Members and Meetings

The membership of the Association grew steadily during the 70's, rising from eleven in 1972 to twenty four by 1980, settling at twenty eight in the late 80's and early 90's. Current total membership is twenty seven, including five guest members.

In 2000 the Secretary, Syd Williams, retired (as did Dennis Jones, both founder members). Roger Dainty (the only founder member still in post) took over as Secretary.

Retirement presentation to Syd Williams and Dennis Jones, September 2000

NABBS members have been honoured by the Queen. Mr Ken Bromfield M.B.E. (awarded in 1995) and Mr Theo Dalgleish M.B.E. (awarded in 2001, Theo retired in 1987).

Over the last thirty years over fifty meetings have been held at more than thirty venues (twenty eight universities), each member taking a turn to host. Most Superintendents/Managers have responsibility for purchasing within their departments, many NABBS members are therefore regular visitors to the main UK exhibitions of laboratory supplies and equipment. With the introduction of Regional Purchasing Consortia and National Working Parties in the 1980’s, many NABBS members had an even wider role in purchasing, as representatives of their universities and regions. As members of the National Working Party for Laboratory Supplies, Syd Williams and Jim Murison represented the Higher Education sector on the committee that drafted the British Standard for recirculatory fume cupboards

There have also been a number of overseas visits to various conferences, exhibitions, study tours etc. These visits have usually been attended by a subset of Members, and started with a trip to Achema, Frankfurt, June 1976, for an exhibition of laboratory supplies and equipment, followed by a return visit in 1979. There have also been memorable trips to the US, initially for Pittconn exhibitions/conference and to undertake a study tour of a number of US University Bioscience Faculties (1993).

Visit to Emory University in Atlanta, 1993

One rather special invitation occurred in April 1994, when five NABBS members were invited to join a group on a visit to Treff AG in Degersheim, Switzerland. In 1998 three members, Paul Brown, Roger Dainty and Syd Williams, submitted a paper for inclusion in the1999 Pittcon Conference. The paper, entitled “Current Trends and Changes to Research Strategy in U.K. Universities and Medical Schools”. The paper was accepted, and in March 1999 they made a joint presentation at the 50thAnniversary Pittcon Conference in Orlando.

Visit to Treff AG, Switzerland, April 1994