On My Desk: Bob Hall

Forget tee offs and model airplanes, Bob Hall’s journey into retirement has been far from leisurely.  Born in Oxford and raised in Swindon, Bob is familiar face in the electrical industry.  He started his career working as an apprentice for Southern Electric, making his way up the ladder to Managing Director of Southern Electric Contracting (SEC).  A previous member of the ECA Finance Committee, Bob was approached upon his retirement to run for ECA Vice President.  Two years later, Bob is President of the ECA and far away from a restful retirement.  Along with his honourable position with the ECA, Bob faces a very busy schedule.  He is given access to the ECA Presidential Suite, located above the ECA London office to make his hectic calendar easier.  In this suite is Bob’s desk:

1.  Photograph of Bob’s boat: Ahoy, Capitán Hall!  Bob drives this Spanish vessel when visiting his Menorca holiday home (refer to #13).

2.  Photograph of Bob’s “babies”:  “I always wanted a nice car for when I retired,” said Bob.  “But I was impatient.”  The first of the Hall’s Porsche collection was when Bob bought his wife a Boxter five years ago.  His plan was to take it back upon retirement…Mrs. Hall had other plans.  Bob then bought himself a 911.

3.  The ECA Presidential Suite’s phone:  He might be president of the ECA, but Bob still can’t figure out how to re-program the ring tone on his phone.  Much to Bob’s dismay, it currently plays the “Mission Impossible” theme song.

4.  Reading glasses:  Bob suffers from hyperopia, also known as farsightedness.

5.  ECA Education and Training Strategy Papers:  Bob is the Chair of the ECA Education and Training Committee.  This committee is in the midst of finalizing their strategic aims for ECA Education and Training.

6.  Upcoming ECA Council Meeting Agenda:  This meeting will be Bob’s first as Chairman of the council.  The main discussion topic of the meeting is the ECA/HVCA convergence and how both associations will work together while maintaining their separate identities.

7.  ECA’s South Wales Regional Weekend Conference paperwork:  Taking place at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel in Camarthen, Bob initially thought he was a guest…he thought wrong, as along with mingling and dining, Bob has to give a half an hour presentation.

8.  Photograph of Bob’s favourite past-time- gardening:  “When you are working a really stressful job, gardening is a good thing to do to get away,” said Bob. “You become engrossed in it and it is rewarding seeing your plants grow.”  Bob is a self-trained gardener, learning his techniques from “trial and error…mostly error.”

9.  Photograph of Bob and his wife Sandra at a swanky APHC function in Torquay:  Bob met his beautiful missus in Swindon at a 1969 school dance.  Sandra works as a teacher and like her husband, enjoys fast cars, gardening and rock music (refer to #10).

10.  Ticket to Roger Waters concert at Earl’s Court:  Don’t let the smart suit fool you, Bob is a self-proclaimed “hard rocker”.  Bob’s biggest musical influence is Roger Waters of Pink Floyd.  He saw Pink Floyd’s "The Wall" concert at Earl’s Court in the 1970’s, which made the recent 2007 Roger Waters concert even more enjoyable.

11.  Ticket to Propeller Theatre Company’s “Twelfth Night” at the Watermill:  Bob considers himself to be far from theatre-buff, but he and his wife frequent the Watermill for their local performances.  The Hall’s are also “friends” of the Watermill, thus helping support the “lovely little theatre” through a financial contribution.

12.  ECA Badge of Office:  Bob wears this traditional medal, signifying his ECA Presidential status, during business functions, such as council meetings and galas.

13.  Weather forecast for Menorca, Spain:  This summer’s lousy weather has Bob daydreaming about his sun-filled Menorca holiday home.