It’s been a while since I sat down to write an SRP blog. I did know of the tradition for the President to write the December blog but my tummy still dropped when Tessa asked if I would write it. Let’s hope I remember how….

What a year 2023 has been! Since I took over as SRP President in May at the 60^th Anniversary Conference in Aberdeen (subtitled ‘The one with the real fire’), I have been amazed at the work put in by our SRP Volunteers.

It was International Day of Volunteers on 5^th December and it made me reflect on how much SRP relies on its volunteers to merely function never mind actually achieve anything. With 24 Committees within 4 Directorates our volunteers are very busy producing deliverables such as webinars, face to face events, writing magazine or journal articles, producing Good Practice Guides, assessing membership and professional registration applications, and reviewing new or changes to legislation. It falls to me to say a simple ‘Thank you’ to everyone out there who contributes to SRP.

If you haven’t yet been involved but think you might want to in the future then look out for the annual call for committee volunteers which will be issued in January - so you can put your hand up and get involved that way. The SRP Council elections are open so, if you want to help run SRP at the highest level, put in an application using this form - you have until 12^th January to submit.  If that isn’t for you and you think you could have a go at sharing your love of radiation and physics to the next generation of potential RP professionals, then we will be looking for Outreach volunteers soon for the Big Bang Science Fair at NEC, Birmingham on 19^th to 21^st June. If you are concerned about the commitment, don’t worry; a few hours just supporting a one-off activity would be a great help.

Personally, this year I have travelled widely as SRP President – Brighton, Vienna, Tokyo, London, Taunton, Birmingham - to present or attend SRP events, or represent SRP externally. Meeting our members and the wide range of settings in which they work is eye opening to me. I hope to meet more of you as my presidency progresses. I have been to both the House of Commons (for Links Day where Professional Societies present to Parliamentarians) and the House of Lords to meet our new Patron, The Lord McNicol of West Kilbride. SRP is widely respected and our Strategic Plan is building on this so that our profession gains the recognition it deserves.

They say you should ask a busy person if you want something done; well this rings true for me as I freely admit I am a serial volunteer. I help run my netball team and am currently involved in a project to review the Brass Band Library (we are up to 'P'). I know many of you out there help other organisations as well as SRP and I think the sense of giving something to others is what the festive season is all about.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Jennifer Humphries CRadP MSRP
president@srp-uk.org