ASSOCIATION NEWS
Obituary Neil Huck 1954-2022
T
here was a palpable sense of shock at Landscape House when news reached us on Wednesday, 11 May, that our friend, Association colleague, and industry stalwart Neil Huck had passed away in the early hours at the age of 68. How could we lose someone whose name was synonymous with BALI, and whose influence on the Association and the UK landscape industry is beyond measure, at such a comparatively young age?
This quiet, unfailingly goodhumoured, man worked tirelessly for many years in and around the landscape industry and contributed enormously to the Association during his 18-year tenure on the BALI board, including as chairman from 20042006. He was highly respected and deeply valued and gave so much of his time, knowledge and passion to the Association and to individual BALI members. And all this whilst fulfilling his role at Ground Control, first as Senior Contracts Manager and, from 2010, as their National Group Training Manager, a role that saw Neil travelling the length and breadth of the country. Neil had always had a passion for training and development and made it his life’s work to ensure that people in our industry were as safe
as they could be, not only through his own training delivery but through the myriad of industry groups and committees on which he sat on behalf of the Association, and the wider industry. As BALI Technical Director, Neil drove forward a raft of groundbreaking initiatives, including the Register of Land-based Operations (ROLO) training scheme and the National Highways Sector Scheme 18, leading to the development of the LISS/CSCS industry skills card. In short, there was very little related to industry training and standards that Neil wasn’t involved with. For more than 10 years he also served as a board member of the European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA) and was Vice President until 2021, when he finally stepped down. ELCA has collaborated with BALI across many projects over the years and has jointly lobbied the European parliament on several issues affecting our industry; Neil was instrumental in this vital lobbying work. He was a member of the Nonnative Invasive Species Stakeholder Group with Defra and also heavily involved in the EU’s End Waste Strategy on Green Waste. Qualifying with the RBG Kew Certificate in Horticulture in 1981,
In memory of Alistaire Gilchrist
I
t was with sadness that we learned of the passing of Alistaire Gilchrist, founder member of the Association, on Tuesday 1 March 2022.
Alistaire, beloved husband of Doris, loving Dad to Linda, Alan and Ian, a much-loved grandfather, brother and father-in-law.
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LANDSCAPE NEWS SUMMER 2022
Alistaire, a qualified civil engineer (FICE) was a Chief Civil Engineer for the Scottish Industrial Estates Corporation. When the Scottish Development Agency came into being in 1976 Alistaire was appointed Head of the new Environment Division. During his tenure he became closely involved
Neil’s career before joining Ground Control included seven years as Grounds Manager for Center Parcs. After 21-years with Ground Control, Neil left to set up as an independent training provider - Raintree Training Ltd - and became chair of the landscape, horticulture, arboriculture, and forestry Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group. At the 2019 National Landscape Awards, he was bestowed with Life Membership of the Association in recognition of his huge contribution to the industry. Wayne Grills, Chief Executive, said: “Neil was a much-loved and respected individual who worked tirelessly for many years to drive the landscape industry forward. He attended too many industry meetings to mention, on a vast array of subjects. He had an enormous knowledge base and was keen to share his experience and collaborate with others. He was a remarkable individual and a fellow Manchester United fan who will be deeply missed, and we will be forever grateful for Neil’s enormous contribution to the Association.” Neil was a proud father and grandfather, and we offer our very deepest condolences to his wife Wendy and to his family.
with the Association as many of the schemes carried out had a significant landscape element. Alistaire joined the adjudication panel for the National Landscape Awards in 1995.
Our deepest condolences go out to Alistaire’s family and friends at this difficult time.
