Delegates from the ABCD gathered at the Queen Hotel in Chester for the annual conference and to celebrate their 25 year anniversary.
When the ABCD formed in 1989, Mrs Thatcher was still in Downing Street, the Berlin Wall separated East from West and ‘the mullet’ haircut was still very much in fashion, but whilst those and many other things have gone, the ABCD goes from strength to strength.
The day was opened by Simon Hollingbery, Chair of the ABCD who invited the first President of the organisation – Ken Baxter – to take up post.
The theme of the conference was, not surprisingly, change, and Dr Les Tickner gave a presentation asking delegates to consider the changing face of councils, success and failure at management and leadership levels, and tools to address resistance and the pressures of change.
Raymond Martin, British Toilet Association, brought delegates up to speed on the progress of the toilet app, before Nick Tomkins from Solutions SK had delegates smiling with his humorous comparisons between the world of the 1980’s and today.
The day closed with an esteemed guest panel discussion on the themes of the day led by the President, Ken Baxter and a panel of Doug Cook – Chair BCC, Stan Atkins – BiCSc, Simon Hollingberry – Chair ABCD, James White – Denis Rawlins and Dr Les Tickner – APSE Associate Consultant.
A gala dinner followed in the evening to mark the 25 year milestone and celebrate the future of the organisation. As part of the evenings activities the members raised £335 for charity which this year will be split between the teenage and breast cancer.