CPA Bulletin

10 CPA Bulletin > February/March 2021 www.cpa.uk.net DAN GRIFFIN In January we received the sad news that former CPA Chairman and President Dan Griffin had died following a serious illness. Dan had joined CPA Council in 1991, and quickly joined various sub committees. He became heavily involved in some modernisation and early changes to the way CPA operated. Over the many years that followed, Dan was very supportive of CPA and more than anybody else attended most of the CPA events as well as rarely missing a Council meeting. Dan was also a board Director of the Rail Plant Association (RPA). Dan had also been Chairman of the London Plant Association for many years organising their Annual Dinner Dance and the monthly meetings. Although Dan’s business provided plant without operators, his passion was always large plant, especially cranes. Alongside his long-term friend, Don Baldry, he maintained an interest in plant, including a trip to see the largest crane in the UK at Earls Court in 2017. Outside work, Dan took up sailing in his fifties and qualified as an Offshore Yachtmaster whilst circumnavigating Great Britain. The family often sailed in the Mediterranean but his real love was “cold, wet and windy”. He always enjoyed days out with the family, especially Ascot which was a favourite. The family travelled widely and Dan was always ready and enthusiastic for new trips suggested by John and Kate. Dan was a lifetime member of the Lighthouse Club and together with his family was very active organising events in London. No mention of Dan could be complete without mentioning Chelsea Football Club. Dan’s wife, Wendy, remembers: “Even when he was ill, he said that if spectators had been allowed, he would have managed to get to Stamford Bridge. He was a supporter when I met him over forty years ago and he was still a season ticket holder when he died.” Colin Wood - who together with Bill Law joined Council on the same day as Dan in 1991 - summed up the feelings of everyone who knew him: “He will be remembered, more than anything else, for his warmth and humour. Many Council Members have commented on his welcoming approach to themwhen they joined the Council. He was brilliant company and a great raconteur and you never left Dan’s company without a smile on your face.” We shall all miss his sense of humour and friendship, and we send our sympathies to his wife Wendy, and their children John and Kate. CPA Council has made a donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, to support their work and also to mark the contribution that Dan made to CPA. Thank you to Wendy Griffin and to Colin Wood for their input to this obituary. ASSOCIATIONNEWS: 3 Tributes to Dan Griffin Sincere condolences to Wendy, John and Kate. We have lost a true friend. I will have a Guinness for him tonight. Brian Jones Danny was a lovely man who always had time to chat and story to tell. I’ll miss him. Dave Holder Very sad news about Danny. Both the CPA and our industry in general will miss him. Bob Collins Danny made me feel so welcome when I joined Council over a Guinness or two. Such a shame. Steve Mulholland This is such sad news. Danny was one of those welcoming voices when I joined Council all those years ago. He had a big heart and will be missed by all in the industry including the RPA. David Simmons Such sad news, please let me know if we can help the family in any way and let them know our thoughts are with them. Kirsty Archbold-Laming Some three years ago when I first started on Council, I found myself in unfamiliar surroundings which were rather intimidating. However, there was one person in particular who helped me enormously and gave me a sense of confidence. This was Danny. I warmed to him immediately, not only for our common love of Guinness, but for the fact that he was kind enough to take me under his wing. I remember his initial welcome to me, which was ‘Sion, you’re a mover and a shaker now!’ It still makes me smile to this day. Sion Morgan Jones Danny had a great input to the CPA and a dry sense of humour! He will be sadly missed. Ian Gordon Very sorry to hear of Dan’s passing. My sincere condolences to his family at this sad time. I have fond memories of Dan and valued his input when I was Chairman and President of the CPA. Rest in peace Dan. William Law Such a big man with a big heart, left a big impression on me, now a big loss. Thank you Danny. Adrian Knight Such very sad news. Thoughts are now with Danny’s family. Nadine Clark I joined the CPA Council back in 1991 on the same day as Danny and Bill Law. Danny always contributed well at Council and we became friendly, particularly in the pub after our meetings. I will miss him greatly, he was a real character with a brilliant sense of humour. ColinWood