I remember only too well the setting up of the first real security exhibition and conference in the UK at the Royal Lancaster Hotel. It was a new innovation for a cottage industry at that time. The first show amazed everyone including me because so many overseas visitors turned up. This showed me and the exhibitors that the potential for export of UK products was there and IFSEC would I hope play an important part in helping manufactures achieve this.
Organising the show was fun because the industry was so small that everyone knew everyone else, like a big family. When I decided to take the show annually to Olympia in 1976 there was a great debate and resistance from the then BSIA who put an embargo on the show and asked members not to support it. Thankfully some ignored this and they exhibited. The event, without most BSIA members, was a success as the exhibiting companies at the first Olympia show grew mainly from overseas exhibitors which gave the BSIA a red face. Thankfully this was soon forgotten and the event grew year by year in number of exhibitors and visitors both from the UK and over 120 countries throughout the world. The show eventually filled all the halls of Olympia.
Who remembers the first show? Would be great to hear from some of you golden oldies as I am not sure many of you are still around these days.
I worked for victor green publishing at the time of first Olympia IFSEC exhibition in 1976. It was an exciting time although a little chaotic organising extra staffing and setting up.
how time flies, IFSEC is now 47 years old and they thought it would not last!!! Victor Green