It is with great sadness that we have to report the recent death of Ken Cooper MBE
Ken was a former employee of the South Eastern Electricity Board until his retirement and had been an active member of the EEIBA Sussex Branch (now Southern Region) from 1952.until 2006. In 2001 he was awarded the MBE for his services within the local community.
During his fifty five years of service for our Charity he had held the position of both Treasurer and Secretary and for many years was a member of the EEIBA Welfare Advisory Group as well as being a welfare visitor in the Southern Region. In 1998 Ken resigned as Branch Secretary but remained as a Committee member continuing in the role of “Secretary for the Ball”, retaining overall responsibility for the organisation of the annual ball. He continued in this role until his retirement from the EEIBA in 2006.
To recognise the EEIBA centenary year, Timothy Lambert former CEO of the EEIBA announced the Charity had decided to confer the title "Companion" to those who had made a significant contribution to the Association. Ken Cooper was a recipient of this award which states "Companion in Recognition of their Signal Service to the EEIBA" He was very proud to be presented with this honour.
During his 55 years of service and following his retirement from the Branch, Ken continued to be supportive to the EEIBA until ill health prevented this. He will be sadly missed by us all, a true gentleman.
Lesley Kirkland
Secretary to the Southern Region.
The DeVere Grand Hotel in Brighton acted as the backdrop for this year’s annual Southern Region Spring Ball. Ian Lawson, Chairman for the Southern Region, welcomed over 360 guests who settled into the grand Empress Suite before Jill Nadolski, EEIBA Operations Manager, was invited to the stage to talk of the charity’s work and to thank everyone for the support received from the Southern Region so far.
The delicious four course meal started with a ham, parsley and potato samosa, minted pea crème fraiche salad followed by butternut ciabatta and parmesan cheese soup. Guests then tucked into succulent loin of lamb, red onion and goats cheese tart, roast garlic and chive mash and capped off the evening meal with a decadent apple tatin, caramel ice cream and toffee sauce.
As an additional treat the Southern Region Committee had arranged for a surprise act (sponsored by Edmundson Electrical) made up of three singing waiters/waitresses to mingle with the hotel staff during the reception and dinner before bursting into full operatic song after the main course, to the guests delight.
Lots of fundraising activity took place throughout the course of the evening, beginning with the Grand Table Raffle and followed by stand-up bingo, prizes for these having been donated by many of the Companies attending.
An impressive tombola, comprising over 200 prizes, kept guests entertained whilst STAR Showband (kindly sponsored by Legrand Electric Ltd & Electric Centre Gatwick) took to the stage singing both contemporary and classic songs ensuring the dance floor was never empty. Apache Disco (sponsored by Eaton Electric Ltd) kept the dancing going leading swingers and shakers into the early hours of the morning with more chart topping hits.
Ian Lawson stated “It is fantastic the support, sponsorship and donations we received which helped to make the night a massive success. The organization of such an event takes a great deal of work, which has been done by the Southern Region committee assisted by volunteer helpers on the night, They give their time freely, and are the main reason why this event is what it is. I am very grateful for their loyal support and I would personally like to thank them all for their hard work.
Special thanks to
- Ansell Lighting
- Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Ltd
- BG Electrical Ltd
- DeVere Grand Hotel Brighton
- Dimplex UK Ltd
- Eaton Electrical Ltd
- ECA South-East Region
- EDF Energy plc
- Edmundson Electrical Ltd Aldershot
- Edmundson Electrical Ltd Crawley
- Edmundson Electrical Ltd Docklands
- Edmundson Electrical Ltd Eastbourne
- Edmundson Electrical Ltd Maidstone
- Edmundson Electrical Ltd Tonbridge
- Edmundson Electrical Ltd Tottenham
- Electric Center Gatwick
- Focus SB Ltd
- Havells Sylvania UK Ltd
- Heat Mat Ltd
- KEW Electrical Limited
- Legrand Electric Ltd
- Newey & Eyre London & S.E. Region
- Northampton Electrical Distributors Ltd
- Philips Lighting
- R&B Star Electrical Wholesalers Ltd
- Redring Xpelair Group Ltd
- Stearn Electric Co Ltd
- Sunbeam Electrical Services
- Techelec (Brighton) Ltd
- Unitrunk
- WF Senate
- Wilson Electrical Distributors Ltd
- Wilts Electrical Wholesalers
- YESSS Electrical Ltd for the kind donation of prizes.
The date for our 80th anniversary Ball is 25th April 2014”.
EEIBA found themselves in the thick of the excitement on Sunday 21st April 2013 at this year’s Virgin London Marathon, where our EEIBA runners took part in one of the greatest sporting highlights this country sees.
Our EEIBA runners, Nick Thomson, Emma Sheekey, Rachel Hitchcocks, Susan Knight, Conrad Pope and Sam Moffatt, joined 35,000 other runners at Greenwich Park to begin an experience of a lifetime. As one of the largest annual running and fundraising events in the world EEIBA were thrilled to be there in support of their 2013 runners and to be part of the electrical atmosphere.
Cat Cruz (EEIBA Events Co-ordinator), Claire Beresford (EEIBA Corporate Fundraising Manager) and Jill Nadolski (EEIBA Operations Manager) were well positioned within the Horse Guards Parade and in the thick of the excitement.
The team welcomed all 6 of our EEIBA runners across the finishing line as well as the millions of people spectating along the streets of London and millions more watching at home on TV eagerly cheering all runners around the 26 miles 385 yard course.
Nick Thompson was our first runner to cross the
finishing line with a time of 04:33:02. An incredible considering two weeks before he was pounding the streets of France at the Paris Marathon.
Close behind was Conrad Pope finishing at 04:48:56.
Sam Moffatt came bounding in at 04:52:196 with Emma Sheekey, a colleague of Nick’s at Schneider Electric and not too far behind at 04:59:34 looking ready to do another race all over again!
Rachel Hitchcocks, our very own EEIBA Midlands Committee Member, along with Susan Knight crossed the line at an amazing time of 06:47:47 and looking every inch as glamorous on the course as they do off!
EEIBA would like to give special thanks to all of our runners who have done a fantastic job training for this year’s race, not to mention the timeand effort they have put into raising funds for the charity and it’s work.
The runners have already raised £3,000 with more donations coming in thick and fast.
There is still time to make a contribution to the fundraising total, and the following runners have active JustGiving Pages.
Rachel Hitchcocks and Susan Knight https://www.justgiving.com/Rachel-Hitchcocks/
Nick Thompson
https://www.justgiving.com/Nick-Thompson6/
Conrad Pope https://www.justgiving.com
If you are interested in taking part in next years Virgin London Marathan 2014, and would like to make a difference in supporting colleagues within the Electrical and Electronics Industry then please contact Cat Cruz cat.cru This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
EEIBA would like to thank the Team Two Forty - WF Senate Runners for taking part in the Great Manchester Run on May 26th 2013.
For many of the team this is a first, so although they are not expecting to finish first (not this year anyway) the team will be raising valuable and much needed funds for EEIBA.
Team Two Forty comprises of Danny Bain, Dave Stubbs, Rich Garton, StJohn Mason, Iain Gray, Liam Moore, Andy Wright, Andrew Jackson, Kim Fardell, Richard Hodgkins, our very own Claire Paton (EEIBA), Stacey Orr (SIBCAS LTD) and Anna Laing (SSE CONTRACTING) 
If you would like to sponsor our amazing runners, and raise funds for the EEIBA, please visit Team Two Forty's Just Giving page here
If you would like to join in the Great Manchester Run 2013, and also raise funds for your favourite charity - find out more here
Thank you for supporting us - your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Main image: EEIBA's Claire Paton with training shoes at the ready!
EEIBA were given a warm welcome at EDA’s Awards Dinner at the Inter Continental Hotel, Park Lane, London. The action took place within the inviting space of the Ballroom and once all guests were seated the evening started with the first set of awards were distributed paying tribute to winners for their achievement, attributions and innovation.
Attending on behalf of the EEIBA Charity, was Jim McArthur, EEIBA President alongside Jill Nadolski, EEIBA Operations Manager. Cat Cruz, EEIBA Events Co-ordinator and Stacey Burrows, EEIBA Finance Adminstrator were also present to ensure the smooth running of the EEIBA raffle.
EEIBA would like to thank all those individuals that supported the charity by purchasing a raffle ticket on the night and helped to raise over £4,000 for our industry charity. We would also like to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to Lynn Ellis and all the team at the EDA and to Philips for donating a wonderful gift as the raffle prize.
