Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year to all our friends, our Member Colleges, Associate Members, Signatory Members, Life Members, to all our students, learners, intending learners and anyone else who’s taking an interest.
I think most of us will agree that nationally and internationally 2016 had been a very peculiar and unfortunate year, with strange things happening politically, terrorism and tragedies, the loss of many iconic and much-loved public figures.
Let’s hope that 2017 will be rather better.
Meanwhile ABCC itself has had a good year; we have lost one or two Members due to retirement, but acquired some promising newcomers. Our Associate Member scheme is going from strength to strength, with three new Associates in the last month – The Marine Society, the Royal Forestry Society and HighGround, a new organisation engaged in providing opportunities for ex-Service personnel, veterans and Reservists to learn and work on the land. The Associate scheme means that we are in regular contact with bodies outside our own industry, but interested in adult and continuing education, and the widening of opportunities for people, whatever their circumstances, to have access to it.
Two dates for your diaries – our next regular ABCC meeting is 12th January, our AGM 30th March. We hope to see many of you there.
All the best to all
Max Faulkner, Chairman
Heather Owen, Secretary
and all at ABCC