Blogger's block unblocked....

I have had a bit of blogger’s block. Not that there wasn’t anything to write about – there was so much to write about that I just couldn’t decide. Whether it was the total power failure in our area for a whole day last week when we had to lock up and send people home as there was no heating (let alone computers) or the huge fire not very far away from us which brought the City to a halt – let alone anything that is happening in the office.

The “not the election” campaign is in full swing and apart from our own campaign which I wrote about earlier, my inbox/tray is full of position statements and the like from other charities and organisations.
Two excellent ones which are relevant to us in terms of science and medical research are the Academy of Medical Sciences and The Royal Society - both make interesting if worrying reading if advice is not heeded.

Life outside work has been pretty busy too. As regular readers will know I am a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Needlemakers (see Needlemakers Company) – one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. This not only brings me into contact with interesting people but also takes me to interesting places and makes me feel part of the City of London – not the part that makes loadsamoney but the part that is charitable, steeped in tradition and yet at the forefront of technology.

As I wrote last year - it also means that I go to church rather more than you would expect someone with the name of Goldberg to do. But when that church is St Pauls Cathedral – what a wonderful experience! It is such a fabulous building, the music is wonderful and when the Mayor and all the Livery Companies are there in their colourful gowns – as they say, what’s not to like!! Friday was the 68th service of the United Guilds of the City of London. This tradition started during the war as a service to lift the spirits after the Blitz and it was the first occasion on which all the Livery Companies combined to hold a religious service. Excellent sermon by the Bishop of Norwich – you didn’t need to be Christian to appreciate the sentiments or enjoy the service.

Of course the Livery Companies also like to enjoy themselves and we repaired to the Innholders’ Hall (appropriately enough!) with the Innholders, the Cooks and the Tinplate Workers to eat the excellent fish pie which is always provided on this occasion!

Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies To Work For 2010

Breast Cancer Campaign has made the Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work for 2010. We were ranked at number 91 in the list, but was singled out for the third highest rating (94 per cent positive) of staff who say that they make a difference. It is the very first time we have entered so it is a great credit to all our staff, trustees and supporters that we have succeeded in making the grade and are in such good company. Our shared vision is to beat breast cancer; this motivation and affinity with the cause gives us all a clear focus and commitment and brings us close to our supporters through our values.

Clearly I am delighted and very grateful to everyone – but I am not entirely surprised at the high score for staff feeling that they make a difference. Strangely it took 9/11 to bring home to me how lucky I am to do what I do. In the days that followed many of my friends and colleagues in the corporate sector found it very difficult to motivate themselves when such devastation can happen almost in a heart-beat. For us, the number of women dying of breast cancer on the 11th of September was the same as on the 10th of September and unless we do something about it will be so on the 11th of September in years to come.