This marks the end of an era that has seen the BMF’s export services blossom under the guidance of Barton’s David Coleman, to whom Allies paid tribute, along with Howard Pridding, as the men who gave him the most guidance and encouragement.

Allies will leave on July 20. ‘I’ve given the BMF quite a bit of notice so we can work on the projects we’re doing at the moment and get the transition in place to make it was smooth as possible,’ he told BB.

‘I’ve been here nearly nine years and grown up through the organisation,’ he explained ‘and it’s provided me with a great knowledge base for the whole industry. It’s an ideal opportunity that’s come up for me. It’s not something I was outwardly searching for, but it’s the next move for me.’

‘All I can say is Toby is an incredibly talented guy and we and the industry have been very lucky to retain his services for nine years,’ said BMF executive director Howard Pridding. ‘What he’s done to move our export services forward are just phenomenal and we can only wish him luck in what he’s doing going forward.’

When BB asked what the BMF will do about replacing Allies, Pridding replied: ‘It’s now our challenge at the BMF to ensure our export work goes forward in the same style and with the same drive that Toby has given it.’

At the same time, he continued, we need to reflect and think about how we structure things. At the moment I'm making sure the programme we have in place will move forward with the people we’ve got. We’ve got the chance to think about how we’re doing things and that’s what I want to do.

‘We recently brought Tom Chant in as Toby’s No 2,’ Pridding told BB. ‘It’s very early in his tenure, but he’s proving to be a very able guy, so that’s reassuring for everybody. We’ll take our time - the whole export scene is changing with the change in government support so it’s timely for us to look at how we take things forward.’

But, he concluded: 'please play tribute to the contribution Toby’s made to this industry.'

It’s sad to see Allies go, but you can’t keep a good man down, so BB can only add its own acknowledgment of his contribution to this industry and wish him well at Pendennis.