Michael Gerson's special lunch.

The BAR Overseas Group honoured one of its elder statesmen, Michael Gerson, at a special lunch held at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London.  The event was attended by an illustrious group including past BAR Presidents Ted Philp, Robert Bartup, Fred Hoult, Phil Pertoldi, John Luxford, David Trenchard, Roy Fox, Robin Mason and Geoff Pygall.

The current BAR President Reg Hackworthy welcomed everyone to the event that was held to celebrate Michael’s achievements and contribution to the international moving industry. The lunch at the IOD marked the end of the Gerson family’s involvement in the industry in which he had played such a pivotal role for so many years.

After the meal it fell to Robert Bartup (GB Liners) to remind the group of some of the key milestones in Michael’s career.  His message was that Michael had made an extraordinary success of his time in the moving industry having helped to shape FIDI, OMNI and FEDEMAC. “For many of us outside the business, Michael Gerson Limited seemed to glide like a swan effortlessly from one success to another.  We could only stand and watch as Margaret Thatcher opened a series of buildings, while Michael Gerson Limited moved her in and out of No.10 and as they flew Ambassador Annenberg’s [US Ambassador to the Court of St. James] goods home and then moved the Royal Armouries to Leeds.  I am sure that they were paddling like mad in the engine room and I remember Brian Charles [Michael Gerson Ltd] telling me, “We have all the same problems as you do, we just charge more.”  I think that was only partly true and that at Whetstone there was an extraordinarily successful business run by some extraordinary people with Michael acting as ringmaster.  And I think we all know too that [his wife] Shirley was a crucial part of the success story, encouraging,          or was it ordering Michael to start up on his own initially and then always                                                                                        being there to help guide and develop the business.”

In his response Michael said that he had enjoyed every minute. “I have been given so much support from the industry and could not have achieved what I have without that support,” he said.  Commenting on the industry he was leaving he said that co-operation had always been a key feature.  “Whether that co-operation exists today in quite the same way I’m not sure.  The arrival of larger groups and public companies into the industry is probably not necessarily the best for the people working in it but that’s progress.”

In closing he thanked everyone very much and quipped that if anyone could find a tenant for his warehouse he’d be very grateful.

Photo (top to bottom): Michael Gerson thanks the BAR Overseas Group at a lunch organised in his honour with his wife Shirley; Michael chats with                                                                                                   Fred Hoult; Robert Bartup and Ian Palmer.