PBM editor Paul Davies used the viewpoint column of the March edition to pay tribute to Peter Hindle MBE as he steps down from his role as BMF Chairman.
It is an incredible testament to the staying power of the industry and the evolutionary prowess of the companies within it that in this issue we feature the stories of not one but two merchant firms that celebrate their 250th anniversary this year. In our news section, we report on north Norfolk-based CT Baker joining the H&B buying group whilst a few pages later we discuss the past, present and future of Bradfords Building Supplies.
To try and put some context to their shared semiquincentennial, 1770 was the year that Captain James Cook first set foot on what we know now as Australia whilst King George III was on the throne, presiding over 13 colonies across the pond with the American War of Independence still a few years into the future. 1770 was also the year a newborn Beethoven rolled over for the first time…
Celebrating longevity of a rather different sense, we must reflect on the immeasurable contribution made by Peter Hindle MBE to the sector in the month that he steps down as Chair of the BMF. There’s more in our News pages, with further detail on our website, but it is only fitting to offer a small tribute here to a man so steeped in all quarters of the industry.
Peter will probably hate this, however…
Prior to becoming BMF Chairman in April 2014, Peter could already look back on a career spanning more than four decades in the sector. Having represented Great Britain on a number of occasions, injury cut short a promising cycling career and Peter found himself starting out anew as a trainee at a local independent merchant before embarking on a journey through the ranks at Jewson that began in the yard and culminated in the senior management of the global Saint-Gobain business.
His industry leadership saw him rewarded with an MBE in 2009 and an Honorary Doctorate from Birmingham City University in 2012 in recognition of his business achievements and charitable services, such as the creation and development of Jewson’s ‘Together’ fundraising programme which has raised well over £2 million since its inception in 2002. In 2013, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Builders’ Merchants’ Awards.
Supporting the professional development of others has remained a constant passion, with a tireless desire to make the industry a more attractive proposition to younger people. For example, he was instrumental in championing a range of training courses and development programmes including the industry-leading Foundation Degree in Builders’ Merchanting, and the Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Strategy, both developed in conjunction with Birmingham City University.
In recent years, this dedication has been seen at the BMF’s Branch Managers Forums, where a constant highlight on the agenda has been a Q&A session in which Peter discusses his experiences within the industry and how it continues to evolve with the up-and-coming managers — the very role he cites as the one he enjoyed most in his illustrious career.
From a personal perspective, I first met Peter very early on in my time on PBM when he was MD of Jewson and just spending a short amount of time in his company was an invaluable lesson about the drive and commitment that makes this such a very special industry. Every conversation since has continued to be an education.
His influence is clear in the esteem the BMF is held in today. With Richard Hill stepping into his shoes, we know the role of BMF Chair is in safe hands, but we’d like to take this opportunity to wish Peter all the very best in what follows, not least in enduring watching the current Man United team and continuing to cycle the highways and byways of the UK and beyond…
“Celebrating longevity of a rather different sense, we simply have to reflect on the immeasurable contribution made by Peter Hindle MBE to the sector in the month that he steps down as Chair of the BMF.”
