We get it wrong sometimes - but not on purpose
09 March 2010
After spending friday learning about Liability Driven Investment it was a pleasure to spend saturday at HNBOC - historic boats - annual meeting in Braunston.
The Pension Fund is a critical issue not only to the pensioners and future pensioners of BW but also to the corporation of course. Seeking the right balance of risk/return in these markets is very demanding and some of the concepts require some pretty fierce concentration resulting in brain ache. So even talking about bollards was more enjoyable!
Our heritage both in terms of structures and the boats themselves is important to us and as both Vince* and I said, when we make a mistake its not deliberate.
However, I think we are increasingly getting it right and that is because our Waterway Managers are becoming closer to users and are spending more time listening to their points of view - not always agreeing of course.
Dialogue requires effort both ways and the fact that HNBOC are changing their regional structure to match the new BW structure is a good example of their commitment to both talk and listen.
While I am sure it was right to put in more bollards to enhance safety, equally I am sure (as indeed is Vince) that we did it without sufficient discussion on detail. The point has been made and we must move on.
It was good to hear the offers of volunteers to help make the waterways more usable by Historic Boats in areas where there are currently difficulties.
We all have other interests - mine football and a very good weekend it was this weekend after last week's disappointment - but how good to hear about other such wide-ranging interests in Braunston, from railways to the less predictable but equally fascinating organ playing.
*Vince Moran, BW Operations Director
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