HELLO AGAIN!
Weekly Service Dealer Update resumes today
by Chris Biddle
Hello again, I am delighted to say that this weekly Service Dealer newsletter is back - and will be published weekly on a Friday at 12 noon (although today I might not meet that deadline, bit sluggish after the terrific Harvest Service and Lunch for the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists yesterday held at St Brides Church in Fleet Street and the Stationers Hall, both stunning venues)
It’s been an exhilarating past few weeks. First, I was able to complete the move from the offices that had been the home of the magazines over 20 years, never easy given the extent of archive material I had the sift through, deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. For the past 5 or 6 years, pictures and press releases have all largely been received electronically, and stored on hard drives - it’s the previous 20 years of photos, cuttings, old mags, leaflets that took some going through.
Next year, it’s the 25th Anniversary of my producing the initial Garden Machinery Retailer - and my aim is to produce and publish a special Anniversary Book containing the cream of the content for an age that has seen huge change in the industry.
Meanwhile, given the amount of material, I’ve taken a small office nearly opposite the old one in New Street (details in the Contact panel) which has a well-equipped kitchen for anyone who’d like to drop in for a coffee)
At the same time of course, I was working closely with Scott MacCallum and designer Tim Moat to ensure that the magazines, Turf Pro and Service Dealer, moved forward in tandem. I am delighted at the look and content of the first issues - and whilst acknowledging that there will be a transitional period as the magazine settles down, I am absolutely confident that the title will go from strength to strength in the hands of a very experienced and talented new team. More about the mag elsewhere in this newsletter.
Then the Awards! It was our fifth year in a row at Savill Court on the first night of SALTEX, and what a wonderful evening. The stunning set devised by Malcolm Hill of Emerald Bay Events created the Wow factor with the inclusion of wildflower turf used at the Olympics Opening Ceremony. Debbie Dale of the AEA organised the Awards, and as ever was a model of calm efficiency - and it all culminated in a wonderful gesture of me being given a Lifetime Achievement Award.
This was an unexpected honour, accompanied by some lovely words from Kim Macfie. I’ve always thought that those who can do - and those who can’t teach or write about it! In that respect, I find it hard to categorise exactly what I have done over the last 25 years, except to say I have met some extraordinary people, heard inspirational tales of achievement, and watched from the sidelines as the chapters unfolded of an industry that quietly and effeciently goes about it’s business.
After the Awards, Trish and I look off for a lovely holiday - the first in 25 years when I haven’t been worried by looming deadlines!
So now, I am able to take more of a back-seat. Scott, Tim and the team are fronting up the magazine - and I will be have my ‘fourpenneth’ on industry matters that intrigue, annoy or interest me through this e-mail every Friday.
Best wishes
Chris
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