Some of our members have received Honours from other organisations.
Brian Robinson OBE
We are pleased to have recently received a photograph of Brian Robinson, on the occasion last autumn when he was presented with the OBE, which had been awarded to him in the Queen's Birthday Honours list on 17th June 2000. Brian has also written a few words reflecting on the award, and the changing world of Safety and Reliability, which we have also included. The award citation specifically mentions Brian's involvement as President of the Safety and Reliability Society, a post he held from 1994-1997. However, a glance at the list of Officers and Committee Chairman, shows the extent of Brian's involvement in the Society from its early days - Chairman 1992-93; Treasurer 1989-93; Secretary 1983-86; Chair of Membership & Grading Committee 1988-89; Chair of Publications Committee 1982-83; Publicity Rep on Council 1981-83. And this is not to mention several periods of membership of the Conferences and Meetings Committee, or the fact that he was one of the initial group of practitioners who gathered to form the Steering Committee from which the Society was born back in 1980.
So it is very pleasing to see this contribution recognised outside the Society as well as within it, since it acknowledges the value of the Society and its activities, and indeed the value of the sort of voluntary spare-time effort on which the Society thrives.
On behalf of the Council and membership of the Society, I congratulate Brian and wish him well in his retirement, though I am sure that he will be maintaining an active interest in the activities of the Society he helped to form.
Martin Cottam Past Chairman
A Message from Brian Robinson OBE
I was surprised and greatly honoured to receive notification that my name had been put forward for the award of OBE.
The award was confirmed in the Queen's Birthday Honours list published on June 17th 2000 and the citation was "President, Safety and Reliability Society. For service to Health and Safety in Industry."
Although the honour is a personal award I share it with many people who over the years I have worked with in the Society, many of whom have made considerable contributions, as office holders and working in the Branches, to the establishment of the Society. When I was trying to get used to the idea of having an OBE and reflecting on my time with the Society I was a little surprised to realise that I have been involved for more than 20 years since before the Society was formed in 1980. The early days of setting up a new organisation across such a wide spectrum of professional people were very exciting and stimulating and very rewarding for those of us involved then.
At that time our methodology and approaches were mainly applied in the nuclear, chemical and increasingly, the offshore industries. Now the technology is much more universally applied over many industries including transport, and the influence of the Society is greater than ever before.
Also since 1980 the world has changed in other ways, commercial pressures are now much greater than they were then and it is much more doubtful now for active members to be granted time by their employers to spend on Society business. This situation is also exerting pressures which make safety standards even more vital for the wellbeing of employees and the public alike.
I hope the recognition given to the Society and all fellow members by the award of this OBE will encourage you all to continue this vital work despite all the present day pressures.
Martin Cottam
The Society was delighted to make the presentation of Honorary Fellowship to Martin Cottam, on 11 February 2003 at the London offices of Lloyd's Register. Martin has served Council for 10 years and was Chairman for two years running in 1995/96 and again in 2000-01. He has also been a stalwart contributor to the London Branch and has given much of his time to the Society
Richard Profit OBE, AFC, FRAeS
Independent Non-executive Director of Rail Safety and Standards Board
Richard Profit was a CAA Board Member and Group Director Safety
Regulation from 1997 to 2003 - responsible for the safety regulation of
all aspects of the UK civil aviation industry. Previously he was Head of
the Safety Regulation Group Aerodrome and Air Traffic Standards Division
and Director Safety, Security and Quality Assurance in National Air
Traffic Services Ltd. His involvement with the Railway industry has
included membership of the DETR's Rail Safety Policy Review Working
Group and as an independent member of the HSE's Hatfield Train
Derailment Investigation Board.
Prior to this he had a varied career in the RAF, which culminated in his
appointment as the Inspector of Flight Safety in the rank of Air
Commodore before taking early retirement in 1990. Other appointments
included command of a Harrier squadron in Germany and a Jaguar base in
Norfolk. He is a graduate of the Army Staff College and the Royal
College of Defence Studies and he is currently a member of the Cranfield
University Court.