Following on from its AGM, the Security Institute celebrated 10 years at a dinner at Vinopolis on the South Bank, on March 2. It was 10 years to the day that the Memorandum & Articles of Association had been signed, and in that time SyI has become the largest association for security professionals in the UK.
The next major social event for the Security Institute will be their Annual Lunch on the Dixie Queen, the paddle steamer on the River Thames, on Thursday, June 4. For ticket and/or sponsorship enquiries, ring Di Thomas on 08453 707717 or Patricia Knight on 01442 260220.
Earlier in the day Chairman Bill Wyllie had described how, early in 1999, a group of ASIS members wished to find a way to communicate better to chief executives, human resources professionals and end-users of all types, the true nature of security as a professional field of activity. However, they rapidly realised that there was no objective system for measuring and accrediting the many high-calibre security practitioners in the UK, and as a consequence the Security Institute was formed: "to enhance the professionalism and profile of the business of security".
Guests joining in the celebrations included SyI President, Lord Carlile of Berriew QC and his wife Alison; John Aplin Award winner Emma Thomas; Chairman of the BSIA Stuart Lowden and his wife Fenella; Chairman of the South African Institute of Security, Terry Scallan and his wife Agatha; and Sibu Ncube, Chairman of the South African Security Industry Alliance, National President of the South African Security Association and a Patron of the South African Institute of Security.
The evening included a wine tasting and Tour of Vinopolis, when Institute members and guests were able to taste over 130 wines from around the world, plus a Caribbean Rum cocktail.
This set the mood for the fun-filled evening, which had been supported by a number of SyI directors and committee members including: Mike Bluestone, Jim Castle, Nigel Churton, Doug Cook, David Cresswell, Peter Hale, Nigel Horsfall, Justin King, Patricia Knight, Rod Leeming, Ken Livingstone, Stuart Lowden, Steve Massey, Tim McClune, Chris Meager, Di Thomas, Stephane Vuille, Mark Whitaker, Geoff Whitfield, and Bill Wyllie.
Companies supporting the event were: Arc Training, Lynceus, CIA Excel Group, Corporate and Executive Solutions, Linx International, Minimal Risk, Perpetuity Group, Receptors Security Systems, SJM Executive Security Consultancy, SMR Group and Wilson James.
Raffle prizes donated by Arc Training, Linx International, Martin Smith, Receptors and Geoff Whitfield included: dinner, bed and breakfast at a hotel in Berkshire; a Samsung digital camera; a day out in a chauffeur-driven vintage R-type Bentley; a weekend in a six-bedroom house on the shores of Loch Long; bottles of malt whisky. David Gill was a formidable auctioneer, selling holidays in Cyprus and France, donated by Norman Russell, and Adrian Maxwell, and two overnight packages including dinner at the chic boutique Hotel Maiyango in Leicester.
