The London Hardwood Club New Year lunch at the Honourable Artillery Club in London last week was attended by around 120 people.
Club president Andy Lodowski welcomed the strong turnout and used his speech to appeal for greater timber industry unity.
“We’ve become so fragmented, but now realise how much we need each other as an industry,” he said. “The more unity we have, the more strongly this trade will continue.”
Honorary secretary Robin Learmount said the LHC itself was in good shape and had just signed up its first full members from abroad, Stefaan Vandecasteele and Genevieve Standaert of Vandecasteele Houtimport of Belgium.
Guest speaker Roger Southee of Foresbec UK gave the audience a globe-trotting account of his life in the trade, which has taken him from the Far East to Canada.
A raffle at the lunch raised £1400, which was shared between the Teenage Cancer Trust and National Autistic Society.
