The ATLAS 80th anniversary celebration brought together around 130 members, guests and industry partners at the Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon on Friday 23 October 2026 to mark eight decades of achievements and progress across the lightning protection and steeplejack industries.

The celebrations began with a walking tour and talk around historic Stratford-upon-Avon (for those brave enough to face the storm!), followed by a relaxed afternoon of wine and charcuterie. The festivities then continued into the evening with a drinks reception, gala dinner and special awards.

It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and celebrate the people who have helped shape ATLAS over the years.

The ATLAS festivities began with a guided walking tour and talk exploring the history of Stratford-upon-Avon. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, and after a democratic vote, a group of enthusiastic guests braved the weather alongside our tour guide, Owen, while others stayed warm and dry at the hotel with our second guide, Margot, for an equally fascinating talk about the town’s history!

Afterwards, everyone came together for a relaxed wine and charcuterie reception, providing the perfect opportunity to catch up with industry friends, reconnect with familiar faces and enjoy some delicious food and drinks before the evening celebrations got underway.

As evening approached, guests gathered for the anniversary drinks reception before making their way into the gala dinner for a night of good food, wonderful company and entertainment, with magician Ben Hanlin adding a little extra magic, laughter and plenty of surprises to the celebrations!

ATLAS today and the future

“Eighty years is a remarkable achievement, and I’m pleased to say that ATLAS is in a strong position. We’ve grown to over 70 members, and we have a clear strategy for the year ahead. A major focus will be attracting young people to our industry, by improving the recruitment and retention of apprentices, developing competence frameworks and introducing modern training systems. We have some fantastic businesses, great technical expertise and highly skilled people within our membership.Our challenge is to make sure that knowledge, experience and professionalism are passed on to the next generation.” – ATLAS President, John Jolly

From heartfelt moments and stories shared to special awards, plenty of laughter and lively conversation, it was a truly memorable evening and a wonderful way to celebrate ATLAS’s remarkable 80-year milestone.

The evening also provided a special opportunity to recognise and celebrate success, with a total of six awards (and a few special surprises!) highlighting the achievements of the steeplejack and lightning protection sectors and the people working in them.

Thank you to sponsors AN Wallis, Cuttings and the PTSG Centre of Excellence for supporting the awards.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, members, guests, suppliers and everyone who helped make our 80th anniversary celebration such a memorable occasion. ATLAS couldn’t have marked this special milestone without your continued support.

Here’s to 80 years of ATLAS and many more to come!

There are plenty of great moments captured throughout the celebration, so take a look through our photo gallery below and see if you can spot yourself!