C O N T E X T 1 0 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 9 41 A final word from the president Five exciting years My five years as president from 2003 have been full of challenges and pleasures. Re-establishing UDAL, setting up our Gus Astley Memorial Fund, working with three of our chairs and getting our first director fully operational, kept us busy.These were balanced by the simple pleasures of sharing the many successes of IHBC and its individual members with the varied agencies and professionals I met, both inside and outside the heritage sector. Not only was I able to develop my capacity to comfortably absorb quantities of food and drink, I also honed the skills required to work the room – although even I was defeated when a company of 1,800 of us sat down together for lunch at Christmas 2007. I have met a lot of new people and have, I hope, made links with those who may do us some good, links which will prove to be fruitful and long-lived. I have tried to be as encouraging to the achievements and personal qualities of my fellow members as opportunities provided. Unfortunately, the culture we live in is one of too much criticism and too little praise.We need to work at reversing this for our members when we can. In all, I had a great time and would not have missed this chance to champion our institute for the world. I am very happy to stay in IHBC harness and have a go at the three past-presidential jobs Sean has kindly directed me towards, so my face will be around for a little bit longer. I would like to add my warm appreciation of the support of the three chairs who held office in my time (Eddie Booth, JohnYates and Dave Chetwyn) and of our other elected officers who continue to work tirelessly for us. My thanks also go to our excellent staff whose devotion to the cause continues to impress me, as well as to the many able officers and members of our branches who made me more than welcome on the visits I made to their domains. I reserve my special thanks for Sean, our indefatigable director, who not only keeps us all so focused on achievement but with whom I have been able to make great music right from the start. Finally, I was most touched by the generous words of the chair and council at its meeting in December 2008.The model of Sir John Soane’s House in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, presented to me on that occasion, occupies pride of place in my home as befits such a handsome reminder of five exciting years of the IHBC. My photograph of this beautifully crafted model does not do it full justice but it does enable members to share something of the great pleasure I take in it. David Lovie, past president The model of Sir John Soane’s House presented to David Lovie, immediate past president, by IHBC chair Dave Chetwyn at the December 2008 council meeting Member on the move Cycling the Americas Jonathan (Joff) Duck, a conservation officer with Huntingdonshire District Council, and his wife are about to cycle 20,000 miles in aid of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Jonathan has been in local authority conservation for 11 years, formerly with New Forest District Council. Before this he was a bricklayer and before that a building surveyor. He likes buildings… The idea of cycling came to him a long time ago, but it was only while on honeymoon in Chile last year that he realised that his wife might actually like to undertake the trip with him. From then on, it has been rather busy. He has renovated his Grade II, 17th century timber-framed house, built an extension, replaced 10 storm-proofed windows with flush-framed, hand-made casements, installed a new kitchen and shower room, and even had time to practice riding his bike. (Consent was obtained for the extension and windows, though the Architectural Panel of the National Trust, which owns the lease, rather dragged its heels). Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy was chosen by Joff and his wife Joy as his best man’s nephew suffers with the illness. Children with this condition can ride their bicycles up until they are about five or six, but become wheelchair bound by the time they have their seventh birthday, and they generally do not get to celebrate their 21st. The Ducks’ intention is to cycle across the USA after arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Once they have rested in Seattle, they will pedal to Mexico by way of the west coast and then through all of Central America before flying from Panama to Ecuador, before wending their way down the Andes to Tierra del Fuego. Joff intends to give a few talks about UK conservation-based en route in aid of the charity. It is thought that the journey will probably take two years, as Jonathan likes to talk a lot and the two of them do not pedal very fast. If you would like to sponsor them, or simply marvel at their endeavour, they can be found at www.justgiving. com/cycletheamericas or www. cycletheamericas.org
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