ISSEE Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary With The Organization’s Chairman, Alan Bates Penning An Open Letter

ISSEE’s Chairman, Alan Bates shared an open letter, in which he shared his key personal moment that lead to the establishment of the International School for Search and Explosives Education - ISSEE.

Letter from the Chairman

In the letter, Alan Bates said, “Some 20 years ago, I would enjoy my daily runs around and about in Henley-on-Thames. On a number of occasions, I would be joined by Alan Hatcher, who was a tall, talkative enthusiastic ex-RAF officer, who started to sow a seed in my mind that I should become involved with his idea to start a training company specializing in explosives.”

He adds, “I confess, a more distant thought had never crossed my mind, even after a long career of working with and supporting a very wide range of businesses.”

Alan Bates, ISSEE Chairman

Of course, over the course of the 20 years of establishment, ISSEE has changed and for the better

ISSEE’s Chairman, Alan Bates continues, “Such was his persistence, I agreed, loaned him some start-up funds and found myself as Chairman of the ‘International School for Search and Explosives Education’ – much better known as ‘ISSEE’. Little did I suspect that 20 years later, Alan’s idea, the sown seed, following the often trod and difficult road of many start-up SME businesses, I would still be with ISSEE and writing this Anniversary Chairman’s Letter.”

Of course, over the course of the 20 years of establishment, ISSEE has changed and for the better. From the organization’s early beginnings in borrowed classrooms at the Salisbury Technical College, to their time in Tidworth and then, 10 years at Chilmark, the business has grown and the ISSEE family along with it, including the alumni and client base widened and deepened.

Relocation to new Bloxham facility

Furthermore, Alan Bates mentioned in the letter that the time at ISSEE’s latest and most impressive training facility yet, Heythrop Park is coming to a close and they are about to relocate to a new facility in Bloxham.

The relocation is to accommodate more student delegates, a wider range of traditional explosives, security and ammunition management training courses, and new training courses and services in logistic management.

Experience-based training and pastoral support

Over these past years, the ISSEE have welcomed delegates from many countries and organizations

Over these past years, the ISSEE have welcomed delegates from many countries and organizations. All of them trusted ISSEE’s loyal team of outstanding instructors and support staff, to deliver high quality, accredited, experience-based training and pastoral support, in order to enable them to return home to operate in a safe, confident and competent manner. 

To the delegates from Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Montenegro, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Syria, UAE, Uganda, UK, USA and Zambia, the ISSEE offers immense gratitude for their trust and invites everyone to celebrate with the organization on the occasion of their 20th Anniversary.

20th Anniversary celebrations

Alan Bates further said, “I am confident that 2020 will be an exciting year for ISSEE. Recalling those early, ambitious days of the new millennium with our founder, Alan Hatcher, I see as much ambition for our future with our current CEO, Gordon Storey.”

He concludes, “Being a part of ISSEE is something to be proud of and we will all celebrate this 20th anniversary with pride and invite you to celebrate with us. With all best wishes to our student delegates, our customers, our business partners, our suppliers and our staff – old and new.”