It’s all about investment this month.
We start this month by saying farewell, or bon voyage, to Mike and Jane Tennant, as they welcome an investment into Tavcom. Well he says that he won’t be going far. He told me: “I am delighted to announce Jane’s and my retirement from Tavcom Training. It is all good news. As from May 1 Tavcom has been merged within the Linx International Group, which owns both Perpetuity Training and ARC Training and as such, can now provide a true one stop shop training solution for the security industry. On a personal note, I am not totally running away to a South Seas island as I shall continue to work in a non-executive chairman’s position on a part-time basis. This will help with the transition from Tavcom as a family business, to Tavcom in the new international group setup. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your support, custom, counsel and friendship over the past 20 years and more. It is a fact that Tavcom would not be in the proud position of the leading technical security systems training company in the world if it was not for your direct and indirect assistance.”
Talking of acquisitions, Phybridge Inc, a Canadian IP transmission products company has entered an agreement to buy Network Video Technologies (NVT), the supplier of IP and PoE transmission products. John Croce, CEO of Phybridge, says: “Phybridge’s innovative solutions will allow NVT to continue its existing dominance of the analogue video transmission market and extend its market penetration into the IP world.”
Milestone Systems have invested in a new UK headquarters and demo suite in Reading. Partners and customers can benefit from additional support and training at its new UK and Ireland headquarters in Green Park, Reading. Picture shows Chris Whitting from Milestone talking to two distributors, Charlie Lacey from Norbain, and Gary Harmer from Mayflex.
Redvision has invested in Ray Butcher who has joined in the role of IP Technical Support Engineer. Ray has IT, telecommunications and network system experience in large, multi-national companies and SME organizations. His previous responsibilities have included technical project management and the implementation and delivery of network solutions.
The Security Buying Group (specialising in Aimetis and Grundig products) reports the recent appointment of Sophie Harper as Business Development Manager. Sophie brings product development and sales experience. Her new responsibilities include sales support, developing new sales and administrative process and opening up new, CCTV security market channels.
DVS Ltd, the distributors, continue to invest in their staff and have introduced a new returns coordinator, John Vine to replace Ashley Howe in the returns department, as Ashley moves to join the Technical Support Team. This month they have also promoted Angelo Febbo as Technical Team Leader to oversee the recent changes.
Charity
Talking of investing, how about supporting some of these guys with a small but helpful investment. Rob Evans tells me: “I’m doing these swims to raise awareness of the importance of giving blood and platelets and also to raise funds so that researchers can gain a better understanding of Platelet Function Disorders (PFDs). I understand that not everyone can afford to give money to charities as they have their own expenses however giving blood and platelets is free. Everyone expects that should they need it, blood will available for them and if, worse still, they should be unfortunate enough to develop cancer they would expect platelets to be available to them too. This is only the case if people take the time to donate blood and/or platelets.” You remember from previous summers he’s swum around the country; this month he’s starting on the Thames, then Salford Quays next month; Southend Pier, Port Isaac, Loch Lomond and the Solent.
Help Rob here https://mydonate.bt.com/events/robevans/222296?
Cycling to IFSEC
IFSEC 360 is a three-day cycling event from the 14-16 June 2015, is being sponsored by Axis Security, raising money for Coram, an adoption charity that aims to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children.
Chris Wisely, Axis Security’s Managing Director, is delighted to be the headline sponsor: “We are thrilled our employees get involved in such great causes, and encourage everyone to get involved,” he says. “I hope this can become an annual event.” For an entry form, visit http://cycle-to.org/index.php/ifsec-360-entry-form/.
Thinking Space Systems are taking part in this year’s Romsey Relay Marathon. Their team “Ten Novus” are sponsored by Novus ergonomic accessories, whom Thinking Space are the UK distributors for. This year, they are raising funds for charity “Lexie Cooper-Barnes”, a seven-year-old daughter of a former colleague, who has been diagnosed with quadriplegic athetoid cerebral palsy. Their fundraising efforts hope to contribute towards the software and accessories that enable Lexie to control her environment such as lights, TV and DVD players. To find out more and to make a donation, visit their justgiving page: www.justgiving.com/thinking-space-systems.
In memoriam
David Markland suffered a fatal heart attack the other weekend whilst he was on stage doing what he loved the most; playing his guitar in his band. David, who had suffered with his heart, was only 51; and was one of those nice guys in our industry. You may recall David was at Vigilant, Sanyo and Silvernet and more recently started up a video business with his son. Our thoughts go out to Sally his wife and all his family and friends. David, you will be missed.
Peter Ford also contacted me and told me that John Newman had also died recently. Peter said: “I first met John Newman when he and I were both running CCTV installation companies in the 1970s, often competing for the same prestigious high security contracts. In spite of being competitors he greeted me like a long lost friend, which I came to learn was typical of him. John ran Visual Contact along with Arnold Bellis and they manufactured their own brand of cameras, monitors, pan and tilt heads, housings, brackets and telemetry and then they went out and installed them! They did it successfully and in the early 1980s John sold the business to the Henderson Group and some time later started Conway Manufacturing, still in High Wycombe, still making pan and tilt Heads, housings and many other products, eventually handing the operation over to his son Chris. John was a pioneer of our industry, never afraid to speak his mind, always with a sharp sense of fun and humour, a nice, normal, family man who I am proud to say after all these years, was still a friend.”
