Past Master Chris Sneath Awarded the St Michael Medallion
Past Master Chris Sneath has received the St Michael Medallion, the Worshipful Company of Plumbers’ highest award in recognition of his outstanding service to the plumbing and heating industry.
The St Michael Medallion was inaugurated in 1951. It is awarded for exceptional service and has only been presented 27 times. Chris’s presentation was delayed because of COVID and the citation from 2019 reads as follows:
The Award of the St Michael Medallion to Past Master Christopher Gilbert Sneath MBE, CEng, FCIBSE, FCGIE, FCIPHE, FIET, Hon. FSoPHE.
Past Master Sneath was clothed of the Livery of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers in 2004 and having served as a Court Assistant became Master in 2011.
He has had a distinguished career in the building engineering, plumbing, heating, ventilating air conditioning and allied industries. Having been a Director of several companies termination with CJ Bartley Ltd in 2000, he became the voluntary Chairman of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Construction Safety Working Group for 2000-2001. There followed a series of further Chairmanships including the Government’s Sponsored “Licence to Practice Group”, Chairman of “Britain’s Favourite Plumber Award” and Chairman of the ” Plumbing and Heating Alliance”. Chris continues to Chair “WaterSafe” on behalf of the Company, which includes the “Licence to Practice”, liaising with “City and Guilds” as the Company representative and the same for the “All Party Parliamentary Water Group”. Chris was awarded the MBE in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, with that citation heading reading “Chairman, WaterSafe for services to the plumbing and heating industry, for outstanding work”.
He is now closely involved with Havering Technical College and their new Plumbing Centre of Excellence, a scheme which is being copied throughout the country’s technical colleges. To this end, he has created a bursary in his own name to provide additional training to NVQ apprentices at Levels 1, 2 and 3 in conjunction with SoPHE. Such a significant development is an inspiration to many young people entering the profession. Throughout all his time as a Liveryman, Past Master Sneath has made an outstanding contribution.
In recognition of his achievements and acknowledging his work and dedication to both the plumbing industry and the Company Past Master Sneath is awarded the St Michael Medallion.
Many congratulations to Chris for this thoroughly deserved award and recognition!
Past Master Chris Sneath receiving the St Michael Medallion at the Summer Festival 2021