Author: Colin Watson

It is hugely sad that Steve Blight died in October 2025 at the age of 61. This interview with Laura was in 2024 and lifted her spirit just when it mattered most. He was a lovely man and will be sorely missed by all those who knew him. Colin 29 October 2025

What a great interview and seen by over 20,000. Steve Blight interviews various people from the building and construction industry, and also some well known people from sport and TV. Laura’s journey should interest all those who need inspiration.

It is 10 years since I left my role as Managing Director at the BCFA (now CIUK). I was announced at the time I was leaving to enter a consultancy role. In reality it was to spend time with my wife Chris who had received a terminal cancer diagnosis.

I have lodged in this post some of the letters I received in 2015, not for any vanity purpose, but for a place for them to rest.

Letters and emails from BCFA members and others in the Design and Furnishing industry to Colin Watson when he left the BCFA in June 2015.

Dear Colin,

UKTI has let me know that you are standing down as a member of the Sector Advisory Group, owing to you leaving the British Furnishing Confederation Association in June.

I would like to thank you for your work on the Sector Advisory Group and the support you have given, over many years, to UK exports during your time at the BCFA, such as your contribution to the success of the British Business Embassy at Lancaster House in 2012.

Regards,

Tim

 TIM DAVIE

Director Global and CEO BBC Worldwide

+44 (0) 20 8433 3533
sarah.carrington@bbc.com
BBC Worldwide, Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FA
BBCWorldwide.com

Hi Colin
Thanks for your email – needless to say, my every good wish is with you and I fully respect your decision to focus on family and personal ambitions

Naturally I am sorry to see you go – you’ve been a massive ambassador and driver for the BCFA and that will be sorely missed.
You are also a well-known individual – and, as a personality, you will be missed – but life is full of cross-roads and we have to understand that time is a precious commodity – so adjustments have to be made.

We’ll catch up at the next meeting, but I hope that beyond June and as your time and commitments permit, you will stay in touch

With kind regards

Terry

Terry Barber
Head of Corporate Sales
Hypnos Contract Beds Limited

Hi Colin

I’m sure I will not be the only one saying what a pleasure it’s been working with you, and I’m astounded by what you have achieved for both the BCFA and the wider furniture industry.

I’m sure our paths will cross again, and my sincere best wishes for the future.

Thanks & best regards

Phil Reynolds
General Manager
FIRA – part of the Exova Group
Maxwell Road, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 2EW, UK

Hi Colin,

Sorry to hear that you are moving on from the BCFA that will be a big loss to them. You joined the BCFA just as we were taking over Edmund Bell, I don’t know what the BCFA was like before you joined but it has developed and progressed so much in the time that you have been associated with it.

Thank you for all your hard work and support that you have given to Edmund Bell during your time at the BCFA. On a side note it would be interesting to hear what type of consultancy you are developing maybe it could be something that we could be interested in with you?

Best wishes for the future and I look forward to hearing from you in the not too distant future.

Regards

John
John Atherton
Managing Director
Edmund Bell

Hi Colin
I must say I’m disappointed (for us) as you’re probably the principle reason we’ve remained as BCFA members for this long.
You’ve done a brilliant job in turning round a somewhat moribund organization into a thriving relevant cause for the Industry. Well done. You’re successor will have a tough job.
I’m sure we’ll speak before you go but in the meantime good luck.

Richard Blackwell
Sales and Marketing Director
Bisley

Colin

I was sad and surprised to receive your email last night – I thought that you were only 45!

But seriously I have tremendous respect and admiration for the way that you have turned the BCFA around over the last 8 years, making it in to the brand and the force that is now is in the furniture industry.

You have always conducted yourself and operated with complete integrity and impartiality, and I can honestly say in all the time I have known you I have never heard anyone criticise you or your actions.

Whoever is to fill your role has a massive pair of shoes to fit, and I certainly would not envy the task in trying to improve or take the BCFA further on.

Colin, please keep in touch, and hopefully I will see you around

Kind regards

Stephen

Stephen J Russell
Sales & Marketing Director
Pledge Office Chairs & Edge Design

Hi Colin,

Thank you for your email it sounds like you have exciting challenges ahead and I wish you well. I am sure you will receive many such personal messages but all the fab work you undertook whilst @ BCFA has benefitted Ege and I have enjoyed not only you humour but marveled at the many causes and projects you championed, I hope our paths cross in the future and if you are attending CDW it would be lovely to share a glass of bubbly and toast your future endeavours both business and personal .

Kind regards

Gilly Charlemagne
National Specification Sales Manager
ege carpets limited

Colin,

Whilst not entirely surprising, this was very disappointing news.

The BCFA has transformed under your management, and you really do leave it in a very strong position.

Which company are you moving to, or are you setting up on your own?

Speak soon,

Dan
Dan Wooler
MD
TC Group

Hi Colin,

Since I have known you it has been a real pleasure to work alongside you at the meetings for a while and we will all miss and forgive you for your now famous preambles.
You really have made a big difference to the BCFA over the years which is now ready for the future thanks to you. I wish you the best of luck in your new ventures and hope that we will keep it touch.

All the best

Jonathan
Jonathan Solk
Solk Limited

Dear Colin,

What a pity! I thought we might have more opportunities to explore Dubai and the kings and queens of Arabia.
I still hold your little Kangoroo-Portefeuille present in my bags and so I will never forget you!

All the best wishes for your next projects!

Birgit

Birgit Gebhardt | Trendexpertin

Johnsallee 68
20146 Hamburg
+49-170-9032672
info@birgit-gebhardt.com
http://www.birgit-gebhardt.com

Dear Colin,
Thank you for your recent email.

The last eight years have gone by very quickly, your hard work and management has successfully steered the BCFA through difficult times.

I found this quote from a famous Scottish Businessman – Andrew Carnegie:
‘Do your duty and a little more and the future will take care of itself’.

Which in this case is very appropriate.

Good luck and health for the future.

Kind Regards

David

David Harris

KOBE
INTERIOR DESIGN

Dear Colin,

Thanks for the message.
It was a pleasure knowing you.
I wish you all the best and especially a good health for the coming years. Enjoy my friend !
Until we meet again.

Kind regards,
Lode
Managing Director Pami. Belgium

Dear Collin
This is a sad day for the BCFA! I think your boots are going to be very difficult to fill.
I just hope that your successor is as diligent and hardworking, helpful and passionate about
the job as you undoubtedly were.
I wish you the very best of luck for the future and thank you for the help, advice and support you
have personally given me over the years.
I will keep in touch on LinkedIn.
Warm Regards
Eric.
Eric Mouzourides

Good luck with your future pursuits Colin!
It was always good to see you at the BCFA & IDA events and you are leaving a big pair of shoes to fill no doubt.
All the best
Caroline

Caroline Cundall
GA Design Group

Hi Colin,

Many thanks for the note and it has been great working along side you at the BCFA (and during my Teknion days prior to FX!)

Wishing you all the best and thanks for all your support.

Best,
Emily
Editor FX Magazine

Good luck Colin

I hope that the change brings everything you wanted from it.

We shall miss you – it’s always great working on committees where the members actually take on responsibilities and actions – and do them, with good humour too. Hope to see you around.

Very best wishes

Pete

Dr Peter Beele
Technical Development Manager
Mobile: +44 (0) 7768 168928
FIRA – part of the Exova Group

Hi Collin,

Hope you are well. I am not sure you will remember me, 2 years ago, I was applied for marketing executive position with BCFA. Although I haven’t got the position, meeting you and your association opened me a door into my new career ‘Project Management with BCFA members.
So I just wanted to say Big Thank You.

I wish you all the best.

Kind Regards,
Maria

Hello Colin

It’s two years since you gave me my award at New Designers and one I’ll never forget.
All the very best with your next post and I’ll find you on linkedin,

Best wishes
Judy
Judy Scott BCFA New Designers Award Winner

Sent from my iPhone

Hi Colin,

It was great working with you and I really enjoyed the knowledge, professionalism and sense of humor you brought to the FEMB meetings. Hopefully you are staying in the furniture industry and our paths will cross again. I will certainly keep in touch through LinkedIn with you.

Best of luck to you in your future endeavors and again, it was really great working with you and getting to know you through the FEMB.

Best regards,

Dave Jonas | Sr. Consultant – Codes and Approvals | (cell) 616.262.0918 |
Steelcase

Hi Colin,

Thanks for your email. I did know you were leaving and you will be missed by all!

Hope to see you at the lunch in the Autumn anyway and we can catch up then.

All best wishes,

Harriet

Harriet Forde
Harriet Forde Design Ltd

Hi Colin,

Thank you for your message and all the best for your life outside of the BCFA. I haven’t had much chance to work with you while I have been at Victoria, but I do have fond memories from my time at Brintons. I wish you well in the future and thank you for the past.

Take care,

Jon
Jonathan Stone
Victoria Carpets

Hi Colin
So this is somewhat the ‘end of an era’. Thank you so much for all the hard work and dedication you’ve put into the BCFA , indeed your presence in the industry as a whole will be sorely missed.
We are all very lucky to have enjoyed the privilege of working with and being associated with some excellent people in this business – many of whom we are proud to call friends.
Like you, I am staring retirement in the face, so it is very much a time of evaluation and indeed change – I know a bit of how you might feel in that regard
I also appreciate the difficulties you must have gone through in the recent past with your wife’s illness – not easy, but keep the spirits up and enjoy the time together.
My every good wish Colin, embrace the future and make every day count !

Kind regards

Terry ( Home email : Barbersofdinton@btinternet.com Home Tel 01722 716811 )

Terry Barber
Head of Corporate Sales
Hyponos Beds
07860 356991

Dear Colin,
I wish you every success in your future endeavours. You have been a delight to know and work with and I do hope we stay in touch.
Kindest regards
Zaniz
Zaniz Jakubowski
Member, British Institute of Interior Design

ZANIZ INTERIORS
VILLA ILICE
Via Ilice 16, Carrara
MS, 54033

Dear Colin

Just a note to express my thanks for all your help and support over the last few years. BCFA is a trade organisation that offers real value and practical support to its members, far more than most other ones I’ve come across, and that’s down to your efforts and those of the team you’ve built and managed. Under its new management, it is likely that Lincrusta will become more involved in BCFA and it is a shame that you won’t be there to see it.

Good luck in all of your new ventures, and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous future.

Kind regards
Martin
Lincrusta

First Phase
Lesley Osborne 1st
Director at Osborne Heath
What an absolute gentleman you are, Colin. Will there be anyone good enough to fill your shoes? Miss you already.

From: Carolyn Mitchell [mailto:carolyn_mitchell@wgbcontracts.com]
Sent: 10 June 2015 15:31
To: Colin Watson
Cc: julian.roebuck@gof.co.uk; cr@hammercarpetsuk.com; terry.barber@hypnosbeds.com; mmiller@knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk; rkm@morganfurniture.co.uk; alistair.gough@oceedesign.com; JYoung@owhospitality.com; tony.attard@panaz.co.uk; Jannette Phillips; milan.cvetkovic@vescom.com
Subject: Re: Annual Luncheon

Amazing response, and all credit due to you and the team Colin, well done to all. Says a lot about how far we have come since you joined.

Carolyn
Carolyn Mitchell
Group Contracts Sales Director
Mob: +44 (0) 7718 601127

Walker Greenbank Group Contracts

Hi Colin,

I’m sorry it has taken so long for me to write but I’ve been away a lot recently either working or on holiday.

I just wanted to wish you all the very best in whatever is the next chapter of your working life and to say congratulations on moving the BCFA forward in so many ways since you came on board. You have seen and helped to instigate many changes together with your great team and the BCFA is a much more prestigious and permanent body than it was when you arrived. I have always felt the greatest aim for members is that their trade association should put them ahead of the competition when tendering for worldwide projects. I am sure that is becoming the case and providing membership is continually policed, it will become even more so.

Personally, it’s been great working with you and I really do wish you all the very best.

RC

Robert Chelsom
Chelsom Lighting

Hi Colin

Thanks for the mail
I have to say you and the BCFA do a fantastic job, far in excess of what we experience from other bodies that are similar to yours, all the best for the future

Paul
Paul Daynes | Sales Manager
Toray Textiles Europe Ltd | Crown Farm Way | Forest Town | Mansfield | NG19 0FT | UK
Web: http://www.ttel.co.uk | Tel: +44 1623 415148 | Mob: +44 7733 300544 | Fax: +44 1623 415070

From: Stuart Taylor [mailto:stuart.taylor@enashaw.co.uk]
Sent: 20 April 2015 12:05
To: Colin Watson
Subject: RE: Leaving the BCFA

Hi Colin,
Sorry to hear that you are leaving the BCFA, I think you have done a great job and will be missed! Hope you find what you are looking for?
If I don’t catch up with you before, All the best for the future.
Kind regards
Stuart

Hi Colin,

It is sad news that you are leaving. You have been a pleasure to deal with and I am sure you will do very well indeed in your next role.

You will be missed!!

All the best for the future and take care.

Kind regards

Toni Campbell
Sales Director
Musbury Fabrics

Colin

From everyone at Starbank – good luck with your future.

Great to see where the BCFA is at currently under your leadership.

Kind regards

John McCaffrey
Business Development Manager
Starbank Panel Products Ltd

Dear Colin

I have to admit I didn’t see this one coming!

I can quite understand your motives though. There comes a time when other priorities have to be considered and choices need to be made.

Many thanks for all your support and total commitment to making the BCFA a successful organisation. I’ve enjoyed working with you and have been proud to be a member of the council.

Very best wishes for your new venture

Kind Regards

Robert

Robert Walton
Agua Fabrics

Thank you, Colin!

Working with you is a real pleasure for me. So I hope we will meet again sometime.

For the present I wish you all the strength you may need.

Barbara
Barbara Schwaibold, BSO, Germany

Dear Colin,

It is sad to hear that you will be moving on from your role at BCFA which has benefited from your leadership. I am sure an equally able leader will take over the reins.

It would be good to keep in touch and I wish you all the very best.

Kind Regards

Hasnain Dharamsey
Managing Director
Email: hasnain.dharamsey@fogarty.co.uk | Web: http://www.fogarty.co.uk

Wishing you a very happy retirement Colin – many thanks for your efforts regarding the BCFA.
2 x industry “legends” are retiring together – it’s John Fogarty’s last day on Tuesday.

Kind regards,

Chris. Fowler
Director of Design
Bisley

http://www.bisley.com

Dear Colin

Sorry to hear you are leaving the organisation. I appreciate all your support you have provided to Ulster Carpets over all those years and the humour!

Wishing you all the best for your future plans and hopefully our paths will cross again.

Kind regards

Elaine

Elaine Patterson
Sales Director

Thanks for your mail Colin

Can I wish you all the best in your next career step and in fulfilling your ambitions.

Thanks for all your help and advice over the last 8 years.

Kind regards
Dan

Dan Valovin
Managing Director
Screen Solutions

HI Colin,

Thank you for letting me know Colin but I will miss your witty emails that often brightened my day. I do hope the new MD graces us with much of the same.

I wish you all the very best for the future and perhaps our paths may cross again.

Thanks and Best Regards,

Richard Markall
Managing Director
LGM Limited

Dear Colin

Thank you for the email the BCFA will definitely miss you but I am glad to hear you are following your ambitions and looking to spend time with your family.

I wish you the very best of luck and no doubt our paths will cross at some point

All the very best
Regards
Liz

Liz Walker
Marketing Manager Orangebox

Colin, sorry to hear you are leaving, but I’m glad you are pursuing other thing you want to do.

Thank you for your service to the industry, and my best wishes for your future.

Regards

Bob

Bob Rhodes
Conformance Manager
International Research, Design + Development
Herman Miller

Dear Colin,

It will be a very different place without you there, but I wish you all the luck in your new adventures.

Enjoy, have fun, and I hope you achieve those ambitions.

Best regards,

Lotti
Shaw Contract Group

Good morning Colin

Thank you for your email.

I would like to take the opportunity of wishing you the best of luck in your future ventures and also a HUGE thank you for your support and advice over the years.

Although Links haven’t used the BCFA to its full potential, we have always had the comfort of you being there in the background.

Kindest regards and please do keep in touch.

Deborah
Deborah Tebay-Williams
Links Project Management, Unit 12 Fence Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 1LT

Hello Colin

Thanks very much for letting me know. It has always been a pleasure dealing with you and the new Guy has a hard act to follow. All the best with the future venture and to your family

Regards

Robert
Roca UK

Dear Colin

It is with some sadness to receive your email today of your decision to move on from the BCFA.

I appreciate that we as a company do not make a regular contribution to the BCFA. Unfortunately, for a large part of your eight years, the recession has played a significant role in us and many companies just trying to survive. However, we have always enjoyed your in depth messages and observations on the world, and more importantly that the BCFA and you have been available to help us when needed.

I thank you on behalf of Toprail Ltd and offer our best wishes for all your future business and personal opportunities.

Personal regards

Stuart Tong
Toprail Ltd

Dear Colin,

Many thanks for all you have done for the BCFA.
I hope we get a strong a force to replace you.
Good luck with the new career.

Kind regards
David Green
David Green FCA
Director
Target Furniture Limited

Thanks for letting me know Colin,

You’ve done a fantastic job at the BCFA. It was in a very poor shape 8 years ago.
Are you off to join John, or is it independent?

Best Wishes etc.

John

John Irwin
Chief Executive
Bisley

Hi Colin,
It’s been a pleasure Colin and whilst it’s sad to see you leave I’m happy for you moving onto new challenges.

All the best and take care.

Damian.
Damian Roscoe
Design Director
OW Hospitality

Hi Colin,

Sorry to hear that you are leaving the BCFA and thanks for all of your work over the years.
Let me know when you ‘have your feet under the table’ in your new role and it would be good to catch up at some point.

Kind regards, Stephen.

Stephen Perkins
Vice President
Product Design + Development
Herman Miller Global

Hi Colin,
On behalf of everyone here at Brave Design, I would just like to thank you for your assistance to us since we became members of the BCFA. All of the very best wishes to you and I hope that all of your future plans and adventures bring you all of the happiness and success that you deserve.
Best wishes,
Simon
Simon Hives
Managing Director

Dear Colin

Sad, news indeed……but a new chapter beckons and I would like to wish you all the very best in your new venture.
I am assuming you are staying in textiles? And hopefully we will bump into each other somewhere along the line.
Thanks for all your help and assistance in the past and once again Colin all the very best for the future.

Regards

Bill
Bill Wheelan – Sales Director
THE ISLE MILL – Creative Furnishing Fabric THE HOUSE OF EDGAR – Finest Highlandwear

Hi Colin

Oh we’ll miss you! Thank you so much for all your support these last few years. I think since you joined the BCFA we’ve seen it grow and blossom and are proud to be associated.

I wish you every happiness and good luck with all your ambitions! I’m slightly envious.

With every best wish.

Angela Paterson
Marketing Director
Tektura

Dear Colin,

Thank you for support over the years, it has been greatly appreciated. May I take this opportunity to wish you the very best for the future.

Kind regards

Toby Morris
Director
Newmor

Dear Colin,

It has been a pleasure to have met you in this role. I appreciate the assistance you have shown various members of our team who have contacted you and I personally and professionally wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.

Kind Regards

Donna Adams
PA to Managing Director
Email: donna.adams@fogarty.co.uk | Web: http://www.fogarty.co.uk

Dear Colin

I am sure you will be overwhelmed with responses to your letter.
I will be very sorry to see you go, you have been a real asset to the BCFA and helped me on numerous occasions for which I am very grateful.
I wish you the very best of luck in the future and if you need my help at any time please feel free to give me a buzz

Thank you and best wishes

Kind regards
Andy Corbett
Commercial Director
Vitafoam Conversion
07774 145838

Good Morning Colin,

If not only just to prove that I have read your witty and considered email preambles, I am writing to say thank you for what you have done for Futureglass.

We remain consciously guilty of not making the most or putting in as much as we should have to the BCFA and capitalising on your enthusiasm and expertise. I am sure that you will understand that the health problems (largely behind) leave us on a consolidated platform of growth with 16 years of experience behind us.

Very best for the future and thank you for the past.

Kind regards

Gareth Phillips
Managing Director

Colin

Best of Luck

I hope your successor does as good a job as you have.

Kind regards,
Andrew

Dear Colin,

Sorry to hear you are leaving but 8 years is a good run and the work you have done has been evident for all to see.

Hope the future is a positive one and wish you all the best in your new role.

Best wishes and I am sure our paths will cross again soon.

Simon

Simon Fleming
Director of Sales
sfleming@morganfurniture.co.uk

Hi Colin

Thank you for all your support through the years I wish you every success in your new consultancy role and hope you enjoy your time with your family. Time is very precious and enjoy every moment.

Karen Raffles | European Key Account Manager – Hospitality & Leisure
Altro Ltd

Hi Colin,

We’ve all been employed somewhere before and we’ll almost certainly be employed somewhere else in the future. I’ve enjoyed working with you and appreciate that you’ve done an excellent job. I’m a great believer that you should never do a “Moyes”. I’ve always followed on from incompetents and w*s so that even I can look good!

Your replacement won’t have that luxury.

Good luck, best wishes and I look forward to seeing you before and in your new role.

Best regards, James
Bute Fabrics

Hi Colin,
Wishing you well in the future, although I feel 50 is way too young to be moving on!
It has been a pleasure knowing you and thank you for the great job you have done.
I sincerely hope that our paths will cross again.

Regards,
Jeff
Select Contract Furniture

Colin, Good morning

It’s certainly a great shame that you have chosen to leave the BCFA but as the saying goes, “Time & Tide wait for no man”, so I hope you enjoy your new adventures, and if as part of those adventures you ever need a good bed, to rest on after a busy day of exploring, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.

All the very best for the future and many thanks for all your help.

Kind regards,

Steve

Steve Truswell
Contract Sales Director
Harrison Spinks Contract Division

Colin, many thanks for your note.
I am a little surprised, but fully understand your need to fulfill a few ambitions and importantly spend time with your family.
From a JT perspective I’d like to thank you for personally championing our membership of the BCFA. My colleagues are already fully involved and enjoying BCFA life a lot!!!
On a personal level I would like to thank you for being patient! and generous with your time and guidance.
I wish you and your family, the very best.
Personal regards,
Darren

Darren Clanford
Creative Director
Johnson Tiles, Harewood Street, Tunstall,
Stoke on Trent, ST6 5JZ

Hi Colin

Really sorry to hear that – you’ve made a big difference!

Well done on making the brave choice – I’m sure it will be a great decision. Sad we won’t have a little more pre-election commentary!!!

Hope all goes well and hopefully our paths will cross in the future.

Kind regards

Jason
Jason Kenworthy
CEO
SMD Textiles

Hi Colin

I am sorry to hear that but I wish you and your family all the best for the future and if you find yourself in Dundee please drop by anytime?

Thanks for the great job that you have done at the BCFA I will miss your whit that is for sure!
Kind regards,

Ian Tatnell
Managing Director
Sekers Fabrics Ltd.

Dear Colin,

Sorry to hear this news, but thank you for your excellent tenure at the BCFA.

We’re relatively new members and still have to get the most from the Association (our fault entirely, b.tw.), but you have shaped an organisation that could help to guide us in the minefield that is contract furniture sales.

I’m sure that whatever you plan to do next will receive your full and best attentions, so I’ll keep an eye on the media for more news! Are you heading up a new ‘Braveheart Party’ to challenge the SNP north of the border?

All the best,
Peter
Peter Hearn
Managing Director
Greengate

Hi Colin,

Sorry to hear you are leaving the BCFA. You can be very proud of where you have managed to get this organisation over the last few years. Above all you have always managed to succeed with an extremely pleasant approach.

Wishing you well for your future challenges.

Kind regards
Peter

Peter Broennimann
Sales Director
Silent Gliss Ltd
Sent from my iPhone

Dear Colin,

Thanks for the message. Although we don’t have that much contact with the BCFA, we have had enough to make me firmly believe that you have done a great deal of good.

I wish you all the very best fulfilling your remaining ambitions.

Kind regards

Charles

Charles Nicholson
Managing Director
The Contract Chair Company

Dear Colin,
I cannot believe it is 8 years!
You are so right about time and if you are able to spend precious moments with family and fulfilling ambitions/ticking the bucket list you should do so.
You leave the BCFA in a good position thanks to your efforts but I worry that we will lose and miss your humorous emails.
I wish you good health and success in your future endeavours.
Best regards
Richard

Richard Ansell
Chairman
Wagstaff Interiors Group

Colin,
Sad to hear the news – you have provided good and strong leadership and I appreciate the work you have done with the BCFA. I wish you all the best in the achievement of your ambitions and will miss your interesting words each month.
Have a good life and thank you for adding to my enjoyment over the last years.
Sue.

Sue Spurgeon
Managing Director
Skopos Design Limited

Hi Colin,

I am so sorry to hear that you are leaving the BCFA.
It has been a great pleasure working with you on the few occasions over the years where our paths have crossed such as when Lugo partnered with the BCFA sponsoring Young Designers and last year lecturing together at BCU.
My sincerest best wishes for whatever you choose to pursue going forward.

Over recent years you have certainly made the BCFA a far more proactive organization since assuming your role as MD. Those proactive initiatives have added weight, even during the most challenging economic trading times, to what it means to be a BCFA member and why the Association is deserving of membership fees from companies like Lugo even when our marketing budgets were under severest scrutiny.

The very best of luck for the future from all at this end.

Kindest regards,
Lee

Lee Marvin
Group Managing Director
Lugo Group Europe

Good luck Colin I wish you every success and you leave behind a flourishing BCFA. Well done.

John
John Harrison
Managing Director
Weston Hammer

Hi Colin

Sorry to hear that but time is precious, and more so are ambitions and family.

Good luck with your future activities and thank you for your invaluable work and support over the 8 years.

Best Wishes.

Jason
Jason Bloom
Shackletons

Dear Colin,

Many thanks for all your support these years, I am sure you will be missed. I wish you the best on all your new endeavors.

Best Regards,

Alex
Alex Ledger
Herman Miller

Hi Colin,

Congratulations & Good Luck with your new ventures and thank you for the support and hospitality you have shown me whilst I have been at Hansgrohe. Funnily enough, I’ve been here eight years and the time has just flown by!

I hope we’ll see you at the summer drinks to wish you well in the future.
Best
Ben
Ben Reed
Project Sales Manager
Hansgrohe

Wishing you all the luck in the world Colin! Hope your successor is as dedicated as you!!

Best wishes
Heather Baskerville
Sales Director
Craftwood

Deeply gutted!

Sorry to lose your direction and strategic guidance for the BCFA.

I sincerely wish you every success, I am sure you will thrive in your new role.

Kindest regards

Michael
Michael Holmes
Commercial Director
Boss Design
Sent from my iPhone

Dear Colin,

I will be sorry to see you leave the BCFA I think you have done an excellent job!

I wish you all the best for the future in whatever you do!

Kind Regards

Simon
Simon Richards
Sales Director
Burgess

Hi Colin,

Thank you very much for letting us know of your plans.
Time is indeed precious and I hope you get to spend it wisely and have much fun whilst fulfilling other ambitions.

You have been helpful to us Colin and are always welcome in Kinning Park anytime.

Take care

John
John Fulton
Claremont Centre

Hi Colin,

Sorry to hear that you are moving on, but I just wanted to wish you all the very best in your future projects.

And of course to thank you – and congratulate you – for all that you have done for the BCFA over the years…

You are also quite correct that time is far too precious a commodity – something that we would all do well to remember.

All the very best !

Kind regards,

Ralph
Ralph Hearnshaw
International Sales Director
Bisley

Hi Colin ,

Good to see you last night – what a fantastic evening !!! Well done to you and your team once again !!!

Just a short note to express thanks for all you have done in the BCFA. You certainly will leave your stamp and I wish you all the very best for what lies ahead.
I look forward to watching out for news of what you get involved with next.

With kind regards

Kevin Swart
Head of Hotel projects
The Fine Bedding Company

Hi Colin,

Best of luck for the future. Thank you for visiting up and bringing Franklite on board.

Kind regards,

Mark Lissauer
Franklite Limited

Colin,

Best wishes for the future and many thanks for your efforts over the years leading the organisation.

Will miss you at the FIRA Furniture Forums.

Kind Regards,

Andrew Lee
Managing Director
Lee & Plumpton Ltd

Art as they say is in the eye of the beholder. Well as I am short sighted and wear glasses I may not see things the same as others. But, to be able to start with a blank canvas and go off and see what is created is not only fun but sometimes it produces an interesting result.

Started as a portrait of someone I know, then became a portrait of someone else. Who nose who that may have been.

Now then. There are 5 rows and 4 columns. The sequence, pattern and colour arrangements are an algorithm. You work it out.

Self portrait. Motherwell Football Club are called “the Well”, so you can see where I was coming from.

Lou Reed album “Set the Twilight Reeling” had lyrics that suggested its not all black and white.

A take on that Famous 1930’s painting by Grant Wood. Now who should live in that house?

The National Lottery has made many people more wealthy and there are six number that are the most popular. One for the accountants.

The Big Apple was said to have been modelled on Glasgow and its grid system of roads. Or was that just a wee tall tale?

Inspired by the coast at Stokes Bay, Hampshire, but there the resemblance ends.

Self portrait includes the headgear picked up in Jordan and forty years later than the swimmer.

Dont like sharks and much better view and safer inside a cage.

The Roman Baths in Bath are enhanced by a gold foil embossed shower. Dont know what the trial bit is about?

I collected over 2000 covers of the New Yorker on Pintrest and these one are all wee dogs, and some bigger ones too.

Christmas Day and family friend out riding led to some inspiration from that American bloke who liked Campbells soup.

The Sears Tower in Chicago in 2003 before it was renamed the Willis Tower. Didn’t know Bruce was so influential?

Winters morning on the way to Peebles in the Scottish borders.

Actually in Hangzhou south of Shanghai but that didn’t fit with Katie Melua.

One of the Kelpie Twins, near Falkirk, Scotland.

Forty years on from the days you could do this type of thing without being criticised. Actually it was quite a creative approach with a young Linda Lucardi. I didn’t take the photo but directed it and you have to guess how it was done.

Reminds me of the Pink Floyd album Atom Heart Mother. Actually on the Thames and about to fire up the barbecue.

“Kilroy Was Here” was a meme that became popular during WW11 and typically seen as a piece of Graffiti – a bald man with large nose peeking over a wall. Robert Kilroy-Silk is a former politician and TV personality. Somehow I mixed the two and added a cheaper textile.

Laura, probably 18 years ago. Should never have bought Head and Shoulders.

Chicago April 2003 and demonstrations about the gulf war. Balloons of mass destruction were employed, but the police were heavily armed.

No its not a wig.

Its April but the windy city was a bit chilly.

Nature has a way of expressing itself.

Took ages to stick on all those little bits of mosaic – or did I cheat. Yes I did.

Now that’s a fountain and I think the colours are OK. Anyway it was seen through the eyes of a Labrador.

Forbury Square in Reading in 2004. I wonder if the Wales & Wales bench is still there?

The drinks company Diagio head office in London which my company furnished.

A great vista of Chicago and Lake Michigan.

A truly fabulous spiral staircase in cherry we designed and supplied for the Scottish Court Services in Edinburgh in 2003. Surprising what a Casio pocket camera can do!

Another Labrador view in Yellow and Blue.

Lake Michigan towards Chicago.

Kate and Laura.

Some things may seem to be impossible, but if you really, really want it, then you have to go to places that few people want to go. When you have been there you will know what I mean.

Music in Video. The Chicks: Wide Open Spaces.