New chairmen have been elected to three of the four specialist groups of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association
Kevin Talbot of Cranworth Engineering succeeds Barry Pollard
as chairman of the Ductwork Group (DWG).

Mike Staton of Statons succeeds Billy Wilgar of A C Wilgar as chairman of Heating and Plumbing Services (HAPS).

Graeme Fox of Specialist Mechanical Services is replaced by Karen Leader of Barrier Air Conditioning as chairman of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) group.

The new vice chairmen are Kevin White of Senior Hargreaves for DWG, Robert Smith of RJS Heating for HAPS and Scott Gleed of Ceilite Air Conditioning for RAC.

Peter Excell of Platinum Maintenance Services and Sue Sharp of Overclean have been re-elected chairman and vice chairman respectively of the Service and Facilities Group (SFG).

Specialist group representatives on the HVCA Council are Barry Pollard and Kevin Talbot for DWG; Mike Staton and Robert Smith for HAPS; Graeme Fox and Karen Leader for RAC and Peter Excell and Sue Sharp for SFG.

The appointments were made at the AGM and conference of the HVCA specialist groups on May 15.

Miller spoke of the key actions taken by the groups over the past 12 months, including: stronger ties developed by DWG members with the Association of Ductwork Contractors and Allied Services; the RAC group's involvement in the implementation into the UK of the Ozone Depleting Substances and F Gas Regulations and the HAPS' campaigns against rogue trainers.

At the conference Iraq War veteran Col Tim Collins OBE presented awards to the groups' top apprentices.

Paul Wharton of E Poppleton & Son received DWG's 'Harry Hobbs' award. Simon Stafford of Bob Mansfield Heating and Plumbing was awarded HAPS' Craft trainee award of the year'. Mark Warlock of Macwhirter received RAC's 'Harry Decker' award and Christopher Wood of Maracom received SFG's 'Richard Bostel service technician of the year' award.