70 | Feature: David Law
LAW BOWS OUT AT LONZA
David Law, a stalwart of the UK timber treatments sector, has retired after 36 years of service. Colleague Andy Hodge recounts David’s sterling career
In 1985, Great Britain was experiencing a post Falklands war boom, Margaret Thatcher was an ascending prime minister, the miners’ strike was ongoing, EastEnders debuted on TV and the UK’s first mobile phone was just released.
There was the backdrop of the hedonistic eighties music scene culminating in the Live Aid concert that raised over £50m for African famine relief – this was a year heralding the future shape of things to come. On July 1 that year the Hickson timber products publicity team was joined by a mild mannered but ambitious young man called David Law. Steve Young, executive chairman of the
Wood Protection Association (WPA) and chairman of the Timber Decking & Cladding Association (TDCA), recalls that day: “The Hickson Timber Products’ publicity team was being expanded to provide a public relations role for the Hickson International Group and the Castleford chemicals manufacturing site. “As part of the PR programme we had a major sponsorship deal with Castleford RFC – Dave was a huge fan! He made it clear that if he was to join Hickson to lead the design team then management of this contract and interface with the club had to be part of his role.
“I didn’t hesitate and I have absolutely no doubt at all that Dave’s tireless work and diplomacy was the key factor in the long- running success of this sponsorship deal and its PR benefit to the Hickson Group. “In the first sponsorship season the Club made it through to the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.
Above: A fresh-faced David Law in 1985 TTJ | May/June 2021 |
www.ttjonline.com
“Dave came up with the idea of a car window sticker with the slogan ‘We’re Backing Ca’. “The sticker became so popular that the print run of 10,000 had to be repeated several times. That sticker became ubiquitous with the 1986 final, which Castleford won. “When Castleford re-branded as Castleford Tigers it was Dave who came up with the design for the new Tigers logo and helped the club with its rebranding programme.” Janet Sycamore of the TDCA recollects those times:
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