After the construction of Lloyds Avenue, The Ipswich Corporation opened new offices and showrooms that were named "ELECTRIC HOUSE". This caused fears amongst Electrical Contractors in Ipswich that the showrooms would take business away from them.
At the time, Hampton E. Blackiston was Manager and Chief Engineer of Ipswich Corporation Electricity Department and he conceived the "idea" of inviting the Contractors to meet him in order to discuss matters affecting the Electrical Industry within the borough. This meeting took place at Electric House on May 12th 1933 and one resolution which was passed unanimously was that a local organisation, to be called the "Ipswich and District Electrical Association", should be formed.
The Association was formed at a meeting held at Electric House on Monday May 22nd, 1933. The object of the Association was " To assist to the utmost, the use of Electricity in the Borough of Ipswich and District"- the district meaning the area surrounding Ipswich supplied with Electricity by Ipswich Corporation.
Membership of the Association was divided into two categories:
(1) Manufacturers and Factors (Wholesalers)
(2) Electrical Contractors
Mr. Hampton E. Blackiston was appointed Chairman. The other officers were: Secretary, Mr H. Wintle and Treasurer, Mr F. Crush. An Exectutive Commitee of seven members was formed, three from Manufacturers and Factors and four from Electrical Contractors. A sub-Commitee of Contractors was also formed to deal exclusively with contracting matters. The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer were ex-officio members of both committees.
The ensuing months were ones of cautious progress. The matters discussed were, amongst other things, the cost of electricity, fair trading and joint advertising in the local press. Advertisements appeared in the Evening Star in September and the East Anglian Daily Times in December.
On 15th March 1934 the first Annual dinner was held at the Crown and Anchor Hotel in Westgate Street. The principal guests at the Dinner were Sir John Ganzoni, MP for Ipswich, the Mayor of Ipswich and the Chairman of Ipswich Corporation Electricity Department. The first year of the Association concluded with the Annual General Meeting at which Mr H.E. Blackiston was unanimously re-elected Chairman.
The second year saw the formation of a set of Rules of the Association and the widening of the membership to include representatives of other Supply Authorities that took electricity from the Corporation's power station. It also saw a new office of President created at the second AGM, a post unanimously filled by the outgoing Chairman Mr Blackiston.
The Association continued to flourish during the remaining years of the Thirties with the production of a booklet entitled "Electricity Service in East Anglia" in 1936 and an exhibition to promote electrical goods and services in 1937.
At the 1939 Annual Dinner the association bade farewell to it's founder and President, Mr Blackiston, the occasion being marked with a suitable presentation.
The Association continued to expand and develop over the coming years, however, regular meetings were reduced during the War years of 1939 - 45. After the War the Association prospered and in 1953 an official badge-of-office was introduced for the Chairman to wear at all official functions. The badge, depicting the new Ipswich Cliff Quay coal-fired power station (now demolished), is still in use today and the centre-piece of the badge forms the Associations logo and is represented on our Home page.
...AND BEYOND
There have been many changes and advances in the Electrical Industry over the years and the Association has endeavoured to keep it's members abreast of developments through regular meetings and visits. It has also actively promoted and encouraged education within the Industry through local Colleges and provides annual awards to students judged to have achieved the most. The awards comprise the following:
IDEA Student Prize - presented to the best student from a local College, selected by the Association's Management Committee, who is on a nationally approved electrical course.
IDEA President's Prize - awarded by the Association's President to the most outstanding student of electrical installation work chosen by the Association's Management Committee from candidates put forward by local Colleges.
IDEA Younger Students Prize - this award is sponsored by local industry and is presented through the Association to a first year electrical/electronic student on a National Certificate or similar course.
Each prize-winner is given a free years membership of the Association along with a cash award and a gift, usually a test instrument or book token, as appropriate. Many of the students over the years have renewed their memberships and regularly attend monthly meetings.
The IDEA is a great supporter of the work of the Electrical industry's own charity - The Electrical & Electronic Industries Benevolent Association (EEIBA) - by raising funds, either directly through it's members or via functions and events held throughout the year.