PEOPLE NEWS
Certikin’s Chairman Retires After 36 Years Service
After 36 years of dedicated service to the company, Certikin’s Chairman, Patrick Thorpe, is stepping down.
Marathon Helps To
Grant Children’s Wishes April 2013 saw marathons making front- page news for the best and worst of reasons. Ultimately, the result has been a triumph for the many thousands who use these events as a force for good. Among those running for charity at the London Marathon was Adam Clark from Exeter. Adam, who is a Sales Manager for Barnstaple-based Golden Coast, took part to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Foundation®
UK, the charity that grants
magical wishes for children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. Father-of-two Adam’s time was a respectable 4 hours and 3 minutes, but more importantly he beat his fundraising target.
“I’d like to thank the 79 people – so far – who have made donations in response to my appeal. Running 26.2 miles was a tough challenge, but it’s nothing compared to the battle some children and their families are facing. “The children helped by Make-A-
Wish show more strength than we can ever dream of, and we should do everything we can to make their time here more enjoyable.” Adam points out that it’s not too late to make a donation, even though the marathon is over. Just visit https://www.
justgiving.com/Adam-Clark3 to make a donation – large or small – online. It seems highly appropriate that
Adam’s employer, Golden Coast, is one of Britain’s leading supplier of pools, spas and saunas to trade customers, as he was very much in need of a relaxing soak after his gruelling day. The company is also an active supporter of Make-A-Wish. Most recently, Golden Coast arranged for the supply of a luxury Marin 880 hot tub for a particular wish child. Congratulating Adam Clark on his efforts, Golden Coast Managing Director Jamie Adams said: “Since joining us in summer 2012 Adam has impressed everyone, not only with his professional skills and his care for our customers but with his commitment to helping people. We are very proud of what he has achieved.”
Golden Coast 01271 378100
www.goldenc.co
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
At a recent celebratory dinner to mark Certikin’s landmark 50th anniversary, Managing Director, Neil Murray thanked Patrick for his long and loyal service, his unique expertise and stewardship, and wished him well in his retirement.
Patrick, 64, has been a key figure in steering Certikin’s growth from a modest, though significant, UK distributor to a major partner in Fluidra, one of the world’s largest multi- national companies. His illustrious career is very much interwoven into Certikin’s 50-year history during which he has held various leadership positions.
Patrick joined Certikin in 1972 as Financial Controller when it was owned by Brian Stannah and Bob Kent was MD. Patrick and Bob instigated a management buy-out in 1974. Certikin Ltd was then sold to Ellis & Everard Ltd in 1988 and merged with Peter Geekie Pools in 1993. Seeing an opportunity for a range of travel products, Patrick left in 1990 to set up his own business. Timing is everything and unfortunately for Patrick, the first Gulf War started in 1991 and killed the travel industry. Looking for a way back into the pool industry, Patrick set up Garden Leisure Products in 1993. When the company was sold in 1995, Patrick was asked to re-join as Managing Director, a position he held until 2005 when Neil Murray took over as MD and Patrick became Chairman. Patrick has been pivotal in the development of Certikin’s own brand of goods, and his quest for innovation has been his hallmark and will be his legacy. The development of the main drain and underwater lights are just two products which have benefited from his technical know-how and inquiring mind. Certikin MD, Neil Murray says: “It is rare in the modern world for someone to spend such a large proportion of their career with the same company. We are extremely grateful to Patrick for his dedicated and loyal service over the decades. His outstanding stewardship has been instrumental to building our business into what it is today. I
have relied on his counsel and support over the years and his experience and wisdom will be missed by us all. We wish him well during his well-earned retirement but he will not be walking away from Certikin entirely. He will still attend monthly management meetings and customers will still see him at trade shows and seminars representing the brand.” Patrick’s influence extends far beyond Certikin, to the industry as a whole. As the first President of the BSPF and a key figure in the Federation’s creation, Patrick has been heavily involved in protecting British interests in the development of European Standards. It is Patrick’s intention to see this through to fruition. MD of the BSPF, Chris Hayes, says: “Patrick has been a stalwart of SPATA and the other companies within the BSPF family. He remains as Company Secretary not only for SPATA, but also BSPF, BISHTA and PIP and can be relied upon for both financial and technical advice. He sits on SPATA’s Technical Committee and currently represents SPATA at the BSI (British Standards Institution) where he provides a voice for our industry at home and abroad. He is one of the main representatives for the UK in the development of European Standards for domestic pools. The first of these are currently out for public consultation. He will also be involved in the next phase of Standards. He is in discussions with Europe over Standards relating to eco design of swimming pool pumps. It is a privilege to work with him and to benefit from his vast experience and financial acumen.” In reply, Patrick says: “It has been an honour to spend such a long and happy career at Certikin. It is unrecognisable from the company I joined as a young man back in 1972. I am delighted to have played my part in its growth and transformation into the UK’s number one manufacturer and supplier of wet leisure equipment and I wish everyone well as the company embarks on its ambitious plans for the future. This has been a great industry to work in and I’d like to say thank you for your overwhelming support and for providing me with the opportunity to serve such a vibrant community.”
As the son of a Kentish coal miner, Patrick has far outstripped the expectations of his parents but a modest upbringing did not dampen his desire to succeed. Whatever Patrick has turned his hand to, it has always been accompanied by a desire to be the best and this passion will now doubtless be transferred to the golf course. When not perfecting his golf swing, he plans to spend more time with his wife Sue, two children and three grandchildren.
Certikin International 01993 778855
www.certikin.co.uk
SPN August 2013 19
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