It was a pleasure and a privilege for the Institute of Licensing to be able to recognise the unique contributions to licensing and to the Institute of Licensing for two of its prominent Board members. Gary Grant and Sarah Clover were both awarded Fellowship at the Institute's Gala dinner on Thursday 18th November 2021.

Institute Director Susanna FitzGerald QC presented the award.  Susanna said:

“It was an enormous pleasure to be able to present the Fellowship awards to both Gary and Sarah, two people for I have the highest regard. They are both fine licensing barristers, who have done, and are doing so much for licensing , and who have contributed so much of their talent, time, energy, and care both to that and to the IOL. The Fellowship awards are richly deserved.”

Gary was sadly unable to be with us at the National Training Conference this year due to court commitments, but his recorded acceptance speech was played during the awards presentations.  He said:

"I am so honoured and grateful to the Institute for the award of Fellowship. Licensing has been a labour of love for me for many years because, at its core, is human enjoyment. Whether we are trade, licensing or environmental health officers, police, lawyers, Councillors or consultants, when we are at our best we are  enablers of human fun. When we get it right we increase the sum of human happiness. So the pursuit of excellence in licensing is an honourable journey. The Institute is the standard bearer and hand-maiden of that task. So I feel privileged to have been able to make my own small contribution to the work of the Institute and the practise of licensing in the UK."

Sarah Clover said:

“ It is a great honour to be named as a Fellow of the Institute of Licensing. Licensing is a unique area that seem to draw the most committed and passionate of practitioners. The members of the Institute share those qualities and come together as a family, particularly at the much loved Annual Conference. It was lovely to see everyone back together again in Stratford this year. The levels of cooperation and dedication shown by the IOL Board, team and members throughout the COVID pandemic have been really impressive. It is a great privilege to be able to contribute to such a professional and respected organisation”.