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igem news

OBITUARIES

JOHN DUNCAN igem.org.uk
GRADE: Member Manager facebook.com/IGEMpage
SECTION: Midlands twitter.com/IGEMGi
AGE: 89
JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTION OF
CHARLES HERZBERG
GRADE: Chartered Member GAS ENGINEERS AND MANAGERS
SECTION: North East & Yorkshire
AGE: 95
DIGEST
Tata to build UK’s biggest
carbon capture project
UK passes law to bring
greenhouse gas emissions
to ‘net zero’ by 2050
NORMAN BLACKER CIGEM AUGUST 2019 engineers’ pay on the up
Salary survey shows
22 MAY 1938 – 4 APRIL 2019
NORMAN BLACKER PASSED AWAY at the age of 80, having
battled prostate cancer for many years.
His loved ones, led by wife Carol and friends Russ Herbert
FOUNDED 1863
and Phillip Sellars, paid tribute to him at a packed service, at DROWNING ROYAL CHARTER 1929
Test Valley Crematorium, in April. AT WORK?
Born into a family of modest means, Norman studied How to keep your head above water
accountancy with the RAF before occupying a number of
senior roles at the finance headquarters of British Gas. He Covers.indd 1 18/07/2019 14:27
later became Chairman of British Gas North Eastern, bringing PATRON PRODUCED AND DESIGNED
his unique flair and commitment to quality to the role, plus Her Majesty The Queen BY SYON MEDIA
his considerable financial expertise. PRESIDENT + 44 (0) 203 900 0145
E: gi@syonmedia.com
As a more competitive market emerged, Norman steered Antony Green www.syonmedia.com
the company though a number of Monopolies and Mergers CEng FIGEM CWEM FCIWEM
Commission enquiries. More importantly, he managed the MIW ©
abolition of the Regions and the creation of separate business PRESIDENT ELECT
units between 1994 and 1995. Duncan Wong
This paved the way for two subsequent demergers and the CEng MIGEM
birth of the modern gas industry. Published by IGEM
He saw that the structures, level of integration and VICE-PRESIDENT T: +44(0)1509 678 159
manpower that were right for a growing business were no Ben Clarke E: general@igem.org.uk
CEng MIGEM IET
longer right for a more mature and competitive market. IGEM House,
The fact that gas bills continued to be issued, boilers HONORARY SECRETARY 26 & 28 High Street, Kegworth
serviced and mains maintained as the business lost 30,000 Gordon Davies Derby
staff is tribute to Norman’s dedication and leadership. CEng FIGEM DE74 2DA.
“On one memorable occasion, the new business unit CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Registered Charity No. 214011
managing directors and Norman met for many hours to Neil Atkinson
agree the process of splitting up the IT,” said friend Bruce CEng FIChemE HonFSE ISSN 1755-5477
Laurie, in tribute.
“At the end, Norman asked each new MD to write down EDITORIAL & SUBSCRIPTION It is believed that the
ENQUIRIES:
statements made in this
what they thought they had agreed to and to share it with Sharon Baker-Hallam publication are based
their neighbour. BA Hons AIGEM on accurate and reliable
“Needless to say, the meeting then had to carry on for quite T: +44(0)1509 678 186 information. The views
a while to bottom-out those differences in understanding. E: sharon@igem.org.uk expressed are not necessarily
“Perhaps his greatest achievement was his ability to envisage ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES those of the publisher. No
liability can be accepted for
the scale of culture change needed and to start that journey, Ian James any error or omission.
and to recognise that all the senior management (especially T: +44(0)20 3900 0147
the Regional Chairmen) needed to understand the underlying E: gi@syonmedia.com
problem so as not to oppose the solution,” he added. SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Norman’s first wife, Jenny, sadly died of cancer, but he UK: £129.99 per annum
found love again with her sister Carol, to whom he was Overseas: £169.99 ($266)
married for 25 years. per annum

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