Visitor Book Memories
Just this afternoon I was handed our firm’s visitors book because it was full and a new one had been ordered.
It had never occurred to me to review the book which is our second visitors book since 1986 (the year CSS was formed). I don’t know what happened to the first. However, reading through the names in this book took me on a journey down memory lane and consumed me with memories of days past, the way we reminisce when looking at old family photo albums.
Of over 4,000 names in the book spanning from 22nd April 2003 until today 3rd oct 2019 the first name I actually recognised was our old friend who has now sadly passed away, the infamous Jack Martin of Cardkey systems at the time. I was taken aback, slightly, by the amount of people retired or dead. However, I was actually looking through a book that is over 26 years old. The visitor book is a tangible reminder of all people that have taken an interest in our business and its people be that suppliers, clients, service providers and the like. It really is a sort of quarter century walk through history.
History has shown us all the gadgets including diaries, Filofaxes, Psions, word processors, pagers, etc and while all have their day it is actual photographs and books that last for what it seems… forever.
Of all of the 191 pages of the book and thousands of names in it there is one name that stands out as a frequent visitor to CSS who has worn the same employer’s hat for over twenty five years. That person is Derek Wilson of Norbain. Derek still possesses all of the charm and professionalism that endeared him to our business all of those years ago when he was fresh faced and pretty skinny. I saw him this week not fresh faced or skinny but still a lovely guy.
I will keep our visitors book as a memento to days passed and who knows when the next one will be completed (maybe not on my watch). The final name in the visitor book is Alan Wheelan’s from Border Safeguard a client of our ARC and the last to put pen to our book’s paper.
Paul Connelly
Managing Director, CSS
