WAPI News

REPORT ON THE THE 2006 WAPI ANNUAL BANQUET

- which took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Birmingham

The Fourth WAPI Annual Banquet took place on Saturday October 14th 2006 at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Hotel in the heart of Birmingham.

110 Guests attended this year's dinner-suited Formal Banquet, the evening commenced with a Champagne Reception sponsored by Insight Investigations (Birmingham) as the arriving Guests were greeted and announced by our Toastmaster, sponsored by PI Magazine (USA)
Copious glasses of Champers were downed to the background music of Pianist Steve Wilkin (sponsored by Mercia Detective Agency)

At 8pm, everyone having taken their place in the Banqueting Hall, greeted the Top table, led in by the resplendent Toastmaster !

The results of the Election to the 2006/2007 WAPI Governing Council were announced by the Association's General Secretary Darren Glover

John Edwards re-elected unopposed - appointed as Chairman & Training & Qualifications/EU Secretary
Matt Thomas re-elected unopposed - appointed as Vice Chairman - PR & Media
Stuart Withers re-elected unopposed - re-appointed as Treasurer
Beverly Flynn - re-elected unopposed - re-appointed as Membership
Tony Smith - re-elected unopposed - re-appointed as Complaints & Discipline/eGroup Moderator
Ian D. Withers - re-elected unopposed - appointed as UK/EU Regulation & ISG
John Hope - elected - appointed as Mentor

The Guest of Honour for the evening was Birmingham Lord Mayor's Deputy, Councillor Peter Hollingworth, who represented the Lord Mayor's Charities 2006. he bade us all welcome to the City of Birmingham and expressed his wish that we all enjoyed the UK's largest City (much bigger than the City of London!!)

The Past-Chairman thanked the Guest of Honour and made a short Speech as follows;

I have been privileged to hold the Office of Chairman from 2001 - a period of five years - five terms, how time has flown! from humble beginnings I, along with the other Founder members, agreed to create a new and different Trade Association - to fill the gap in what, at that time we all felt was a need for representation for the majority of PI's as we headed towards regulation! Alas! regulation, like the lottery, seems further away now than ever!

During these past five years I have been supported in my responsibilities by a loyal and talented Team, and as I leave the next stage of the progression of WAPI to a new Chairman, I must express my heartfelt thanks to my colleagues - to my brother Stuart (the ugly one!) whose idea it was create WAPI, and who has unflinchingly retained the purse-strings as our treasurer! I must also thank John Edwards, now our newly appointed Chairman, for his past support and intense interest in the progression of our sector through training; his EU Support has not gone unnoticed either. Beverley Flynn, whose dedication both as our Membership Secretary and as our Past Vice Chair, whose tireless energy has been invaluable - Finally our GC Members, both past and present, who have held the various Portfolios unstintingly, unpaid - and under pressure - too many to mention, and to our Overseas Representatives, one of whom is here this evening Thank you all. I would be in trouble if I do not thank Phyl, my wife who has been so supportive over these years, with all the time and travel involved - thank you all

I will continue on the GC as UK/EU Regulation Secretary and as ISG, hopefully continuing to interact with the Offices of the other Associations, working for the common good of the entire Sector.

Finally, on behalf of WAPI I extend our welcome to our Guest of Honour, and to our Guest Speaker Jimmie Mesis a WAPI Honorary Member, to our invited Guests, a number of ABI Hierarchy are here - you are all most welcome, and to everyone of you - have a wonderful evening.

I almost forgot to mention! Way back in 1966 I having left the Surrey police to take up a new job as manager of a Commercial Investigations Agency in Surrey, walked into the offices of Southern Provincial Investigations! to be greeting by none other than.... Peter Heims, who was selling his Agency to my new employer!!, over these last 40 years Peter has been active in many aspects of the PI Sector, and our Business lives have intertwined on many occasions!, The WAPI - GC would like to present to Peter A Heims, a "Lifetime Achievement Award" to mark and honour the dedication of Peter to the entire Investigation Profession..........

Peter kindly accepted, and as on previous years - led Grace.

A wonderful 4 course Banquet meal was then served, the Sorbet Course having been sponsored by Bedfordshire Investigation Bureau, and the After Dinner Liqueurs were sponsored by A Smith Investigations (Liverpool)

Some "rather interesting" Elizabethan Music was provided during Dinner by Diabolas Musica - sponsored by the API

John Edwards - the new WAPI Chairman introduced himself the Guests, and intimated that the Associations' policies would not be changing, and that over his term of office, he hoped to see a rise in the EU Membership in particular leading up to the WAPI Annual Banquet in 2009 being held on the European mainland. Next years' WAPI Annual Banquet is planned for Oxford.

John then introduced our Guest Speaker Jimmie Mesis Owner and Editor-in-chief of PI Magazine, Jimmie spoke for around 15 minutes about the moves on both sides of the Atlantic to criminalise "Pretext" as a means of obtaining information. Jimmie was able to interspace this serious Topic with some amusing antidotes and a joke or two!

At 9.40pm, Stuart Withers ably assisted by the Lord Mayor's Deputy introduced and announced the 2006 Winners of the WAPI Outstanding Investigators of the year, this years winners were:

The Barry Trigwell Outstanding International Investigator of the year - Andrej Dvorsak
The Award was presented by Sarah Trigwell

The Patrick Flynn Outstanding UK Investigator of the year - Stephen Cooper
The Award was presented by Katie-Jo Flynn

The Frank Battes Outstanding Newcomer of the year - Darren Glover
The Award was presented by Helen Withers

Congratulations to them all!

At 10pm Beverly Flynn thanks our Speakers, and made an unexpected presentation to the past Chairman (Thank you all)

The evening progressed up to 1am to the music of "Five Alive" (sponsored by Priority Investigations Ltd), and the Residents Bar was still busy at 3am!! The Raffle raised £500 which has been sent to the Lord Mayor's Charities - 2006 - Our thanks to all those who kindly donated items, which included a £50 Note (Peter A. Heims) - a top-of-the-range iPod (British Agents) a Tracking System (Priority Limerick) Wines, Spirits, Cosmetics, Books and a host of other useful items from Members and Guests alike! The Raffle was organised by Matt Thomas (Raffle Master) aided by Stephanie (Withers) and Natalie (Skinner).

Finally, our thanks to Priority Investigations (London) who sponsored the Banquet Tickets, and to NIG Oxford, who sponsored the Programs

All in all - a wonderful evening, enjoyed by everyone........


Ian (D. Withers)
Fellow & Past Chairman
WAPI - World Association
of Professional Investigators
Ian@PILimited.com
Mob +44 79 7064 5420
Tel: +44 28 9442 8284
Fax +44 28 9442 8370
www.wapi.com

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