ICT 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
Wednesday 4th June 2014
Over 40 members of the Institute of Circuit Technology recently attended a celebration dinner to mark the 40th anniversary of the Institute.
Bill Wilkie proposed the idea of marking this occasion by holding the celebration dinner on the eve of the Annual Symposium to be held at the Great Western Railway STEAM Museum at Swindon on the following day. The event was held in a private dining room at the Wiltshire Golf and Country club, in Wooton Bassett, which is the spiritual home of the Southern PCB Golf Day and many of the members were able to made their way there on Wednesday evening on auto pilot.
The celebration attracted many familiar faces. The Institute started as the Association of Circuit Technologists and 3 of the early members were present. David Clayton, Maurice Hubert and John Walker. Unfortunately Bruce Routledge and Rex Rozario were unable to attend. Bill Wilkie, the ICT's Technical Director read out comments from over 30 absent friends who could not be at the dinner, but had taken time out to wish the members well on this auspicious occasion.
Martin Goosey introduced a brief history of the institute from its beginnings in 1974, starting with the first Chairman, Doug Taylor, who was the business partner of Bruce Routledge, our present Journal Editor and leading onto the present day. The UK PCB industry has changed dramatically over the years. From a peak of over 400 manufacturing companies the effect of global manufacturing has seen this number reduce to approximately 65. It is a testament to the success of the ICT that the membership of the institute is currently over 300. The Foundation course has attracted near record attendance this year. The Annual Symposium has over 50 delegates registered which is also a recent high point.
The evening was thoroughly enjoyable and it was a valuable occasion to catch up with old friends and colleagues that I have known for over 35 years. Special thanks go to Bill Wilkie for organising this event and getting us all together.
Richard Wood-Roe
ICT Council
