Standard. It’s funny how the Commissioner has been very quiet of late. “There are reasons for that,” suggested Martin, who knows Stephenson pretty well, but he didn’t elaborate.
Battling the graveyard shift
Bobby and I presented the Building The Future Award at the appropriate moment – we had the graveyard shift but everyone was very attentive, for which I must say a huge Thank You – and then, as if by magic, the formal part of the proceedings was over.
It was the perfect opportunity for a spot of networking, and I didn’t waste the opportunity. First, I had a chat with Adrian Gorham, the general manager for group and UK fraud and security at O2 Telefonica. Adrian told me that security is now a huge issue in the telecomms market, and I told him that it would be nice if we could discuss that topic at some point. Watch this space…
Next, I took time out to speak with Advance Security’s md Richard Bailey and the company’s lovely operations manager Donna Alexander, who used to work in the Security Department at Barclays Bank. The talk was mainly of the Approved Contractor Scheme, the differentiation study that goes with that and the recent SIA Conference in Manchester. Donna was slightly shy about having her picture taken, but I persuaded her in the end!
I managed to corner Peter White, the official photographer for the event, and plenty of his excellent snaps will adorn the myriad stories on the site today as soon as I have them, so fear not folks!
Thank You to everyone at the Association for a tremendously enjoyable and slick event, and congratulations once again to all of this year’s award winners.
I stayed awake all night last night to write all of the articles on the BSIA Annual Luncheon that have been posted on SMT Online and info4security today, so if you’ll excuse me I’m now going to grab some lunch – likely from our nearby Pret A Manger – and head off for a well-earned kip!