The way we were – 30 years ago

UK: A photo from 30 years ago this month brings back memories of what many might consider a golden age of UK air conditioning.

Some well known faces and long lost names in this photo of a Myson distributors’ meeting from April 1986. Myson, then a leading UK air conditioning manufacturer, would later acquire Qualitair.

Our thanks to former BRD owner Richard Manning (2nd from left at the back) for supplying us with this photo. Richard, with his brother Nigel, now owner of Heronhill, would later sell BRD to HRP. Mike Creamer (3rd from left, 2nd row, standing), for many years now the owner of Business Edge, was also then at BRD.

Also in the picture is John Roe (left hand end, 2nd row, standing), then a director of WF Refrigeration (an air conditioning distributor and not to be confused with the now defunct refrigeration contractor WR Refrigeration). WF would soon be sold to Dean & Wood and John would move on to form 3D air conditioning as a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries distributor. In 2005, 3D was acquired by HRP, the circle being completed this year when HRP was acquired by Dean & Wood’s owner Beijer Ref.

There are many other faces in the picture that we can’t put names to, or the companies they worked for. Many will remember Derek Davidson (at the back, 2nd from right) and who can forget Mandy Webb (front and centre), but how many faces can you put names to (please use the comment box below)?