Page 43 - BHTA 100 years

Jack Vander-Molen from V-M Orthopaedics Ltd, was involved in the Association for many years. His son, Paul Vander-Molen, was an Explorer who conceived and carried out a plan to cross Iceland using Kayak and Microlight, resulting in an award winning documentary on Channel 4. Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed with, and died from leukaemia after which Jack set up the Paul Vander-Molen Foundation to assist Leukaemia research and treatment, enable disabled adventurers to realise their aspirations and to assist explorers in the search for new expedition techniques.
In 1988 the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) was formed to provide a focal point for the British based healthcare industry and Trade Associations. BSTA would have a representative on the ABHI Council, Mr Ron Kendrew. Speaking at the AGM that year, Chairman Peter Siddall said: “Your Council recognised the need for an organisation which could speak for the Healthcare Industry as a whole and the ABHI seemed to be the best placed to do this.”
A Working Party on future development was set up at this time and it recommended four initiatives that it believed would enhance the Association’s standing. They were:
• • • •
Retaining a Parliamentary Advisor
Relocation of the Secretariat to Sevenoaks in Kent Introduction of a twice yearly newsletter Membership of ABHI or EUCOMED
It
a
debenture scheme had been proposed by the Working Party to raise the funds.
was estimated that the cost of the four initiatives would be around £18,500 year, which would represent an almost 50% increase in subscriptions. A
It could also be seen that the make-up of the marketplace was changing at this time, as 11 members had been lost in the year due to an increase in the acquisitions and mergers activity rate.
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