Fourteen winners laden with Champaign! Bikes across the floor and winners galore.

Billed the courier event of the year companies large and small, national, London and network booked up and bagged an evening to remember. Celebrations by the river Thames in the shadow of Tower Bridge at the Gormon Tower Hotel supported by Ears Communications rocked into the small hours. Lord Falkland president of the Institute of Couriers opened the event commenting, ‘Quality, safety & training have become top of the agenda for top courier companies who are delivering a service measured by its success’. Twenty short-listers laden with bottles of Champaign entered to applause that befit the best of the best in the same day courier industry. Institute of Courier Chairman Carl Lomas MBE commented ‘The mood was set for the recognition of individuals who at the top of their profession had done that little bit extra that made them special and made them the best of the best. Client recommendations, long service, solutions to exceptional tasks marked this years winners whos deliveries vary from medical supplies to the Queens Christmas puddings’

MCI President & ex Transport Minister David Jamieson began the evening by awarding the coveted Safety award to David Wilding of Reuter Brooks.

David started out in 1984 with Olympic Couriers, became a chauffer and courier, ran his own company until 1997, joined Poste Haste then Creative Couriers before joining Reuter Brooks in 2003. He is responsible for all aspects of Health & Safety in regard to premises, staff and sub-contracted fleet members. Our Fleet Manager and is responsible for recruitment, fleet liaison, discipline and sometimes agony aunt! David has been a breath of fresh air for Reuter Brooks. Not only has he proved to be an excellent choice as Health and Safety Manager, due to his diligence and attention to detail, but he’s also been instrumental in improving fleet health and safety procedures such as introducig a manual handling training DVD for the fleet plus; supplying high visibility jackets for our 4-wheels fleet members. David has introduced a fleet maintenance program for all our fleet from pushbike to Luton van. Helping fleet members to schedule regular maintenance, effect efficient and prompt repairs at numerous garages and service centres around London with access to discounts. This has helped to ensure that our vehicles are kept roadworthy and well maintained whilst allowing the fleet to spread the cost of payment over a number of weeks reducing the impact of large servicing and repair bills. As one of David’s Health & Safety assessors said ‘David has been a major part of implementing a brand new management system for health and safety within Reuter Brooks looking at every aspect throughout the entire company not only for drivers on the road but office staff , management, security and first aid. David’s commitment, professionalism, understanding and very valuable sense of humour has made all the difference in pushing these valuable messages through the entire company. David has made significant changes to ensure Reuter Brooks not only delivers on time but gets it there safely’

Time to sit down and take stock. Dinner tables marked with postcodes followed a chance to win more bottles for couriers on their toes who could calculate numbers and logistics in a fast run quiz set by IOC Chairman Carl Lomas. In one of its other lives the Tower Hotel becomes the control site for the London Marathon. TNT a past National Courier Award winner for its closed road marathon support logistics formed the numbers for a fast thinking quiz. Twenty six miles of running by thirty seven thousand runners set a task to determine the number of bottles of water at drinks stations delivered in ninety minutes to the course stations on the London route. A big answer in the three quarter of a million figure focused the reality of modern day logistics and the enormity of the tasks that can be achieved.

In the growing tradition of the awards tables were split up by two wheelers, Pink Express National Superstock bikes parked by Hawk Kawasaki ZX10 machines. The Hawk bikes were showcasing their electronic traction control. Was this a BSB paddock. No! Geoff Selvidge divisional manager of Yamaha Motor UK brought an array of Yamaha road bikes and showcased his new city scooter with news of courier insurance deals. Hot of the press for top attention was the all electric Vectrix scooter and that’s not to mention top working courier bikes. Package on board, polished and professional.

The awards that began at the Ally Pally Bike Show move each year, from The Tower Hotel you could see two past locations. The Tower Bridge Walkways and HMS Belfast. Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding and chocolate cheesecake set the tone for the forthcoming celebrations.

With dinner over the main block of two wheels, four wheels, contract and office categories were announced by Tracey Worth ex chairman of the National Courier Association and co-ordinator of the panel of judges for the National Courier Awards.

The Short listers for the premier event of the year as judged by the National Courier Awards panel on Thursday 14th June.

Two Wheels – Haden Busby Lewis Day; Said Boukatem TNT; Roger Horrill Reuter Brooks; Paul Knight CYC Logistics; David O’Brien Pink Express

Four Wheels – Niel Blackburn/Simon Smith DHL; Roger French TNT; Trevor Hargreaves Sameday UK; Matthew Neville Pink Express; Julie Rendall UK Today

Contract – Harry Holland TNT; Adam Szolomicki Lewis Day; Paula Hannon UK Today

Office – Emma Blackmore DHL; Andy Ellis Pink Express; Mark Johnson UK Today; Eduardo del Mello MPC Excel; David Wilding Reuter Brooks; Ray Wise Lewis Day