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ICPUSE - A GLANCE BACK OVER TWENTY YEARS
by the President ICPUGSE - Mick Ryan
and Janet Bickerstaff
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Ed:- In June, ICPUGSE, the oldest of the still running ICPUG regions, celebrated its 20th anniversary. Here is a potted history of this famous group starting with a brief note from their President. IPUGSE (PET Users) was established as a local offshoot of the National IPUG. I was on the National IPUG Committee and found that many of the brighter sparks were within reach of a suitable venue in the South East. I lived at Sevenoaks and we chose Biggin Hill as near the "centre of gravity". We held our first meeting in the Sixth Form Common Room of the Charles Darwin School on Wednesday 4th June 1980. Our first speaker was the legendary Jim Butterfield from Canada. The original early committee members were: Harry Broomhall, Bill and Mo Coles, Reg Ivory, Ron Plater, Kevin Viney, Barry Biddles, David Annal, Tom Cranstoun, Fred Offler, Peter Reynolds and our star - Simon Tranmer. Eventually IPUG - soon to become ICPUG (Commodore Products as the PET phased out), had 80 such regional groups but the South East was always the strongest with over 300 members. I will leave it to others to document the details of our growth and development to ICPUGSE, (by now Computer Products) - sadly Commodore has long gone and we have had to adapt to cover the products of many different manufacturers. It is thanks to the brilliant and persistent efforts of our Committees over the years, and particularly to John and Janet Bickerstaff, that the club has survived and strengthened whilst adapting to change. Sadly, even the National ICPUG has now been closed, but the SE goes on stronger than ever. I am very proud to be associated with such a dynamic group and wish you all the very best for the future. Mick Ryan Ed: Clearly Mick has not been told about the National ICPUG web site. What has been closed is National ICPUL. Some of us within National ICPUG were just as good at adapting to change, which is why we embraced the Internet. Let's return to the main subject with the potted history of ICPUGSE from Janet. 4th June 1980 First meeting of IPUG SE (Independent PET Users Group) held in the Sixth Form Common Room, Charles Darwin School, Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Kent. 1981 Name changed to ICPUG SE (Independent Commodore Products Users' Group - South East Region. 1984 Jim Tierney's machine code course. 11th July 1985 Mick Ryan, founder of the Club, made Life President. John Bickerstaff appointed as Chairman, Newsletter Editor - Barry Biddles, and Technical Officer - Tom Cranstoun. September 1987 First weekend of Computers and Gourmet Food held at The Queen's Armes Hotel, Charmouth, Dorset. June 1989 John and Janet Bickerstaff became joint Editors of the Newsletter. 21st June 1990 10th Birthday Party attended by members, friends, dealers and representatives from Commodore. 26th July 1990 Subscription raised to £12 for adults and £6 for full time students. (It hasn't changed since!) 25th July 1991 David Annal and Len Beard joined the committee. Janet Bickerstaff was appointed Group Secretary and Roger Spreckley became responsible for Financial Statistics. July 1994 Commodore in trouble and went into liquidation. Name change proposed to Independent Computer Products Users Group. April 1996 Meetings moved from Biggin Hill Library to the WI Hall, Lebanon Gardens, Biggin Hill, Kent. July 1999 Roger Spreckley resigned as Vice Chairman and Treasurer following his move to West Sussex. David Annal appointed Vice Chairman and Paul Court as Treasurer. Ed: There is only one thing to add to that: June 2000 |
