The BSS Cheltenham Conference judged a great success

Here's the BSS Newsletter entry that was published following the Cheltenham Conference.

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The BSS Cheltenham Conference judged a great success!

A total of 84 delegates gathered at the Cheltenham Chase Hotel over the post-Easter weekend to listen to one of the most interesting programmes that we have had for a long time. How delegates judged the conference and its venue can be seen by going to the special conference web page where there is now a summary and review of the conference, an analysis of delegate questionnaires and even links to reviews of the earlier Exeter and Wyboston conferences too. Go to: www.bit.ly/bss2012 for the full details, lots of photographs AND a surely unmissable chance to download and listen to Frank King’s sundial interview with Chris Evans on Radio 2!

In the interests of openness or if anyone might wish to make their own analysis of the questionnaires, the originally submitted comments – ‘anonymised’ of course - can also be seen via a link on the above page. In short:

· Everyone without exception enjoyed the conference and appreciated the all-in-one venue

· Every respondent thought that the conference was good to excellent value for money

· All those staying at the hotel liked the accommodation

· Delegates highly rated the conference for its lectures, for meeting other people and for the venue, the dial tour and the auction.

· 92% felt we should consider an hotel based conference again

· 88% wouldn't even change anything next time

· 65% of delegates had viewed the conference web page and all but one had found it useful

· Only half (51%/55%) of delegates/forum attendees felt the discussion forum should be repeated

· Very few delegates recorded problems of any sort. In fact nearly 60% of delegates had no suggestions for improvement at all.

Having the conference in a 4-star hotel proved to be exceptionally comfortable even if some of the prices for extras – like bar food - were at rather higher prices than the discounted rates we had obtained for the conference might suggest. Some partners of delegates wished we had been a bit nearer to a city centre – though of course had we been much nearer we may not have been able to command such beneficial conference rates. Some delegates felt that the hotel’s nouvelle cuisine dinners could have included more vegetables and even a well-done option for the Saturday night’s lamb. A significant comment was that the projection screen could have been raised a little to make the slides more easily visible from the back of the flat auditorium. The dial tour was particularly enjoyed by delegates though one thought it a bit long and one would have liked to see some of the other well known dials in the Cotswolds. The problem for us of course is that many of these other dials are in mediaeval villages which are simply not accessible to any size of coach let alone an 80 seater. Still, despite that, we managed to see nine lovely dials in all and still arrive back with an hour before dinner.

This was the last conference to be organised by me; Chris Lusby Taylor is picking up the organiser’s baton from now. I would like to record my thanks for all the very kind comments – and even cards - that I have received saying how much people have enjoyed this and earlier conferences. They have been very much appreciated. Thank you very much.

Patrick Powers - 2012 Conference Organiser