2008 Medal Awarded
to John Clewley
John Clewley
Click on image for brief biography
The 2008 Paper Industry Gold Medal, the paper
industry's highest honour has been awarded to John Clewley for his comprehensive
dedication and commitment to the UK paper industry.
During the industry's record retrenchment,
consolidation and inward investment he has worked selflessly to maintain a
significant UK base for paper technology, fundamental research and recognition
of the industry's heritage - all vitally important for a potential upsurge
in UK paper production in response to society's increased demand for recycled
papers and a smaller 'carbon footprint'.
His tangible legacy is an independent and
functioning Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA) poised to take advantage
of new opportunities.
John has spent the whole of his working life
in the paper industry starting as a graduate of UMIST. His career focus was
on technical issues where he became an authority on recycling and de-inking,
in particular with regard to the manufacture of newsprint.
Later he became full time director of PITA,
helping to demerge it from PIRA International and build an independent association
of technical professionals.
Commenting on the award Peter Ingram, Chairman
of the Paper Industry Gold Medal Association noted
"Where John really stands out among his contemporaries, is his steadfast commitment
to the British paper industry at a time when employment in the industry has
been in sharp decline and ownership (together with technical expertise) has
increasingly been transferred abroad.
John received his Gold Medal at the Charter
Dinner of the Stationers' Company in
Stationers' Hall on 7th May 2008.
John Clewley
- Brief Biography
Since graduating in Paper Science from UMIST
in 1965 John Clewley has had a wide and varied career in the paper industry,
working in several different countries.
After learning his trade on the machine floor
of fine paper mills as an Inveresk trainee he worked for many years for Bowaters
and during his time as Manager of Bowater Technical Services became heavily
involved in the development of recycling technology and in particular de-inking.
After a spell in the USA John returned to
the UK and eventually became part of the team, as Technical Manager, that
developed the Bridgewater Paper Mill with its advanced de-inking plants, proving
amongst other achievements that quality newsprint could be produced from 100%
recycled fibre.
Some years later as Technical Director of
North British Newsprint he was largely responsible for developing that project
from a conceptual idea to a 'ready to go' fully scoped project.
John then spent two years working for the
leading forest products consultant, Jaakko Pöyry being involved amongst other
things in the development of several large de-inking projects before taking
up the position of Executive Director (later Chief Executive) of PITA, the
Paper Industry Technical Association.
John recently retired from that position after
14 years during which time he worked with and developed relationships with
other bodies involved in all aspects of the paper industry both in the UK
and outside. John plans to spend much of his retirement travelling, in between
continuing to support various voluntary bodies connected with the industry
plus organising events on behalf of such groups.
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16th April 2007
2007 Medal
Awarded to Stephen Mason
The 2007 Paper Industry Gold Medal,
the paper industry's highest honour, has been awarded to Stephen Mason for
his inspiring contribution to the British paper trade. He is an outstanding
role model and ambassador for the paper trade and industry. His exceptional
attributes, demonstrated throughout his career, are leadership and people
management.
Both of Stephen Mason's
main employers, Robert Horne Group and trade body, The National Association
of Paper Merchants (NAPM), gained from his skill and experience.
In his 35 years with
Robert Horne he climbed the career ladder from Salesman to Chairman via Branch
Manager, Group Sales Director, Group Sales & Marketing Director and Managing
Director. He finally became Regional President and Chairman of Buhrmann Group's
merchant division, overseeing sales of over one million tonnes a year.
It was whilst Managing
Director of Robert Horne Group that Stephen Mason took personal charge of
introducing a comprehensive Management Development Programme. This programme
attracted excellent young talent, both graduates and internal trainees, and
developed them into outstanding and highly capable people. It is his strongly
held belief that this is the way forward for the whole trade in order to meet
with the up and coming complexities of the business.
Subsequently, Stephen
Mason co-founded Development Matters, a specialist training and management
development company, which includes a large number of paper merchant companies
as well as multi-nationals, government departments and even professional football
clubs in its client list.
Throughout his time
in the industry, Stephen Mason played a full and active role in industry affairs
by serving on many trade bodies and committees. Most significantly he was
elected to the NAPM's Policy Group in 1992 and was President from 1999 to
2001. As President he was instrumental in instigating and pushing through
much needed changes to the way in which the NAPM was run. The association
now meets the requirements of the 21st century, placing the recruitment and
development of talented people into the industry to the fore.
The Award Committee
of the Association was chaired by Mr G R Neville Cusworth,
Master of the Stationers' Company,
who also presented the medal at the Annual Dinner of the
National Association of Paper Merchants
on the 19th April 2007
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2006
Medal Presented by
The Rt Hon William Hague MP
The
2006 Gold Medal was presented on the 9th May 2006 to David Klemz at the Charter
Dinner of the Stationers' Company by The Rt Hon William Hague MP.
In
his acceptance speech Mr Klemz acknowledged the honour and praised those who
had worked with him over the years and contributed to his achievements.
He
is seen above with John Brazier, Chief Executive of PICON,
Patrick Shorten, Master of the Stationers' Company and William Hague after
the presentation.
Follow links for Full Citation and Biography
Award
Committee Announces
2006 Winner
Click
Image to go to Full Citation
28th March 2006
The
2006 Paper Industry Gold Medal Award Committee, chaired by
Patrick Shorten, Master of the Stationers' Company awarded this year's
Gold Medal to David Klemz of Compact Engineering.
His
citation reads 'He stands out as an exemplar to present and future generations
of industry entrepreneurs. Through his innovation, enterprise, hard work and
a passion for industry, David Klemz provides the perfect demonstration of
how British paper industry engineering can succeed in very challenging circumstances.'
Commenting
on the award, Patrick Shorten noted 'David Klemz won the award against a strong
list of nominations. The deciding factor was his selfless support for the
entire industry at the same time as displaying exceptional innovation and
enterprise from his small family owned company base. In the 30 years of the
Paper Industry Gold Medal, the award has never gone to a winner from a smaller
company.'
Peter
Ingram, chairman of the Paper Industry Gold Medal Association explains why
the trend has changed. 'David is a man of our times. His contribution, through
a micro business, to science and technology, exports, energy conservation
and his trade associations is outstanding. Put simply, a country made up of
people like David Klemz would be a world beater.'
David
Klemz will receive his Paper Industry Gold Medal from the principal guest
at the Stationers' Company's Charter Dinner at Stationers' Hall on Tuesday,
9th May 2006.
Follow links for Full Citation and Biography
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15th July 2005
It is with regret that we record the death
of Medallist Peter Gardner CBE MC TD on Saturday 9th July 2005 at the age
of 87.
13th May 2005
2005
Medal presented to
Kevin Lyden
by Lord Heseltine at Stationers' Hall
"People
with foresight, a real understanding of the industry
and, above all,
a passion for their subject."
From
time to time there are a few outstanding people who work to further the interests
of their industry, over and above their duties to any individual company.
The Paper Industry, like any other, owes its success to the commitment, effort
and skill of these ambassadors and for over thirty years has sought to reward
this commiment in the form of a prestigious annual award
The
Paper Industry Gold Medal
Since
its inception in in the late 1960s, the Medal has been awarded to the person
considered to have done most to further the interests of the paper and allied
industries in the UK.
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A Brief Background
The Gold Medal was established in 1966 by
"The World's Paper Trade Review" magazine which was published by
Benn Brothers and edited by Eric Haylock (himself the winner of the Medal
in 1986). The magazine later became known as "Paper" and the publishers
continued to sponsor it until 1993.
It is now administered by the Paper Indusry
Gold Medal Asssociation whose membership comprises all holders of the Medal
together with representative members from a number of the industry's Trade
Associations.
Nominations are sought annually in the Autumn
and the award is made early the following year. The Medal is presented at
an appropriate Industry function during the year.
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The 2006 Medal
The 2006 Medal was presented at the Charter
Dinner of the Stationers' Company in Stationers' Hall, London on Thursday
the 9th May 2006. Full details HERE
Previous Winners
A list of Previous Winners is available HERE in
PDF format
Constitution
The Constitution of the Association is available
HERE
in PDF format
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©Paper Industry Gold Medal Association 2005/6/7/8/9/10
