The commemorative event was held exactly ten years to the day that the excellent organisation’s Memorandum and Articles of Association had been signed, and in that time The Security Institute has become the largest association for security professionals in the UK.
Earlier in the day, outgoing chairman Bill Wyllie had described how, in the first quarter of 1999, a group of ASIS members wished to find a way to communicate better – with chief executives, Human Resources professionals and end users of all types – the true nature of security as a professional field of activity.
Why The Institute was founded
However, they soon realised there was no objective system for measuring and accrediting the many high-calibre security practitioners in the UK. As a direct consequence, The Security Institute was formed “to enhance the professionalism and profile of the business of security”.
Guests joining in the celebrations included Institute president Lord Carlile of Berriew QC and his wife Alison, John Aplin Award winner Emma Thomas, BSIA chairman Stuart Lowden and his wife Fenella, Terry Scallan (the chairman of the South African Institute of Security) and his wife Agatha and Sibu Ncube, chairman of the South African Security Industry Alliance, national president of the South African Security Association and a patron of the South African Institute of Security.
Wine tasting and tour of Vinopolis
The evening included a wine tasting and a tour of Vinopolis, when Institute members and guests were able to taste over 130 wines from around the world – not to mention a Caribbean Rum cocktail!
Inevitably this set the mood for the fun-filled evening, which had been supported by a number of Institute directors and committee members including Mike Bluestone, Jim Castle, Nigel Churton, Doug Cook, David Cresswell, Peter Hale, Nigel Horsfall, Justin King, Patricia Knight, Rod Leeming, Ken Livingstone, Stuart Lowden, Steve Massey, Tim McClune, Chris Meager, Di Thomas, Stephane Vuille, Mark Whitaker, Geoff Whitfield and the aforementioned Mr Wyllie.
Companies supporting the event were Arc Training International, Lynceus, the CIA Excel Group, Corporate and Executive Solutions, Linx International, Minimal Risk, Perpetuity Group, Receptors Security Systems, SJM Executive Security Consultancy, SMR Group and Wilson James.
Raffle prizes by the dozen!
Raffle prizes donated by Arc Training International, Linx International, Martin Smith, Receptors and Geoff Whitfield included dinner, bed and breakfast at a lovely hotel in Berkshire, a Samsung digital camera, a day out in a chauffeur-driven vintage R-type Bentley, a weekend in a six-bedroom house on the shores of Loch Long and bottles of the finest malt whisky.
David Gill was a formidable auctioneer, selling holidays in Cyprus and France that had very kindly been donated by Norman Russell and barrister Adrian Maxwell, and two luxurious overnight packages including dinner at the chic boutique Hotel Maiyango in Leicester.