New president takes office

Alan North has been installed as the Association's new president for 2006-07. He took over the reins of office from Bill Wright at an official ceremony at the ECA annual conference in Tenerife on 14 May.

Born in Northfleet, Kent in 1944, Alan left secondary school in 1960 and joined his father's company, North Electrical and Refrigeration, as an apprentice.

The company joined the National Federated Electrical Association (NFEA) in 1955 and Bert, Alan's father, served as South East sectional board chair in the 1970s.

A S North was formed in 1962, while Alan was still learning his trade. He studied at Medway College of Technology and obtained a full City and Guilds technological certificate, with endorsements in Industrial Illumination and Industrial Control Systems.

Alan took over the running of the company in 1980, following the death of his father. He became an active ECA branch member and in 1987-88, served as branch chair of the Maidstone and Kent branch.

In 1985, he became joint chair of the South East regional Joint Industry Board (JIB) and served on the ECA labour relations committee and the national board of the JIB from 1986 until 2001. In his most recent ECA position Alan served as South East regional chair between 2002-03. He is also a liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers.

Alan has four children. His daughter Hannah has followed in his footsteps and on leaving school undertook an electrical apprenticeship. She has since worked for Rexel Senate as a key account manager to BNFL Magnox Power Station, and now works alongside her father, hoping one day to take his place at the helm. Alan now lives with his partner Thelma. Between them they have six children and six grandchildren..