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Opening Event The official opening of the Thorn Academy of Light Competence Sharing Centre took place on 5th February 2009. Following invitations sent to Press contacts, VIPs, Customers, Partners, Thorn, Zumtobel Group and Tridonic-Atco management, there were 300 attendees to the event including over 150 sales staff and their customers and 30 press contacts. Customers travelled from all over Europe and from Russia, India and the Middle East Format of opening event Press Conference Welcome - Fishburn Band Thorn Sustainability photo exhibition and Zumtobel Group Award exhibitions Official opening and panel discussion Evening entertainment - String Fever Event Photo Gallery 13.30 Press Lunch in bar/lounge area The press conference early in the day included a panel discussion including Andreas Ludwig, Helen Goodman MP, Terry Carmichael, Grant Daniels, and Christophe Richon. The Conference was attended by; the UK lighting trade press, Voltimum UK electrical portal, the Italian, Austrian and Nordic lighting press, the local newspaper, local television and radio and the Austrian financial press. Providing a link with the heritage of the Spennymoor area, the band originated as the Fishburn Colliery Welfare Band from the mining community of the small village of Fishburn near Sedgefield in the 1950s. Each year the band take part in the region’s premier heritage event ‘Durham Miners Gala’. The band’s manager, Carole Bell is a long serving Thorn Lighting employee and was heavily involved with the relocation to the new site. Thorn Sustainability photo exhibition and Zumtobel Group Award exhibitions The Thorn Academy of Light features a dedicated area where exhibitions and displays will be staged. The Thorn Sustainability photo exhibition was organised by Joss Guest, Thorn Marketing Communications photographer, and featured works entered by various professional photographers including Joss herself. The brief was to illustrate various different themes of Sustainability and Lighting. Official opening and panel discussion The official opening by Helen Goodman, Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland was followed by a lively panel discussion on the topics of investment in research and manufacturing during a recession, lighting, energy and sustainability and the importance of investment in training. Jürg Zumtobel, Andreas Ludwig and Grant Daniels were joined by VIP guests Simon Smith (Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Austria) Colin Fournier (Renowned architect and Professor of Architecture and Urbanism at the Bartlett School of Architecture) and Brian Cody (professor at the Graz University of Technology and head of the Institute for Building and Energy). The panel discussion was moderated by the excellent Roy Sheppard, an experienced speaker and former BBC TV and radio presenter. Following the discussions, Site Director Terry Carmichael praised the contribution made by all the employees and made a special award to Lou Bedocs in recognition of his long service to Thorn. Evening entertainment - String Fever “They’re a little bit classical, they’re a little bit rock n’ roll. They’re also humorous, a little bit manic and a whole lot entertaining. The Broadbent family quartet, which consists of brothers Giles, Ralph and Neal, plus cousin Graham plays five and six stringed violins, a viola and cello, all of which are electric – as is their performance.” With their electric instruments and unique sound, this modern string quartet combined exceptional musical skills with a real talent for involving and engaging the audience. To view a selection of photos from the Opening Event, please click here. |
