ATLAS Key Personnel
The below individuals have been recognised by the Association as having played a formative and important role in the industry's development. In recognition of their commitment to the industry and the Association, they have had the title of Honorary Life Vice President bestowed upon them. Like Council Members, they are able to vote on all issues that are tabled at council meetings.
Current Council | Honorary Officers
Michael Beaumont, Honorary Life Vice-President
Michael is the fourth generation of a steeplejack based family business that can trace its foundation back to 1876. He has served as a Council Member, President and now Honorary Life Vice President of ATLAS for over 25 years. During his term as President the forerunner of the present ‘card’ system was introduced to help the steeplejack and lightning conductor industry become better regulated and the operatives able to achieve recognised standards of training.
In addition to his work with ATLAS Michael is advisor to British Standards for BS4076 Specification for Steel Chimneys, represented British Standards and was convenor of the working group that produced the sections on steel chimneys, standards of construction and support masts for EN 13084 which will become the new British Standard. He is also a member and past council member of CICIND and ex-chairman of the steel chimney committee which produces the CICIND Model Code for Steel Chimneys.
He now runs Beaumont Technical Services Ltd, a consultancy and company supplying chimneys and masts as well as undertaking inspection work on a worldwide basis.
Robert Bird, Honorary Life Vice-President
Robert is a time-served electrician with over 30 years experience in the steeplejack industry. He has extensive on-site experience as a Project Manager for large power station and refinery contracts.
He was appointed Managing Director of Delta International in 1994, successfully establishing the company as one of the most well-respected in the industry.
Robert has been elected as President of ATLAS on two occasions, from 1999-2001 and from 2005-2008 and is currently Immediate Past President. He has served on a number of ATLAS Committees and is currently heavily involved in the work of the Access and Safety Committee and as Chairman of the Complaints Committee. Robert was appointed an Honorary Life Vice President of ATLAS in June 2011.
Robert is Chairman of the Steeplejacks and Lightning Protection Training Group and regularly sits on BSI sub-committees for access and safety matters. He also attends regular meetings with the HSE to inform, and keep informed, of new regulations.
Mike Fuller, Honorary Life Vice-President
Mike joined the industry in 1965 with Furse in Nottingham, before moving to Harrison's in Darlington, and then starting his own consultancy and training business in 1991. Mike developed the original NVQ's for the industry and sits on the Occupational Working Groups for both NVQ's and safety test questions (touch screen tests).
He was President from 1984 -1986, and is presently an Honorary Life Vice President
John Richardson, Honorary Life Vice-President
After leaving a minor public school in 1948, John Richardson served his apprenticeship as a bricklayer with a local house builder (his father, P C Richardson, not wanting him to "pull rank" had he been apprenticed to P C Richardson & Co Ltd!)
At the age of 21 in 1952 he started as an ordinary chimney bricklayer on the construction of a 300ft brick chimney at ICI Limited at their Billingham Works – with no safety belts and just working from an internal timber scaffold, nothing but eternity below you on the outside of the chimney. He then worked on a couple of 250ft chimneys, then into the office of PCR at the age of 24. At that point PCR said to him "you have learnt all the tricks the men get up to... now stop them!"
John worked as a contract manager and expanded PCR's steeplejack side as chimney construction was tailing off in the mid 1950's. He became Managing Director in 1972 and is presently the company’s Chairman.
John was President of the, then, Federation from 1969-1971.
June Turney, Honorary Life Vice-President
June Turney (previously Corden) joined the Steeplejack industry in 1982 and joined Central (High Rise) Ltd as an Administrator in 1985. Appointed a Director in 1986 June is now Managing Director.
June started attending what was then the National Federation of Master Steeplejacks and Lightning Conductor Engineers meetings in the early 90s as an observer and was quickly appointed a Council Member. June achieved the honour of becoming the first woman President of the Federation in 1997 and was appointed the first woman Honorary Life Vice President in 2009. For many years June also chaired the Complaints Committee.
June has been a lifelong supporter of training and was Chairman of the Training Group for many years and is still an active member of that group. She has also been a member of the training committee of the NSCC and is currently a co-opted member of the National Construction College Advisory Committee on training.
