Shell Reunion

Some of you will be aware that I initiated a Shell Expro in the Seventies Finance Reunion earlier in the year.  This became a mega project and several hundred emails were exchanged.  The Reunion took place in Aberdeen last weekend from 6-8 October. The event was a bitter-sweet occasion as many old faces showed up; some had indeed aged better than others; sadly there were some empty chairs; and a few less than healthy participants.  I attach below the text of an article I drafted for a Shell publication.

Expro Aberdeen Finance Reunion raises £2250 for Shell Pensioners’ Benevolent Association

 Some 30 ex staff from the “class of the 70s” of Shell Expro Aberdeen Finance participated in a series of events held in the granite city over a two day period culminating in a gala charity dinner at Woodbank on 8 October, 2011.

This was made possible by the efforts of the organising committee comprising Mike Mackie, Phil Turberville and Richard Reid.  The catalyst for the event had been a chance encounter between Mike Mackie and George Hughes at the 2009 Shell Pensioners’ Association AGM held in Kinross, Scotland.  Mike set about contacting as many of the ex-staff as he could and with the power of social networking it was not long before he reached out to some 70 scattered across the globe.

The events kicked off with a visit to the Tullos office on 7th October. The incumbent finance team, headed by Jonathon Gordon, received the delegation of some 10 ex staff among whom was George Hughes, a sprightly octogenarian who headed the function in Aberdeen in the late 1970s.  A presentation was given on the new challenges facing the function and a lively question and answer session followed. 

That evening a pub night was arranged at a favourite watering hole from the 70s – the Ferryhill House Hotel. Some 20 ex-staff  turned up throughout the evening and enjoyed refreshments and fish and chips . An amusing quiz around Expro and its personalities in the 70s was conducted by Mike Mackie.

On the Saturday 8^th October a golf match had been arranged by Richard Reid and a group of 5 golfers assembled at Inverurie Golf Club. Richard donated a cup which it is hoped will be fought over every few years.  A group of non-golfers signed up for the alternative event – a visit to the Fettercairn distillery and the scenic route over Cairn o’ Mount.

A special tea had been arranged at Woodbank for 2 ex-staff who, for health reasons,  could not make any of the other events. The gala dinner started with drinks in the Woodbank bar and then the group of 21 retired upstairs to the Fraser Room for a formal dinner, speeches and awards.  The theme of the evening was “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Representing the Good was George Hughes and the Bad – Douglas Beggs. Douglas had been the first Finance Manager in 1972 and now lives in Canada. The Ugly was none other than Brian Tilley, an Expro Finance stalwart throughout the 70s.  A commemorative souvenir booklet had been prepared with bios, some serious and some amusing, of many of those present as well as background notes leading to the event. The menu and order of proceedings had also been specially prepared.  Phil Turberville acted as master of ceremonies for the evening and Mike Mackie gave a keynote speech after dinner.  Mike presented George Hughes (an ex secretary on each side of him) with a bottle of 30 year old malt whisky procured from the Fettercairn distillery earlier that day. Many toasts were proposed, including, poignantly, to absent friends since it transpired that a number of ex staff had passed away.  Richard Reid then gave an account of the golf match held in fair weather in spite of the dire forecast of the previous night. The trophy of the match that morning was won by Richard himself, so Mike also made this presentation prompting Richard to comment that he wished he had spent more on the trophy.  Phil then introduced the award process which had been modelled on George Hughes’ alternative staff appraisal methodology of whizzers, fizzers and doughnuts! Under Chatham House rules those present nominated others for an awards based on a story from the 70s. A number of amusing anecdotes were recounted which under the rules cannot of course be repeated. Suffice it to say that a great time was had by one and all and no one left without an award or two! The staff at Woodbank had laid on some excellent fare and it was well in the wee small hours when the last guest was ushered into a taxi.

Next morning the Woodbank residents numbering some 6 met for a hearty breakfast before going their separate ways and vowing to meet again.

The organising committee then compiled the accounts for the gala dinner and thanks to the generosity of those who participated a surplus of £1800 was recorded which after the application of gift aid enabled a total donation of £2250 to be ploughed into the good work of the Shell Pensioners’ Benevolent Association.  Phil Turberville handed over the cheque to Gordon Dow in London on 3^rd November.

 

Shell Reunion

Having tracked Phil Turberville down after a gap of 10 years or more the idea was floated of organising a 1970s Shell Expro Aberdeen Finance Reunion. I took the initiative and cast the net using the handful of contacts that I had. My list of eligible candidates expanded rapidlñy from 10 to over 60! I have managed to get email addresses for more than half and have had confirmations from more than 20. Our old boss, George Hughes, now in late 70s I am guessing has agreed to be guest of honour. We are planning a two day event, with a visit to the office on Friday followed by a pub night at one of our old haunts, golf or distillery tour on Saturday with a gala dinner in the evening at Woodbank (Shell´s Conference Centre and Social/Sports Club). I have a three person organising committee and Phil´s usefully deep pockets!  It happens to be 35 years since first Brent oil and those same offshore platforms that we worked our butts off to construct and commission are now reaching the end of their economic life. We are hoping to attract get publicity and will raise funds for the Shell Pensioners´Benevolent Association.

Cairn Woes

These are challenging times for my former employer (and main shareholding!) – Cairn Energy. The deal to sell a controlling stake in Cairn India to Vedanta ran into politically stormy waters and impenetrable bureaucracy in India and conditions are still being imposed on the sale notwithstanding that these appear to have no legal or contractual foundation.  This season´s  drilling operations have commenced offshore Greenland but Greenpeace has made it their primary target and has already caused  drilling to have to be suspended a couple of times. The share price is holding up pretty well in spite of this – helped obviously by high oil prices.

AGM x 2

I drove through to Dundee last Wednesday to drop my Dad’s car off then hot footed it to the Hilton for the Scottish Shell Pensioners’ AGM. The Aberdeen centric committee had decided to move venue south to attract other members. I met up with a few familiar faces and we learned that the two schemes are in remarkably good shape and the Company remains committed to funding them. We then lunched after which I took train back to Edinburgh.

The second AGM which followed the next day was that of Cairn plc. This is the 3rd year I have attended but the 1st as a bona fide shareholder. After the formalities of voting on 11 resolutions we were given a brief update and a Q & A session ensued. The anticipated demonstrations by Greenpeace against Greenland drilling did not materialise, not so much as a banner or a heckle! So with nothing more to do we tucked into lunch! I announced plans for 70s finance reunion.

Retirement Dinner

The February 25th date for my Cairn retirement dinner had been agreed back in December. The venue was Oloroso and time 7pm. Irene bought a new frock for the occasion. I brushed doiwn an old suit and donned my first tie of 2011! The taxi (summoned by iPhone app) ferried us to the door. Malcolm and Ann and Jann and Tony were already there and we were offered champagne. Then the Jones (Rob and Jane) and Richard Heaton joined, followed later by the Nisbets (David and Fiona). The wine started to flow and we were ushered into our private dining room. Malcolm made a short speech and I responded. I was given a superb set of silver cufflinks in the Alfa Romeo radiator style. Irene was presented with amassive bunch of flowers. We then tucked into a very nice meal, washed down with still more wine. The stories flowed faster as the wine worked its magic! It was a terrific evening and we took a taxi home arriving near midnight. Irene went to bed.I poured a whisky and crashed on the sofa waking up an hour later.

Retirement – a Reality

I turned up at the office today for the last time as an employee anyway. I settled back in my office, hunted high and low for my laptop which eventually materialised, struggled to back get on to the network and wondered how I was going to spend the day. I composed my parting email.   Jann and Malcolm were due back from Delhi later that morning.  They greeted me enthusiastically on arrival and invited me to a small celebration in the boardroom at midday. I was not expecting this as we had talked of scheduling a dinner in the new year.  This was more of a spontaneous gathering of colleagues and I was plied with champage and presented with a leaving card. Speeches were made. I was embarrassed by the high esteem in which I am held.  The atmosphere was almost surreal. I then had my exit interview with HR, parted with my beloved (!) blackberry. and then walked off into the sunset! I heard myself say I would host a drinks event in December and the date for the dinner with the Board is looking like sometime in February. So this is finally it. Or is it? Jann and Malcolm both wanted to make sure that gthey had my contact details. Watch this space.

Workwise

Well, I am now in theory on leave until late October, at which time I would like to retire and realise the value of my incentive awards from Cairn which based on current share price performance ought to be attractive! However there is as yet no official word from the company as to whether they will let me go. Rumours in the market of a sale of a stake in Cairn India to Vedanta Resources started to circulate earlier in the week and have been confirmed. This is producing a rally in the Cairn India share price. Meanwhile the Cairn UK share price, while also hitting new highs, will be very sensitive to any announcement on the success or otherwise of the first two exploration wells in Greenland. These are interesting times.

After a month I( have heard back from Petroc Technologies also regarding a Non Executive Director position with this Herriot Watt University spin off. They have invited me back for more discussions – and given that there were only 4 candidates – this must be a positive indication. I do not mind lending my expertise to a deserving cause for the cost of an airfare to UK and some modest travel costs and some upside potential (shares). This company fits that criteria as it is involved in carbon capture and storage.  We shall see. I will visit them when next in the UK in early September.

Mongolian BBQ

We have three visitotrs from Bangladesh one of whom I hired while with Shell, a second was hired during my Cairn tenure and the third more recently. I offerred to host a dinner tonight and propsoed a number of alternatives among which was Kubla Khan, a Mongolian BBQ restaurant in Leith. They picked this pover a Bangldeshi and a Scottish fish restaurant. It was a ghood choice. We had a lovely night! It was not expensive either.

Flying Visit

Cairn asked me to return to teh office for a meeting last Friday so I booked the Thursday night Ryanair returning Saturday afternoon. I took the Audi to the airport.  Much as I dislike Ryanair they run a smooth operation. I was back in the flat by 2345 local time.  Temperature was hovering around freezing.  I had a bad sleep – possibly due to sleeping on the flight and having a lot on my mind – so I made an early start and opened all the pending mail and dealt with the most urgent. I then walked to the office in the cold but bright conditions. I then tucked into a bacon roll as there was not much in the apartment!  My visitor arrived on time – Richard Wheeler – ex Shell, now consultant and someone who recalled that he and I had attended the infamous Shell Management Development Course (MADEC) in 1984. We then had our meeting after which I took him to lunch at the Blue Bar. We then had a follow on meeting back at the office after which he headed back to the airport and down south. I then trekked home – via Lakeland where I bought a pasta maker for Spain!  That night Gordon and I had beef olives after which I crashed out. On Saturday I deloivered my old Acer laptop to PassITOn , a charity that refurbishes old PCs for disabled users. I also took a peek at some apartmemnts in Granton in a development called Genesis. There is one duplex left in the first phase  - an interesting possibility. Then it was back home and the bus to the airport. Flight back equally uneventful and we landed in still rainy Malaga. The drive home was not pleasant and there was an accident on the Coin road.

TNT

This weeks run laid by Jeez Wow, one of the older farts, was from The CumberlandBar, my usual venue as hare and my local. I had invited Blow Pipe now in Edinburgh with whom  used to run in Dhaka but he no showed. It was a conventional new town run. interspersed with the Waters of Leith and Inverleith Park. It had been a nice bright day so it was cool. Jeez Wow had laid a long run and we, the front runners, were gobsmacked to discover that an hour into the run the trail pointed from Stockbridge to Dean Village, a 20 minute loop. He decided to shorten the run at this point, somewhat to my disappointment, so it was on in back to the bar. Onm entering my glasses steamed up and I was unable to immediately identify the person who greeted me. It was John Caldwell, a lawyer with whom I worked in Cairn India and now with Bowleven. We reminisced about thoise crazy times. The Stewarts IPA went down well and I was called into the circle to be presented with my 50 run pewter tankard, onloy 17 runs overdue!