Tribute to Allan Murray My first ‘formal’ meeting with Allan was the occasion in the mid 1980s when we both sat nervously waiting to be interviewed for the job of Chief Executive of Glass Training Limited. After a hostile panel interview, neither of us got the job! The post was awarded to Alan Hearsum who steered GTL to become an extremely effective NTO. One of his master strokes was to ‘hive off’ GQA from GTL; an even greater master stroke was to appoint Allan Murray as its Chief Executive! Allan worked tirelessly to establish GQA as a leading player in the UK’s qualification scene. Under his leadership, GQA went from strength to strength both in terms of its excellent service to the Glass and other industries, but also in its financial success in difficult economic times. As a GQA Board member, I was able to closely examine the way that Allan had the ability to combine long term strategic thinking with a detailed grasp of day-to-day operational issues. He was the true professional but always did his job in a pleasant manner – it wasn’t in his nature to be stiff and starchy! He had the ‘human touch’ and was well liked and respected by his colleagues and he will be sorely missed by GQA. Above all, his untimely death following his recent retirement will bring great sorrow to his beloved wife, Ann, and to his close family. My sympathies are with them at this distressing time. His passing is also a great shock to his colleagues and many friends and I was privileged to have been one of them. Rest in Peace, Allan. Gwyn Baker Former Director of Building Products Training Council, and Board member of GQA from its inception until August 2012