The IDE Midlands Region meeting served as a reminder of what is great about demolition.
Hosted jointly by IDE president John Woodward and Adrian and Noel McLean of Armac Group, the initial meeting was the usual mix of legislation updates, training changes and video presentations required to make such meetings CPD-worthy.
But when the formalities ceased, the meeting came to life to provide me with a timely reminder of why I pursued a career writing about demolition in the first place.
Over a traditional and heady mix of beer and curry, the meeting quickly gave way to a free-for-all discussion. Lost contracts were bemoaned; won contracts were celebrated; and tales (tall or otherwise) were told. In a period of just a few hours, the discussion topics ranged from football and Asbestos Regulations to the challenges of working in Wales and the recreational drug habits of scaffolders.
In short, the meeting was where bureaucracy and banter collided. And for once in an age where even the type of site gloves worn is stipulated by a quango-created legal document, banter won.
So the next time the IDE is in your area, you really should take a few hours to pop along. Chances are, you’ll learn something. But even if you don’t, you’ll enjoy the craic and you’ll have a few tales to tell your work colleagues the following morning.
