SPRA members and their guests set out to make the SPRA Dinner Dance 'one of the best ever' to quote several who enjoyed great food, fine wine and excellent entertainment at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow on Friday 5 March.
SPRA President, Fergus Hardie, and his top table guests were piped into the hall by the imposing figure of Pipe Major Iain Grant who also gave the address to the haggis in his own dramatic style. After a Scottish themed dinner that included Cullen skink, haggis and medallions of Aberdeen Angus beef, the President introduced his top table guests, Hugh Ross, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Polymer Association (NIPA), Ian Porter, MD of Linpac Recycling and their wives.
Also present on the Council tables were representatives from the
British Plastics Federation,
Society for Plastics Engineers,
Cogent Sector Skills Council and
SPRA Corporate Members. In addition to the regular table hosts, Rosti, Carclo, Hardie Polymers, Engel, Plastribution, WHS and Safeglass, there were several supply chain companies enjoying the friendly atmosphere for the first time.
SPRA scholarships were awarded to three students from
Edinburgh Napier University for their performances in polymer subjects,
Mark Benstead (BSc Hons Product Design Engineering),
Steven Martin (BEng Hons Mechanical Engineering),
Steven Flint (BEng Hons Mechanical Engineering). SPRA Honorary Secretary,
Charlie Geddes was also presented with a certificate for Outstanding Service from the
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
The main speaker for the evening,
Willie Young then entertained the company with stories from his experiences as a lawyer and a top class football referee. After the meal guests continued the convivial atmosphere while demonstrating some remarkable dance styles to the music of
Life and Soul.
Several regulars noted that, unlike previous years, there was an absence of small knots of worried faces in the bar, discussing the gloom and doom in the industry. This year there was a more optimistic feel about the event and guests were already planning next year's event.
Don't miss out.
Report by Charlie Geddes, SPRA Hon Secretary
March 2010
