Comment by BVAA CEO Rob Bartlett

As 2024 is BVAA’s 85^th Anniversary year, I recently had the perfect excuse to go down memory lane and spend a few hours trawling through BVAA’s archives.  It was a very surprising experience. 

Firstly, because a number of the issues that members were discussing in 1939 are still hot topics today.  A visitor from that era would feel very comfortable contributing to some of our current debates.  Then conversely, they might find some conference papers quite alarming, like hydrogen-based energy and small modular reactors for example! 

Going through old photographs, I also was reminded that BVAA Conferences have been running for decades.  The format’s been very similar, however the method of delivery has dramatically changed.  We’ve gone from slide projectors, to OHPs, beamers, then enormous TVs with built-in computers.  I even found some ‘transparencies’!   We’ve pulled a few items together into a special page in this issue and hope you enjoy them.  For more contemporaneous news, this issue of Valveuser also includes our very informative Annual Review – there’s no better way to get to appreciate the value of the BVAA. 

And speaking of conferences, this May the BVAA Conference and Golf event will be held at the delightful Mottram Hall - we’ve a stellar cast of speakers and topics for members to enjoy.  Not to mention BVAA’s famous hospitality and entertainment. 

It’s great to see a wave of exhibitions coming up too, and for BVAA that means attendance at ChemUK in Birmingham again, and of course IVS in Bergamo, both 15/16 May.  We’ll then plunge straight on into preparations for the Hydrogen show in Hamburg, then naturally Valve World in Dusseldorf. 

A real focus these last few months has been completely updating our training material, with lots of new animations, extensions to CPD and even some new trainers too.  We’re doing lots of work as well on bespoke courses for clients with specific needs.  There’s coverage on all that later in this issue. 

Then, in no time at all, we’ll be moving on to planning our spectacular 85^th Anniversary AGM & Gala Ball, at the beautiful Aldwark Manor estate.  And because we like to be organized and deliver the very best, we’re already in the early stages planning our 86^th! 

If you would like a no-obligation chat about BVAA Membership, contact us on +44(0)1295 221270 or enquiry@bvaa.org.uk.

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