4. Worshipful Company of Engineers and the Engineers Trust, Annual Awards Dinner, 11 July 2023


The Engineers Company are celebrating 40 years of making City connections in 2023 and their awards dinner in the Plaisterers’ Hall was an impressive occasion.  The hall decor throughout is in 18th century neoclassical style created by Robert Adam. However, it is the Plaisterers’ fourth hall, opened in 1972!  It was designed by Foster and Partners and backs onto the original third century London Wall.

The carpet guard were Royal Air Force Air Cadets from Romford and the Company have strong links with the Services. The impressive meal was accompanied at intervals by a brass band.

A number of other Masters and I had the privilege of hearing how the Trust has investments of about £1.6 million and annually gives around £55,000 of prizes and £11,500 for five bursaries and four scholarships.  It was very interesting to see and hear about the medals and awards given to 11 Service personnel including one from HMS Anson, affiliated to the Company.  Some of the prizes were awarded jointly with the Royal Academy of Engineering.  It was encouraging that several of the prizes were for water-based initiatives including a low-cost, off-grid, integrated desalination and storage system using contaminated groundwater.  Another was for a rotary mud drill with low ecological impact for boreholes for remote communities and another for remote inspection and surveying of water assets such as reservoirs.

Talking to the members and guests gave me an insight into the wide spectrum of engineering from novel bridge design to engineering bacteria to turn waste products into biodegradable plastics.  I am grateful to the Master Engineer for a most enjoyable evening.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

230. Installation Court, Apothecaries’ Hall, 3 July 2024

229. Sunset Cruise and Dinner, River Thames, 2 July 2024

79.Lord Mayor's Address to the Livery, Mansion House, 22 November 2023