Early in 1970, Roy Atterbury, who was then the Editor of a journal called Electronic Components and the creator of the Distributor Survey now published by CIE, wrote an editorial on the rapid growth of electronic components distribution in the United Kingdom. In this, he expressed concern at the fact that the growth seemed uncontrolled, people/businesses were calling themselves distributors when they were just agents while there were many trying to make quick money by selling dubious components. Distribution, therefore, was getting a bad name. He suggested that a Trade Association for the industry might be able to control what was going on and change the image of the industry. This editorial was picked up by Waldo Thorn who was then with Celdis. He contacted people like George Stewart of SASCO (the UK's first genuine distributor) and Ronnie Luckman at what was then STC Electronic Services (now Farnell Electronic Services). All known franchised distributors were then contacted and a meeting took place in March 1970. As a result of this, a nucleus of around 21 became Founder Members of an Association formed as afdec in April 1970. George Stewart was the first chairman to be succeeded in the 2nd year by Waldo Thorn. The first secretary was Roy Atterbury who served in an honorary position. Early in 1971, Helen Gibbons, Ronnie Luckman's PA, was 'loaned' to Roy Atterbury to help with the growing load of secretarial work. In April, she was appointed the Association's secretary with Roy Atterbury as her assistant. In 2002, Jill Waite took over the Secretariat. |
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