HRH THE DUKE OF KENT TO VISIT IOG SALTEX

HRH The Duke of Kent is to visit the IOG SALTEX open space management show on Tuesday 8 September at Windsor Racecourse.

The Duke of Kent will be welcomed to the show by the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, The Hon Mrs Bayliss. He will tour the event, meeting exhibitors and visiting the Sports Turf Skills Village and the AEA Live Machinery Demo Area, then make a presentation to the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) to mark the Institute’s 75th anniversary.

Commenting on the exciting news, IOG Chief Executive Geoff Webb says: “We are honoured that the Duke – who is President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club – will be visiting IOG SALTEX as part of his very busy Royal diary, and we know that the companies, products and technologies on view will reflect the significance of this industry.”

The Duke’s visit will be the second such Royal acknowledgement of the IOG and its activities, after Prince Philip wrote to the Institute recognising its 60th anniversary and praising the role of grounds professionals and groundsmanship.

HRH The Duke of Kent undertakes many Royal engagements, both in support of The Queen and on behalf of the many organisations with which he is involved. One of the Duke’s major public roles for many years was Vice-Chairman of British Trade International (now know as UK Trade and Investment). The Duke was very actively involved in its work, promoting Britain and British companies by leading overseas trade missions and visiting companies large and small across the United Kingdom.

IOG SALTEX 2009 is being held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.

Organised by The Institute of Groundsmanship, the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s IOG SALTEX Sports, Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, IOG SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org

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