Golf Business News – SALTEX Announces Retirement of Operations Manager Derek Walder

SALTEX, the UK's leading event for field management professionals and volunteers, announces the retirement of 'Mr SALTEX', Derek Walder – their long-serving Operations Manager pictured above.

He will step down following SALTEX 2024 on 30 and 31 October at the NEC Birmingham, marking his 42nd and final show.

Derek's career spans over six decades, beginning in the early 1960s in agriculture as a gardener on a private estate in Sussex. His passion for working on the lawn then led him to become Assistant Head of Geriatrics at a golf course in Hertfordshire. In 1970, he became the Grounds Manager at a large stadium in South West London, mainly used as a training ground for Wimbledon FC during the “Crazy Gang” era.

His involvement with the Grounds Management Association (GMA) began in 1969 when he joined the then National Association of Groundsmen. His first involvement with SALTEX was as a volunteer when the exhibition was held at Motspur Park in south-west London. After eight years as a volunteer, Derek took on the role of Operations Manager when the show moved to Windsor Racecourse in 1979. Over the past decades, he has watched SALTEX evolve first-hand, overseeing its recruitment in Windsor, Peterborough, and the NEC, Birmingham. .

During his time with GMA, Derek held the positions of General Secretary and Chairman and his dedication to the industry has been widely recognised, earning him a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen's Birthday Honors List in 1988 for services to the foundation. In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the GMA Industry Awards and, in the same year, he was awarded the 'Unsung Hero' award by the Association of Event Organizers. Derek was then inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame in 2021 as a mark of an outstanding career in the industry spanning more than half a century.

Speaking about his impending retirement, Derek said: “When I look back at SALTEX, I never imagined that on a cold autumn day in 1979, when we arrived at Windsor Racecourse for the 'Windsor Show', I would still be involved 42 years later. In those years, we have seen many changes in the industry in which the exhibition is familiar, and for 56 of those years I was in this profession to be able to appreciate what is needed from the point of view of visitors. Even now, I still hear the same sound when the doors open as I did in 1979.”

Geoff Webb, CEO of GMA, said: “Derek's commitment to SALTEX and the grounds management industry has been incredible. His expertise and leadership played an important role in shaping the show into the premier platform it is today. His legacy extends beyond his various roles at GMA – he is steeped in the culture of managing venues, having worked extensively with 'Gangs'. Over the years, what has stood out to me is Derek's passion for SALTEX, which he has developed as a personal commitment. His work has given GMA a solid foundation for the future. What many people may not know is the incredible amount of volunteer work Derek has done for both the association and SALTEX, we thank him and wish him all the best in his retirement.”

SALTEX 2024 will be an opportunity for the industry to celebrate Derek's contributions and honor his dedication not only to this show but to the industry as a whole. Register for your free ticket now: