Eric Hopper, Chairman of the Leisure and Outdoor Association for the past five years, has announced he will be retiring at the end of the year.
His leadership, innovation and enthusiasm have ensured LOFA is one of the strongest and well respected associations in the garden industry.
During his term of office the SOLEX trade show has gone from strength to strength, such that it has outgrown Telford International Centre and will be held at the NEC in July 2013.
As Chairman he personally inspected all the new members, and membership has increased year on year. He was also instrumental in setting up a new a new office and structure for LOFA in Chichester.
Eric is well known for his great sense of humour and fun which became particularly evident at the LOFA Conference for members.
When he became Chairman in 2008, after serving on the LOFA Council for many years, he said his objective was to ensure that no member should ever say: “what does LOFA do for me?” With the many innovations such as LOFA News, Made Aware, the SOLEX trade show, and the LOFA charity support, he has more than succeeded in his objective.
Eric is well known in the garden industry as the founder of Black Knight Barbecues and then as Chairman of Outback barbecues.
A keen Gillingham Football Club supporter he was also an official and football referee at national level, a skill which he used to good effect when chairing LOFA Council meetings.
The new Chairman will be elected at the first new LOFA Council meeting in January 2013 but will find it hard to match the dedication and hard work contributed by Eric Hopper in the role.
Eric Hopper’s favourite saying is “What’s next?” Whatever that is, LOFA wishes him every success for the future.
