203 delegates from 18 Associations visited RTBI for this great sell-out event. The Grange City hotel, in the shadow of The Tower of London & Tower Bridge and was an excellent venue. Richard du Bois’ PLC used this hotel for his Ball so as convener, it was the obvious place for Richard to host this European event (central European sub regional). The programme boasted tours of both Houses of Parliament and dinner in the Commons dining room. A traditional English curry on Friday night & Thames cruise on Saturday afternoon. A truly spectacular and successful event.
Saturday’s meeting enabled RTBI to set the agenda. It featured a comprehensive brief by David Weaver on RTBI’s Membership plan. I believe our understanding of who we are, where we want to go and how we get there is the model that other Associations should look closely at. There followed a Q&A session and the meeting agreed that David’s effort were well worth while.
Everyone made it onto a Thames cruise at midday. We had lunch and the banner exchange whilst being treated to the historic riverside sights of London. The wise probably had a power nap before the Westminster tour or even take advantage of the hotel spa. Not surprisingly the bar seemed to be the focal point back at The Grange City. Coaches took everyone for the tours of the houses of Parliament. Then we had the spectacular dinner with our sponsoring MP. David Ammes. It was a fitting climax to the weekend that everyone will remember for a long time. Predictably, later on the hotel bar was again proving a drawer from London’s other sights.
Congratulations to Richard du Bois, the convenor and his team. It was the biggest international event that RTBI has hosted in 14 years and the best ever CTM.