60 | People
Obituary – Richard Thick
Richard Thick, formerly of Vida Wood UK, died peacefully at home on December 22, following a brave battle against prostate cancer.
Moving up from Cheltenham to join SCA in the late 1970s, Mr Thick embraced the timber trade with enthusiasm, joining The Saplings Club and spending six months in Sweden working at various sawmills. He became managing director of Boras Timber UK in 1993, which was then purchased by Vida Wood AB where he continued in that role until his retirement in 2022.
Mr Thick also sat on both National Softwood and Wood for Good committees and he was also involved with the Trussed Rafter Association.
Above: Richard Thick
He loved meeting people and attended many functions and dinners over the years (notably not missing a single TTF annual dinner) and would normally be one of the last people to leave. He will be remembered
Archwood awarded gold accreditation for work on employee well-being
Investors in People has recently awarded Archwood Group with the ‘We Invest in Well-being’, gold accreditation for its dedication to employee mental health and welfare.
The accreditation follows the well-being strategy that Archwood Group has put in place, which ensures employees receive equal opportunities and have dedicated spaces to work, as well as socialise. Helping to improve the overall well- being of its employees has been a particular focus for the team over the past two years. The Covid-19 pandemic saw a need to protect employee welfare, as well as monitor how the team could work safely
together within the workplace. Having recognised this, Investors in People has awarded the impressive gold accreditation. This follows the hard work that the Group’s HR team have carried out throughout both the pandemic and as the cost of living began to increase. Team member, Jess Budenburg, was also recently awarded Workplace Champion at the Credit Union Wales Awards 2022. “We are so proud to have achieved this accreditation by Investors in People,” said Josh Burbidge, manager director. “Ensuring we maintain and improve our employee’s well-being is of the upmost importance to us here at Archwood Group.”
Kavanagh appointed managing director of AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings
Jim Kavanagh has been appointed as managing director of AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings.
Mr Kavanagh will lead the strategic direction across a diverse portfolio, including wood finishes and wood adhesives, coil and extrusion coatings, and packaging coatings.
He joined AkzoNobel in 1990 as a development chemist in the company’s protective coatings business. During his
TTJ | January/February 2023 |
www.ttjonline.com
32 years with the company, Mr Kavanagh has held various positions, including roles within product management and marketing.
From 2000, he worked internationally as a general manager and commercial director based in China, Africa and the UAE. Most recently, Mr Kavanagh was responsible for leading the metal coatings business in EMEA as regional commercial director.
as a long standing member of the trade, a person of great character with a wicked sense of humour. He kept many people entertained and will be sadly missed by all. His understanding and knowledge of the timber industry was second to none and to many people he was considered a mentor.
Mr Thick lived life to the full and outside the trade he loved shooting (a regular winner at the TTBS shoots), watching rugby, especially the Six Nations, where he hoped his beloved Wales would always do well and took great delight in contacting his English and Scottish friends on the few occasions that they managed to beat either, fishing, scuba diving, cooking, restoring classic cars and renovating the house along with numerous DIY projects, all of which allowed him to work with what he loved – wood.
He is survived by his wife Sharon and daughters Rebecca and Rachel.
Keith Ainslie to run for charity
James Jones & Sons sales manager Keith Ainslie announced his impending retirement at the London Softwood Club Christmas lunch and pledged to undertake one final charity fund-raiser before he leaves at the beginning of May. “I’ve chosen the Gothenburg Half Marathon on May 13 as our main effort, this is the world’s largest half marathon with over 40,000 taking part,” said Mr Ainslie. “Both my wife and I will be taking on the challenge of the gruelling 13.1 mile course. I’ve also settled on Against Breast Cancer as our chosen charity.” Mr Ainslie has also signed up to run the Edinburgh Meadows marathon in early March, the Carlisle half marathon two weeks later and the Madrid Marathon at the end of April, “so I’m not heading quietly into retirement”.
Mr and Mrs Ainslie will be paying all their own travel and race costs, so any donations will go the charity in full. To donate, visit https://www.justgiving. com/fundraising/keith-ainslie2
□ Two teams of four cyclists from Alsford Timber took part in the Cahors Cycling Challenge, a 566-mile route through France, raising over £7,000 for Cancer Research, the British Heart Foundation, NHS Charities Together, and Momentum Children’s Charity.
People
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
