Gold Medal awarded 2009 to Susan Margaret Bolton

For outstanding and sustained contribution to the SDC and fastness testing. It is difficult to know where to start to summarise Sue’s contribution to the SDC and fastness testing. Perhaps I could first mention her career at Marks and Spencer where she was instrumental in establishing the laboratory accreditation scheme which led to the original national scheme. Although I am not quite sure where her work on testing the tensile strength of sausage skins fits into her career. All this led to work in the late 70’s with the SDC fastness testing co-ordination Committee of which she is currently Chair. She also been active on many technical Committees to numerous to mention today. Sue is now a Trustee Board member responsible for technical matters at the SDC. Sue wanted to be a pharmacist but instead “finished up” as a dyer and we in the coloration industry are all very grateful that things worked out this way