Page 52 - BHTA 100 years

Although the way ahead wasn’t 100% clear and companies would have to work closely with their local VAT of ces for some degree of clari cation, Sten wrote after the meeting: “At least we now have VAT HQ not only admitting that not all decisions have to be taken locally, but they appear willing to try and get some uniformity and sense behind the decisions.”
The VAT Of ce were also able to allay the fear held by some members that that there was a slow but steady elimination of VAT relief on products to help people with special needs.
The AGM, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, was very well attended. Editor of the Bulletin, Jack Vander-Molen wrote: “Maybe someone can remember, deep from the Association’s history, a better attended event – but I have spoken to several people with experience of BSTA going back 20 years and they con rm that 1992 sets the records.”
In fact, 143 people were at the meeting, an increase on the gure from the previous year of 110.
The big news at the October AGM was the decision by the British Association of Wheelchair Distributors (BAWD) to dissolve their Association and recommend membership of BSTA to their members.
A year or so before, the British Association of Wheelchair Distributors (BAWD), under the Chairmanship of Geoff Seal from Beard Bros, had taken up an offer of secretarial services from BSTA. A short time after the initial agreement for support, the BAWD Committee recommended to their members a merger with BSTA.
Just an hour before the BSTA AGM, the necessary resolutions were taken at a BAWD EGM and the merger was con rmed, much to everyone’s delight.
Memories from...
“Julian Cobbledick
Shortly after our merger with
BAWD, I became section chair and we started to get meaningful sales data, so each member could track their UK market share and see whether a category (eg 3 wheeled scooters) was expanding or shrinking. Two more dragons before the nineties were our work with the Department of Transport, where we created the new “Class Three Vehicle” structure and associated Parliamentary legislation. That was followed by the wheelchair- accessible taxi and in-car tie-dow”n outcomes and standards.
BHTA 100 years