London Association

I was delighted to join the Annual Quiz at the Red Herring in the City and present the prizes to the winning team and runners. A great evening on 27th November.

Above : My team at the London Association quiz

Above : London Association quiz team

Above : The winning team

Above : The runners up team

Swiss Church and Embassy

Saturday 14th November saw Marianne and I at the Swiss Embassy for lunch and then the opening of the newly renovated Swiss Church in London (Covent Garden); a great occasion with review of the project, art photography and music including Alp Horn.

See more at http://www.swisschurchlondon.org.uk/pub/home.

Above : IRRV President with Swiss Ambassador Alexis P. Lautenberg
Above : The renovated Swiss Church in London (Covent Garden)
Above : Swiss Church Minister Nathalie Dürmüller, Geoff and Marianne and youngest daughter Sonja
Above : Alp Horn at Swiss Church

PRESIDENT FOR SALE BY AUCTION!

Working on the Contracts desk last week at STRETTONS' regular national wide property auction, I was interested to see what happened on Lot 84 offered with no guide price or reserve (priceless?)

Strettons Auctions Director, Philip Waterfield, whose motto is 'Auctions Speak Louder than Words' said,

"We had a lot of interest for Lot 84 but it was sold 'prior to auction' ; our next auction is on 16th December so we should have some Christmas bargains." www.strettons.co.uk

I am off to Cardiff today for the ACES* annual lunch at the Wales Millennium Centre and plan to call in at Cardiff Valuation Office to talk about the IRRV.

*(Association of Chief Estates Surveyors and Property Managers in the Public Sector)

Big day tomorrow with the reopening of the manificently renovated Swiss Church in London's Covent Garden, following a lunch with the Swiss Ambassador.

London and Home Counties Association

Delighted to join my own Association meeting on Reval 2010 in October.

Montagu Evans hosted the well attended meeting in their offices in Clarges Street W1, and Association Chairman Peter Scrafton introduced speakers Patrick Bond (VOA), Blake Penford (GL Hearn), and Tony Masella (VTS) followed by lively question time.

See the London & Home Counties Association website for the slide presentation (http://www.irrvassociations.org.uk/index.asp?AId=4).

Greatly enjoyed the Rating Surveyors Association Guest Dinner on 21st October, at the RAF Club Piccadilly, chaired by RSA President Mark Higgin who contributed to our Valuer Day at Bournemouth. It was good to meet Penny Ciniewicz the new VOA Chief Executive, as well as
so many friends and Rating colleagues.

IRRV President with Allen Evans Rating Diploma Holders chairman (left)

"These guys need buttering up.."

David Magor IRRV, Nic Cooper CLG and Tony Masella VTS at RSA Guest Dinner 21 October 2009.

Photos courtesy of Mr Richard Guy.

Attended for STRETTONS, the latest North London Business Forum in the City when the focus was on Waltham Forest London Borough my local Council. Presentations from the Council Leader, Chief Executive and Head of Planning were well received – Waltham Forest had THREE teams shortlisted for Performance Awards at Bournemouth Conference in September.

STRETTONS features an unusual LOT 84 at their national auction on 2nd November –
The IRRV President Geoff Fisher complete with chain of office – no guide price or reserve!
Next auction close to Christmas 16th December!

Busy time ahead at the end of November with Scottish FORUM meeting in Dumfries on Thursday 26th then back on the night sleeper for Friday’s Rating Diploma Holders Professional Meeting and Lunch at RAF Club Piccadilly, followed by London Association Quiz in the Evening.

Hope to hear soon about my application for the TEGOVA Recognised European Valuer (REV) qualification being considered by The European Group of Valuers Association at Brussels. Watch this space....