The boards of EDRA and fediyma have announced that Ray Colman, the ex-chief executive officer of Woodie's DIY Ireland, will receive the European Home Improvement Lifetime Award.
>Mr Colman is being honoured for his successful contribution to the industry over the past 46 years and the Lifetime Award ceremony will take place at the third European Home Improvement
Forum at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on June 5

The laudatory speech will be held by Carl Otto Løvenskiold, CEO & Owner Løvenskiold -
Vaekerø AS, Norway.

Mr Colman said of the accolade: "On hearing for the first time that I was chosen to receive the DIY-Lifetime Award, I was delighted, honoured and indeed humbled in the presence of such distinguished former recipients as Manfred Maus, Sir Geoffrey MulCahy, Gilles Caille and Pat Farrah. I was also delighted for Woodie's DIY and all my colleagues whose support over the years was my inspiration. My thanks to my colleagues in EDRA and fediyma for honouring me with this prestigious award."

Mr Colman joined Grafton Group Ireland in 1968, working in the building material division, and later becoming the CEO of the Grafton Group paint company Sandex (now Circle Paints Ltd). In
1992 Mr Colman became CEO of Woodie's DIY and, for the last couple of years, has been a member of the Grafton Group Executive committee, which helps formulate policy for all companies within the Group. In 1992 Woodie's DIY was operating just four stores but, under Mr Colman's stewardship, the business has expanded to become the number one home improvement company in Ireland, now operating 38 stores.

When EDRA was founded in 2002, Mr Colman became one of the first EDRA board members and, over the years, has made a valuable contribution to the meetings, representing the small- and medium-sized companies in the industry.

EDRA said of Mr Colman, who retired in December 2013: "He is one of the nicest and highly-respected personalities in the European Home Improvement Industry and it will be an honour for both EDRA and fediyma to be able to bestow him with this award at the Forum later this year.