The public perception of the demolition industry is that those that work within it are rough, tough, hard-nosed and hard-headed. Frankly, there are some within the sector that are quite happy to perpetuate that image.
But anyone fortunate enough to be in attendance at the Spring Seminar of the Institute of Demolition Engineers in Leeds on Friday would have seen that reputation crumble; the rough, tough facade demolished in a very raw and very human way. This was the demolition industry that is seen only by those on the inside. It also called into question the oft-repeated trope that men can’t show their emotions.
This unexpected yet welcome display of emotion was led by the new president – Adrian McLean – who had to take a beat before bestowing a posthumous honorary IDE fellowship upon his friend Angus Holdsworth who passed away late last year. Holdsworth’s parents were there to accept the fellowship on their son’s behalf. It was a touching moment and the first standing ovation I can recall at an IDE event.
Emotion at the premature and tragic loss of one of the demolition industry’s own is appropriate and not in the least surprising.
But the emotion displayed by HiTec Demolition’s managing director Mark Mates – while equally understandable- caught everyone off-guard.
He was recounting his company’s involvement in the painstaking process of picking apart a tower block in Dagenham that was destroyed by fire in August last year. A key element of that process was recovering the personal belongings of residents. Some wanted photos; one young couple asked for a wedding dress to be recovered ahead of a long-planned wedding just a few weeks later.
But the story that lodged itself in Mark Mates’ tear ducts and in the minds of all those in attendance was a young mother who only wanted a piece of paper that had been stuck to the front of her refrigerator. And the reason it meant so much to her was that she – literally – had nothing else, aside from a mattress on the floor.
I am blessed/cursed with a robot-like stoicism. But, as Mark Mates fought back the tears, I desperately wanted to climb onto the stage and give him a reassuring hug.
It turns out that the presenters hadn’t quite finished putting our collective emotions through the proverbial wringer.
During a first-class presentation on the explosive demolition of Hexham House in Newcastle, Thompson of Prudhoe’s Paul Turbitt recounted the extreme poverty of some of those impacted by the successful blast. The hitch in his voice and the short pause while he regained his composure said more about the family values of his company than a thousand PowerPoint presentations ever could.
There were other presentations; some valuable and insightful; others educational and thought-provoking. But on my journey home, all I could think of was the vulnerability that had been on display, and the warm reaction to it.
This was the first IDE seminar I have attended in, maybe, eight years. In my opinion, the Institute felt like it had lost its direction; and many of the supposedly educational presentations had become little more than a dick-measuring contest between big name contractors, each of them eager to out-boast their rivals about their latest piece of equipment or the complexity of a project they had completed.
But the IDE has a new pilot at the helm; a pilot that is supported by some extremely good and passionate officers. Within the space of just a few months, the Institute has set industry education as its destination and is steering in that direction with renewed vigour and determination.
The greatest compliment I can pay this latest event is that it was reminiscent of the IDE’s golden age when Dr Terry Quarmby and John Woodward were at the top table. If you were around at that time, you will know that is high praise indeed.
Finally, speaking of that top table. There is seemingly a tradition within IDE circles that, during a seminar, the incumbent president sits alone at the table, acting as a moderator-cum-compère.
Through the course of eight individual presentations, Adrian McLean looked out on a packed auditorium of IDE members. He didn’t show it, at least while I was watching; but he should be immensely proud of the rejuvenation of the Institute; of the passion and engagement among IDE members; and – most of all – of an industry that is rough and tough when it needs to be, but that is reassuringly vulnerable and human too. (Just don’t tell anyone about that human part – the demolition lads have a reputation to uphold).
