By George, he was good!
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IT WAS a handsome and characteristic tribute that Ken Rogers. national chairman of the RHA, paid to George Newman, the retiring director-general, at the annual dinner. "To .a considerable extent the Road Haulage Association as we know it today is George Newman's creation," he said.
GKN, as he is known among the staff, has certainly done much for the Association's professional standing and never more than by his immaculate performances on TV during last year's strike of lorry drivers.
He has sometimes had an uphill struggle against ill-considered proposals by members, but his exceptional gift for fluent incisive expression has been more than adequate for the occasion.
He is meticulous about administrative matters and demands close attention to detail by his staff. The result is a smooth-running machine.
The new director-general has not yet been selected but the bush telegraph tells me that a short list of five has been prepared from the original 100 or so applicants. According to Ken Rogers, applications came from places as far apart as Swaziland and darkest Rochdale, including one from a guest of Her Majesty who said he would be available late in July.