It is with great sadness that we have learned of the untimely and sudden passing of our great friend and colleague, John Muir. He had been admitted to ICU on December 28 due to a ruptured aorta.

John was widely known and hugely respected for his deep knowledge and expertise in construction fixings. He worked in the Engineering team at Hilti for most of his life before retiring and taking up a role as Technical Manager with the Construction Fixings Association. There, he continued to provide advice to the industry while at the same time building a programme of education and training to develop competence and knowledge in the use of construction fasteners.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to John’s wife, and his family at this very difficult time. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

First established in 1979 the Construction Fixings Association represents the major manufacturers of fixing systems which are set in drilled holes in all construction materials including Concrete, Brickwork, Blockwork, Stonework and Plasterboard - many with European Technical Assessments (ETAs). The CFA offers support to all stakeholders involved in the "Fixings chain" - Specifiers, Distributors, Contractors, Installers and Testers and works with UK and European bodies to satisfy our mission statement of "Ensuring best fixings practice".