C O N T E X T 1 7 4 : D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 13 THE IHBC AT 25 MALCOM AIRS From chrysalis to butterfly The IHBC has found new ways of achieving its aims of establishing professional standards, improving education, providing a forum and promoting conservation. I first encountered the Association of Conservation Officers in its very early incarnation when Mike Pearce, the driving force behind its foundation and its first chairman, convened a meeting of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire conservation officers to encourage us to join. I had moved from the well-resourced historic buildings division of the Greater London Council in 1974 to become the lone advocate for conservation in the planning department of the newly constituted South Oxfordshire District Council. The Oxfordshire County Council, which had been the previous planning authority, had not thought it necessary to employ any specialised conservation expertise so the reorganisation of local government provided a blank canvas for us lonely conservation officers in the five new district councils. We had already come together for informal meetings to share our common concerns, but the idea of a national forum which would give us a broader perspective was immediately attractive and it did not require much persuasion from Mike for us all to join the ACO. Shortly afterwards, in February 1983, the first 100 members of the association received their copy of Context No 1 in its original typewritten and stapled form. In welcoming us, Mike bravely set out his definition of a conservation officer. The tools of their trade, he wrote, ‘apart from patience, diplomacy and humour [are] experience of problems successfully overcome, a thorough knowledge of UK planning law, appreciation of costs and values, and the availability of grants [and] above all… an understanding of the problems of ordinary people or landowners, or public bodies and local authorities alike’. It is a succinct description which remains valid in the very different circumstances of today. The original intention of the ACO was not ‘to create a professional Institute or learned Society… but rather to allow conservation officers to meet their colleagues on a local, or regional, and voluntary basis; and by doing so they may enlarge their individual and collective experience.’ All with ‘the minimum necessary formality’. Such were the modest beginnings. Edited from his kitchen at home by John Fidler, with assistance from the chairman and Peter Richards, our first treasurer, and with a wonderfully humorous cartoon by Jenny Birkett as a heading, Context was a brilliant initiative to communicate with members. Jenny soon took over as editor and, despite marrying the chairman, continued in that role for the next seven years before handing over to Bob Kindred, who oversaw its transformation into a sophisticated commercial publication. The regular features on law and practice from M’Learned Friend and Sir Titus, and the technical advice offered by Supporting Columns, all helped to expand our knowledge, while the book reviews and the case studies ensured that we were well informed about current issues in the field. Bob was the last volunteer to sit in the editor’s chair before the appointment of Rob Cowan at the beginning of the new century. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to all of them for providing us with such an effective and readable journal that remains eagerly anticipated with each new issue. I am particularly pleased that Rob has continued the tradition of charting the tribulations of those involved with conservation by deftly drawn cartoons first introduced by Jenny and now often in full colour. As Mike Pearce wrote in the very first issue, a sense of humour is crucial in promoting the cause. Both wearing well: Malcolm Airs and the 1996 ACO school sweatshirt
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