6 minute read
CONFOR NEWS
Closing of a chapter in the forest products sector
The impending conclusion of the Brexit saga is not the only seismic shift occurring in the United Kingdom at present, write Rob Gordon (John Gordon & Son) and Gavid Davidson (Iggesund Forestry). Within the forest products Industry, the tectonic plates are about to move, as the curtain is brought down on the distinguished careers of David and Dorothy Sulman, who after a lifetime of service, have decided it’s time to retire and turn to the next chapter of their lives.
Over the last quarter of a century, David and Dorothy have been the face for many, of the forestry sector. Initially this has been through the United Kingdom Softwood Sawmillers Association, which developed into the United Kingdom Forest Products Association, before latterly coming together with the Confederation of Forest Industries. Along the way, this most talented of duos have also found time to represent the interests of numerous other organisations including the Scottish Timber Trade Association.
It is perhaps in the two decades at the helm of UKFPA that their reputation for professionalism and service has been established and their corresponding legacy preserved. Supported at all times by Dorothy in her secretarial and administrative role, David as Executive Director, has engaged to great effect with decision makers in the corridors of power at Westminster, Holyrood and the Senedd, winning their trust by dint of his strong grasp of the subject matter in hand and how it related to the forest industry.
Through his encyclopedic knowledge of all things timber, David has been particularly effective in forming positive relationships with regulators such as the HSE and EPA/SEPA, and in so doing, always protecting the commercial interests of the members and the industry he and Dorothy have served so diligently.
Whether through attending the regular regional meetings held throughout the UK, or by simply picking up the phone, members have always been looked after extremely well by the Sulmans, with their approachable informative style ensuring that no question or query is considered too technical or insignifi cant to elicit a helpful response. A lifetime of service: David and Dorothy Sulman
While annual subscription income at UKFPA would only just amount to a six fi gure sum, David and Dorothy were consistently able to demonstrate great value for money for members, through their thrift and high degree of personal responsibility, demonstrated year in year out. In so doing the organisation consistently ‘punched above its weight’.
Despite the obvious time pressures for everyone in the modern business world, Dorothy was excellent at maintaining a healthy mix of social events to set the calendar by. The December Christmas meal at the George and Dragon in Clifton was a particular highlight, as was the annual autumn day out at Ludlow Races, which saw already hard up members of the timber trade leave with their wallets a little lighter, but suitably enriched from a day of laughter and fellowship.
As the UK forest industry fi nally appears to be getting the economic, social and environmental recognition it so richly deserves, it is only right to record the debt of gratitude it owes to the combined contributions of David and Dorothy Sulman in setting it on this path.
While the old adage that no one is irreplaceable rings true for every generation, the Sulmans leave a huge void to fi ll. We will not see their likes again.
As the Sulmans retire, their member services will continue
It is a feature of the forestry and timber industry that many people spend most, or even their entire, career in the sector and, in doing so, they can make a signifi cant contribution to the sector’s success – this is particularly true of David and Dorothy Sulman.
Their considerable knowledge and experience have proven invaluable on many occasions and, as it’s been said to me a number of times, if David and Dorothy don’t know the answer to a question, they know someone who does! I was very aware of the high regard in which David and Dorothy were held prior to the merger with Confor and that fact has been reinforced in the time since. I have welcomed the opportunity to work with David, in particular to call on his experience and knowledge when there have been thorny and important issues to deal with, as well as tapping into his wider knowledge of our industry.
The industry has come a long way since the formation of the UK Forest Products Association in 1997, and David and Dorothy can look back with a sense of pride in having contributed to that journey.
Confor is already working to identify a suitable successor and to ensure that the important services to members that they provide continue. I hope that by the time you receive this magazine we will have something ready to announce to members.
In the meantime, I would like to take this opportunity to thank David and Dorothy for their hard work during their time with Confor and, on my part, to acknowledge their valuable contribution over so many years to the industry. And, of course, to wish David and Dorothy a well-deserved and very enjoyable retirement. Stuart Goodall
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