THE SWORDSMAN Issue 41, November 2018 The Worshipful Company of Engineers
(Incorporated by Royal Charter 2004) The Swordsman Issue 41 November 2018 Contents
The Master, Professor David Johnson
City Events
The awards ceremony and dinner - 10 July 2018
Lectures/Seminars
Junior Warden’s lecture - 20 June 2018
The Master 's informal lecture on Digital Engineering- 10 May 2018
Visit to the Denis Severs Museum - 10 July 2018
Technical Site visits
Visit to the MacRobert Award winner - Raspberry Pi - 3 July 2018
REDR and the Company
Out of town events
Rambling reports - The New Forest Walk - 19 May 2018
Visit to Barrow in Furness and HMS ANSON - 12 June 2018
Visit to British Nuclear Fuel - 13 June 2018
Out of Town to Derbyshire
Company news
Court report from the Master
Military Affiliations
HMS PRINCE OF WALES
The Institution of Royal Engineers.
New Liverymen
Deaths
Members’ News &Announcements Addendum
The annual awards, prizes and winners for 2018.
Forthcoming events Front cover: Photograph of HMS AUDACIOUS at BAE’s shipyard in Barrow - in Furness just prior to being lowered into the water. The Swordsman Number 41 A PROFILE OF THE MASTER DAVID JOHNSON FREng
From the Editor
This edition includes a report on the Awards and Dinner boost output per hour worked. The good news is that which is one of the highlights of the Company’s year. The engineers are also the answer to improving productivity! new generation of engineers are always highly motivated and their enthusiasm is infectious. Many of our members The UK recently passed another milestone in electricity are now mentors to prize winners and they were invited generation. On 7 June 2018 the energy output of wind to write why they enjoy mentoring and to provide some turbines and solar panels helped to meet more than half of insight to their experience. If you are inspired to be a the UK’s electricity demand. The record 19.3GW output mentor you should contact Malcolm Vincent or the Clerk. of renewable energy was enough to meet more than 50pc of midday power demand which reached 35.4GW. The EEF has produced a recent report that the economy has added 145,000 manufacturing jobs in five years to Those members of the Company who went to the Out of March 2018. We have just been through the longest period Town (OOT) in Derbyshire have written up some very of jobs growth in manufacturing for 40 years. But do not interesting reports but the meeting of old and making new be too fast with a toast to the successes of manufacturing. friends remains one of the best reasons for signing up for Economists are warning that sustained growth in and Out of Town. If September is always a difficult month manufacturing employment is fuelling the UK’s to take a few days for the OOT the good news is that next productivity crisis. They assert that the industry hires year’s will be in June 2019. people instead of investing in new technology that would
Contributors : Diana Blair-Fish, Peter Blair-Fish, Barry Brooks, Audrey Canning, John Canning, Elizabeth Chandler, Dave Cooper, Yuli (Chaido) Doulala-Rigby, Suzanne Flynn, Kenneth Gray, Richard Groome, Peter Hartley, David Johnson, Yvonne Joyce, Peter Liddell, Andrew McNaughton, Rod Muttram, Philip Ruffles, David Shillito, Janet Smart, Malcolm Vincent, Andrew Walker, Andy Ward, Matthew Waterhouse, Patrick Waterhouse.
1 The Swordsman number 41 2 The Swordsman number 41 AWARDS DINNER at PLAISTERER’S HALL 10 July 2018 Intense curiosity about how something works, wanting to It gave him the fundamental information base for improve it and use the components and knowledge to advanced computer processing to replace the empirical This year’s Awards Dinner, was held at Plaisterers’ Hall make something else, have been ‘a constant’ in the life of methods used in ClearRoute. David’s systems are now on Tuesday 10th July 2018 which was an evening of Master Engineer, Professor David Johnson FREng. As a used to introduce all new trains onto the British railway celebration and showcased excellence in engineering. child, dismantling and re-assembling car engines, radios network, and to later move them to other routes. and other electronic devices were the norm. Computers This prestigious event in the Company’s annual calendar fascinated him. As a teenager he, with others, improved After Laser Rail was sold he set up DGauge, where he is where the Company celebrates the successes of the and maintained an old valve - based (Elliott 405) continues to use powerful analytical and processing people that we support in our awards, which includes computer, increasingly learning about computer coding, capability of computers to develop new software gauging significant numbers of young people who look up to those electronics and the mathematics of algorithms. The more products such as PhX and RouteSpace, speeding up who have contributed to their achievement. complex the problems, the more he used computers and analysis time and processing large data sets. electronics, and greater was the enjoyment ‘Probabilistic gauging’ is his new market - ready invention. All this innovation demands both new Discouraged from studying computing science – “there is mathematics to solve the problems and the invention of no future in it” - and noticing the first year electronic new ways of thinking about and dealing with the engineering syllabus at Leeds University taught him little engineering issues. His work is grounded in the new, he read Civil Engineering where his computing engineering issues of the day and driven by his lifetime’s experience enabled him to develop computational desire to improve the railways cost effectively. solutions to fluid dynamics problems – a forerunner to present day Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis. On His expertise and reputation in gauging grew. graduation, David joined British Rail’s Research Involvement in railway standards, writing and reviewing Division working in track research. Traditional papers and books, serving on EU and UK committees, measuring techniques and slide rules were the norm, but being an expert witness were the ‘norm’. (It is rumoured he wanted to use laser technologies to measure and that he is referred to as ‘The God of Gauging’ in the computer power to calculate. His chance came when his industry). Collaborating with universities grew from department head let him take his ideas forward to reduce teaching to leading research, supervising PhDs, securing recovery time after track renewals (a big component of research grants and receiving an honorary professorship journey time) through a measured approach to ballast from City University. An FREng followed in September The Master and Wardens looking out, at what? removal and replacement. Faith in him was rewarded 2018. when in 1987 for the first time, a renewed track was The principal guests were Lady Belinda Gadsden, wife of opened at full line speed - 125mph instead of the usual David sees and describes, with great clarity, the way the founding Master and past Lady Mayoress, the Chief 20mph or 40mph. Financial benefits ensued. The bright computer technologies are driving change in engineering Royal Engineer and Dr Hayaatun Sillem, the new CEO The Master and Mistress ideas generated innovation because of champions, a and how important it is for professional engineers to of the Royal Academy of Engineering. However, they willingness to take risks, and a clear business case. ‘keep in touch’. Engineering uses the new technologies had to work for their supper because between them they Some of the mentors of the recipients of the Horizon of sensors, nanotechnology, communications and presented an outstanding variety of Awards and Prizes Bursaries were invited to provide some insight into the Increasingly David recognised that the relationship additive manufacture to create intelligent systems and provided by the Engineer’s Trust. This year, the Sir Peter mentoring benefits in the hope that more of the between measurement, calculations, and computing infrastructure which generate new possibilities - and Gadsden Britain Australia Award was presented by Lady Company’s membership step forward to become meant engineering issues had to be looked at differently. Digital underpins it all, generating vast quantities of data. Gadsden, which encourages exchanges between British mentors. He left British Rail for John Kelly Lasers, increasing his As computer power continues to grow, the challenge is to and Australian engineers undertaking postgraduate knowledge of lasers and their potential use in structure harness the volume of information generated from these studies. The full list of the awards and award winners is gauging. In 1989 he set up his own company – Laser Rail masses of data in novel ways, including the use of in the Appendix to this edition of the Swordsman. - where he combined laser measuring technologies with artificial intelligence. the analytical power of computers to determine the space Nearly all the award winners were able to attend the between the train and the railway infrastructure (gauging) Recognising how important it is for established engineers dinner and receive their awards personally. For many of thus optimising train size safely. to stay connected to these dynamic changes, he has the guests, who had the pleasure of the company and chosen ‘Digital Engineering’ as his theme for the year conversation with the young engineers it adds another At Laser Rail he wrote ClearRoute - the seminal and champions the establishment of ‘Associates’ of the uplifting dimension to what is always an outstanding analytical software system for gauging. It changed the Company for younger engineers - they are the future. As occasion. face of gauging. Gauging, instead of being primarily a he says “The generations coming up are grounded in safety issue became a ‘business’ issue, creating business ’digital’ - it is second nature to them. Young and The format of the evening had been changed from value. Because of ClearRoute trains could be made established engineers being together will keep previous years so that there were citations and awards bigger and move faster; containerised freight traffic engineering vibrant, dynamic, continuously innovative between each course of the dinner which proved to be grew; and the Pendolino – a tilting train - was made and ‘in touch’. “ very popular. Also a hit with the members of the possible. A PhD at Imperial College subsequently Company who attended was the price that had been Prizewinners from the military and senior military enabled him to systematically and rigorously describe Marilyn Wedgewood significantly reduced from that of last year. representatives mathematically the parameters that impact on clearance. 3 The Swordsman number 41 4 The Swordsman number 41 write applications to companies. I also showed her a experience to help, to reduce the painful learning, Paul was quoted in the IET Impact Report 2017 as follows. The Oxford English Dictionary range of companies that advertised apprenticeship to speed-up the gathering of knowledge and to see a young person come to love and enjoy the definition of Mentor is, opportunities. Many of the firms whose names we Alhough I’m three times as old as Daniel, we quickly know and recognise are not known by the outside experience of being an engineer in the modern found that our shared passion for engineering enabled us world, nor what they do. I hope that my identification of world. to establish a good rapport. We’ve used some simple ‘An experienced and trusted target companies opened her eyes to the opportunities tools to establish goals for the mentoring relationship, available. I cannot imagine being anything other than an and to address specific areas such as public speaking adviser.’ engineer. The ability to ask why and how, to see where Daniel felt he could use some advice. She has now changed her career plans and is hoping to the world working and moving – is there any other start a degree in mechanical engineering at University profession? I hope I’ve helped Daniel look beyond his immediate soon. This wasn’t something that we discussed so I goals to thinking about longer term opportunities in wasn’t able to help her in her application. But her sheer engineering, especially in new and emerging The paradox of mentoring determination to succeed in engineering has impressed technologies that will offer exciting challenges and me and has enabled me to view the opportunities for “ Paul has a wealth of knowledge fulfilment in the future. I look forward to my regular By Andrew Walker young people in a different light. and experience within engineering, contacts with him, and I’m very happy that the bursary which is both useful and inspiring” scheme has given me the opportunity to pass on my The paradox about mentoring, and its reward, is that you Her move to University has probably ended our knowledge and experience to a new generation. start by thinking that you will share your enthusiasm for mentoring relationship, at least for now. But I found my So said Daniel Swain who is a recipient of an IET engineering (as opposed to managing or financing limited role in her career development to be rewarding Engineering Horizons Bursary. His mentor is Paul engineering businesses which was probably what most of for me and I hope that it was for her too. Wood. us were doing latterly) and solving customers/clients problems with a young engineer. Why I Mentor But the paradox is that you become inspired by their enthusiasm and their problem solving. By Matthew Waterhouse
You start by thinking, as mature people do, that you will The world is full of good advice and guidance as to “why make life brighter for a younger person; but they wind up you should mentor/coach” another person. Or what making it brighter for you--or perhaps it is that they mentoring is about and how to do it. Or what is the remind you of the things you truly enjoyed about difference between mentoring and coaching. At least the engineering. internet is and many academic institutions are trying to broadcast this as the latest “in-thing”. Then you do get the opportunity to help, in situations where you have been around that buoy before. That too Well, this is all good and useful stuff but it does not has its rewards in passing on the attitude that one does seem, to me, to get to the heart of the issue and cover or not have to accept "no" or it "can't be done" for an explain why I was happy to volunteer, when asked, to answer. Perhaps that really is Engineering!!! mentor a new entry into automotive engineering.
Sheer determination to succeed I have spent virtually all my working life in the automotive industry and I have enjoyed (almost) every By Patrick Waterhouse day. So, it seems to me that some of this enthusiasm and enjoyment can be “passed on” to future generations and I I volunteered to become a mentor with an open can help them enjoy, also. I am, I hope, relatively mind, not knowing what to expect. realistic in this exercise. I know, for example, that knowledge transference is never able to reach 100%. In I was introduced to my mentee, a 19-year-old my experience getting 20 or 30% of a learnt experience transferred to the next project/generation/activity is woman keen to progress a career in the aviation actually “doing well”! Therefore, all I can do is explain, industry. Initially she had obtained an show by example, recount my experience, offer, my view apprenticeship at one of the major London airports, but I cannot tell, make, force or guarantee. It still needs Civilian prize and award winners but the logistics of a 3 hour daily round trip got in to recipient to ask, understand, wish to learn and then her way. Moving to work in an unrelated job, she to do. was keen to obtain a relevant apprenticeship elsewhere. I helped her with her cv and with how to So, for me, mentoring is about this offer of my 5 The Swordsman number 41 6 The Swordsman number 41 JUNIOR WARDEN’S LECTURE Evolution of Offshore Structures – from Oil and Gas to Renewable Energy Delivered by Dr Peter Blair-Fish at HQS Wellington 20 June 2018 The first oil produced in the UK Sector of the North Sea installed in several modules with a maximum lift of This lecture summarised the development of offshore To date, offshore wind turbines are closer to the shore was from a semi-submersible drilling rig converted unto under 2,000 tonnes. By contrast the Britannia gas structures in the North Sea and nearby waters, and their and predominantly use monopiles, although some a floating production platform. There are a few such platform was installed in 1997 with vertical piles driven evolution from the extraction of oil and gas from below projects are using jackets or Gravity Base Structures, as structures. Floating Production Storage and Offtake by an underwater hammer so no pile guides, a lift of the seabed to the harnessing of offshore wind power and indicated in Fig 1 (b,c). vessels (FPSOs) are more numerous, with a shuttle 10,500 tonnes for its integrated deck, so more onshore other sources of renewable energy. tanker to export oil. In calmer seas, as found off West commissioning, and four other lifts of about 2,000 Africa, an FPSO may face the same heading all the time tonnes. TYPES OF OFFSHORE STRUCTURES with spread moorings. In rougher waters such as those The Magnus structure was installed three years after found in the North Sea or West of Shetland, the moorings Fig 1 shows fixed steel structures in shallow water, fixed Murchison in a water depth of 182m. At the time, it was and flowlines to the FPSO are brought into a turret (not steel structures up to 200 metre water depth, and gravity too heavy to be launched from a barge so was designed shown in Fig 2) about which the FPSO can rotate to face base structures. Early steel structures in shallow water with two legs of 10.5 metres diameter over their full the weather. Spar platforms have been used for oil were “jackets” through which piles were driven to carry length so that it floated with limited auxiliary buoyancy. storage and loading, and in deep water in the Gulf of the weight of a deck or “topside” down into the seabed. It was built on its side in a graving dock at Nigg (Fig 4a) Mexico as production platforms. In shallow water, jacket structures are installed by lifting and was designed for a deck load of over 30,000 tonnes off a transport barge. In deeper water, heavier jacket FIXED STEEL PLATFORMS (Fig 4b). structures have been launched off a transport barge then upended and installed by sequential ballasting, Fig. 1 Fixed offshore structures The 10th edition of the North Sea Field Development sometimes assisted by the hook of an offshore crane Guide (Ref 1) lists 36 floating production platforms, 29 vessel. Of the five hundred or so fixed structures for oil gravity base structures, 11 jack-up platforms and almost and gas production in the North Sea, around 13% are in 500 fixed steel structures. In the Aberdeen Maritime water depths of under 25m, 56% in water depths of 25- Museum there is a 1:33 scale model of the Murchison 50m, 12% in 50-75m, 7% in 75-100m and 13% in over platform, which was installed in 1979 in 156m of water 100m. and removed in 2017. Its 25,000 tonne jacket structure was installed by launching from a barge and sequential The capacities of offshore crane vessels (Table 1) and ballasting, and secured by battered piles driven by above hence the maximum size of lift-installed jacket have water steam hammers and followers. The piles were increased since the 1970s when the first Semi driven through guides which can be seen on the model Submersible Crane Vessels (SSCVs) came into service. (Fig 3) and grouted into sleeves clustered around the Also shown in Fig 1 is a large gravity base structure, of main legs of the jacket. Its 18,000 tonne topside was which there are about thirty for oil and gas production in Fig. 2 Some floating production platforms the North Sea.
Table 1: Increased capacity of crane vessels (a) Fabrication at Nigg Bay
Vessel Type Operator Year into Lift capacity (tonnes) service Balder SSCV Heerema 1978 Originally 2,700 + 1,800, upgraded 1984 to 3,600 + 2,700 Thialf (was SSCV Heerema 1985 Originally 2 x 6,000, upgraded 1997 to 2 x 7,100 DB102) S7000 SSCV Saipem 1986 2 x 7,000 Stanislav Monohull Seaway 1996 2,500 Yudin Saipem 3000 Monohull Saipem 2003 2,175 (Crane from Pearl Marine) Oleg Monohull Seaway 2011 5,000 Strashnov (b) Load schematic in place (Ref 2) (c) Bending Aegir Monohull Heerema 2013 4,000 (Pipelay vessel) moment in pile (Ref 2) Pioneering Catamaran All Seas 2014 Topsides 48,000; Jackets 20,000 Fig 4 Foundation monitoring on the Magnus Spirit Fig 3 Model of Murchison platform at Aberdeen structure Sleipnir SSCV Heerema 2019 2 x 10,000 (combined 18,800) Maritime Museum
7 The Swordsman number 41 8 The Swordsman number 41 Simple observations of the whole structure indicated that A different challenge was posed in 1986, just four years Jacket structures now being installed for some offshore its natural period was about 25% less than predicted. after the Magnus structure was installed. Could a slender wind turbines have X-bracing (Fig 6), similar to that on Analysis from the foundation monitoring system fitted to wellhead jacket be installed by lifting in a water depth of the Veslefrikk wellhead jacket (Fig 5). Whereas the the structure indicated that it was at least twice as stiff as 175 metres and support a topside deck load of 6,300 Veslefrikk jacket was supported by its mudmats until its predicted, in any mode (Ref 2). The monitoring system tonnes? All process plant was installed on a floating piles were installed, the jackets for wind turbines either also showed that the maximum bending moments in the semi-submersible rig alongside the wellhead platform. have piles pre-installed using a subsea pile installation piles and their distribution down the pile were not as The answer was yes, after a few headaches. A jacket frame (Fig 7), or have “spud can” or “bucket” predicted (Fig 4c). The difference in bending moments structure of 9,100 tonnes was loaded out on a 1,400 tonne foundations which are pumped out to secure the jacket to may be due to overestimation of interaction between sledge onto a barge and transported to the mouth of the seabed (Ref 6). “Spud can” or “bucket” foundations piles, underprediction of stiffness, absence of scour Sognefjord where it was lifted off the barge and sledge avoid disturbing marine life with the noise from pile around the top of the piles and other conservatisms. So and into the water (Fig 5), then towed semi-submerged to driving. Where piles are used, the pile installation frame far as the author is aware, the insights from the Magnus the Veslefrikk field in the North Sea where it was has mudmats and jacks to set it level. Once the piles are Foundation Monitoring Project have helped to recertify upended and 5,400 tonnes of piles and 1,560 tonnes of driven, soil on the inside of the pile is cleaned out so that the Magnus structure for increased loads but not led to a other items were installed. These items included a deck the downstand legs of the jacket can be stabbed into the general reduction in conservatisms in design. support frame and thick walled inserts for the top 86 piles and the annulus between piles and downstand legs metres of each leg, to resist impacts by supply boats. filled with grout. A different challenge was posed in 1986, just four years Also, from the time the jacket landed on the sea bed to after the Magnus structure was installed. Could a slender Larger electrical substations use jacket structures similar grouting at least one pile per leg, the jacket was wellhead jacket be installed by lifting in a water depth of to those for shallow water oil and gas. supported by mudmats made of aluminium rather than Fig. 5 Veslefrikk wellhead jacket – 175 metres and support a topside deck load of 6,300 steel. This is one innovation that the client was Gravity base structures are being used to support five 8.3 9,100 tonne lift (Ref 3) tonnes? All process plant was installed on a floating disinclined to repeat, because of concerns about galvanic MW turbines for the Blyth Demonstrator Wind Farm semi-submersible rig alongside the wellhead platform. corrosion. which is 6 km off the coast of Northumberland. Also, The answer was yes, after a few headaches. A jacket eighty three gravity base structures are planned for the structure of 9,100 tonnes was loaded out on a 1,400 tonne Fécamp wind farm on the French side of the English sledge onto a barge and transported to the mouth of Channel. For the Blyth Demonstrator Wind Farm, the Sognefjord where it was lifted off the barge and sledge OFFSHORE WIND gravity base structures are remarkably similar to the two and into the water (Fig 5), then towed semi-submerged to Most offshore wind turbines and some electrical Khazzan storage tanks installed offshore Dubai in the late the Veslefrikk field in the North Sea where it was substations are supported by driven monopiles (see Fig. 1960s (Ref 7). Both designs are shaped like a conical upended and 5,400 tonnes of piles and 1,560 tonnes of 1a, Fig 8 and Ref 4). Following concerns that existing flask, are 60m high and have a dry weight of 15,000 other items were installed. These items included a deck design methods underpredict the natural frequencies of tonnes. support frame and thick walled inserts for the top 86 wind turbines on monopile foundations, a Joint Industry metres of each leg, to resist impacts by supply boats. Project (the PISA project, or Pile Soil Analysis project) Hywind, the world’s first commercial floating wind farm, Also, from the time the jacket landed on the sea bed to has developed a new design method for laterally loaded has five 6MW wind turbines with 154m diameter rotors, grouting at least one pile per leg, the jacket was piles with low ratios of length to diameter. The method mounted on spars and installed 25km off Peterhead in supported by mudmats made of aluminium rather than (Ref 5) was developed from 3D finite element analysis 2017. It started to deliver energy to the Scottish grid in steel. This is one innovation that the client was and static and cyclic testing of piles up to 2 metres 2017. Each turbine is supported by a vertical spar which disinclined to repeat, because of concerns about galvanic extends to 78m below the sea surface and is moored by Fig.6 Fabrication of jacket structures by Smulders diameter in stiff clay at Cowden and sand at Dunkirk. corrosion. at Wallsend, March 2018 Simple observations of the whole structure indicated that its natural period was about 25% less than predicted. Analysis from the foundation monitoring system fitted to the structure indicated that it was at least twice as stiff as predicted, in any mode (Ref 2). The monitoring system also showed that the maximum bending moments in the piles and their distribution down the pile were not as predicted (Fig 4c). The difference in bending moments may be due to overestimation of interaction between piles, underprediction of stiffness, absence of scour around the top of the piles and other conservatisms. So far as the author is aware, the insights from the Magnus Foundation Monitoring Project have helped to recertify the Magnus structure for increased loads but not led to a Fig. 7 Subsea pile installation frame general reduction in conservatisms in design. Fig 8 Wind turbines and offshore substation on monopiles at Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm
9 The Swordsman number 41 10 The Swordsman number three chains 2.4 km long and with a suction anchor at the Also, the industry suffered considerable embarrassment totally removed. Only the bases of some of the largest the Crown Estate indicate that 6.2% of power was end of each chain. over the aborted disposal of the Brent Spar. installations are to remain in the sea. generated by offshore wind in 2017. Also, the overall generation of renewable energy in the UK has increased The numbers of wind farm structures in UK waters The Alexander Kjelland (or Kielland) was a five legged The offshore wind industry has had problems with dramatically since 1996 (see Fig 12 which is based on are summarised in Table 2, based on data from the “Pentagone” drilling rig being used as a floating turbine blades, cables, bolts, internal corrosion of Ref 20). To date, more power has been generated from accommodation rig in the Edda field. During a storm on transition pieces, and grouted connections between Crown Estate: bioenergy (landfill gas, sewage gas, biodegradable the night of 27th March 1980, a fatigue crack caused the monopiles and transition pieces. Extensive tests on energy from waste, animal biomass, anaerobic digestion March 2014 December 2017 loss of a bracing member which led to failure of other grouted connections in the 1970s (Ref 13) led to the bracing members, loss of one leg and capsize of the rig recommendations in the UK Department of Energy and crop biomass) than from offshore or onshore Operating Under Operating Under Total with the loss of 123 lives (Ref 8). This incident led to guidance notes on offshore structures published in 1990 wind. construction construction requirements for structural redundancy. (Ref 14). After the loss of Piper Alpha, the guidance 100 notes were replaced by a requirement to demonstrate that 90 Offshore 1,115 335 1,762 1,161 2,923 Piper Alpha was one of the earlier oil production wind turbines platforms in the North Sea (Ref 9). A fire and explosion safety risks were as low as reasonably practicable. 80 on the night of 6th July 1988 killed 165 of the 226 on Unfortunately a large number of grouted connections 70 Offshore 15 5 21 18 39 between monopiles and transition pieces for wind board, mostly through inhalation of smoke. The report on 60 substations turbines were designed as plain pipe connections based the public inquiry (Ref 10) led to new UK regulations 50 Export cables 44 5 61 25 86 for: safety cases; management and administration; design on a Norwegian standard which in turn was based on 40 and construction of wells; and prevention of fire guidance in the body of API RP2A (Ref 15), which was Offshore 23 5 20 1 21 explosion and emergency response. The safety case known to be unconservative at high ratios of diameter to masts regulations require a demonstration that risks have been thickness of the pile and sleeve or transition piece. The reduced to as low as reasonably practicable. more detailed guidance in the UK Department of Energy Table 2: UK Offshore wind turbines, substations, method was in the commentary to API RP2A but was not export cables and meteorological masts 400 used. A large number of grouted connections slipped and 350 needed remedial measures. 300 Fig 11 UK electric power production (million tonnes / TIDAL AND WAVE POWER 250 year of oil equivalent), all generating companies 200 ENERGY PRODUCTION A number of tidal turbines have been developed and 150 tested. Nova Innovation has tested an array of five 100 100 The history of UK oil and gas production in the UK kW turbines with 10m diameter rotors between Shetland 50 Sector of the North Sea is shown in Fig 10 (data from 100,000 and Unst and plans to deploy an array of ten turbines 0 Refs 16, 17 and 18). Oil is shown in million tonnes, with 80,000 near Aberavon. Simec Atlantis has installed four 1.5 MW one tonne having a volume of about seven barrels. Gas is turbines with 18m diameter rotors in the Pentland Firth, shown in billions of cubic metres, with one cubic metre 60,000 Fig 9 HSE Offshore Injury Rates (UK) per 100,000 with gravity blocks to hold the turbines on place and being about thirty five cubic feet. Oil production fell in 40,000 directional drilling for the cables from each turbine. workers the late 1980s because less investment was made in new Simec Atlantis says it will consider monopile production facilities after the reduction in oil prices in Over the past twenty years there has been a downward foundations and fewer export cables in future. However, 1986. UK production of oil and gas peaked in about - it is not getting the financial incentives that it would like trend in injury rates (Fig 9 and Ref 11). Over half the 2000. UK consumption in 2017 (Ref 17) was 76 million for further tidal arrays in the UK. injuries in 2016 were from slips, trips, falls, handling, tonnes of oil and 79 billion cubic metres of gas, so the lifting, carrying or being struck by a moving object. Over UK, once a net exporter of oil and gas, is now a net Fig 12 UK renewable electric generation (MWh) Many wave power devices have been proposed and many the ten years 2007-2016 there were six fatalities offshore. importer. prototypes tested. Several ”Pelamis” sea snakes were However, helicopter accidents are logged separately: four built. One was connected to the Scottish grid at the fatal crashes since 2000 have killed 38 people. Most crew 140 CONCLUSION: OFFSHORE STRUCTURES European Marine Energy Centre on Orkney. Pelamis transfers to offshore wind farms are by boat. 120 FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY Wave Power went into administration in 2014 after being 100 The Brent Spar was used to export oil from the Brent unable to secure additional funding to develop its 80 field until a pipeline was commissioned, making the The histograms above show how the UK is reducing its technology. Wave power devices do not yet seem to be 60 Brent Spar redundant. Plans to dump it in deep water in dependence on fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) and commercially viable. 40 the Atlantic were halted after Greenpeace occupied it in developing offshore wind and other renewable energy. MAJOR INCIDENTS 1995 (Ref 12). After extensive consultation it was agreed This synopsis has reviewed some lessons learnt from the offshore oil and gas industry and how the structures used Technical problems are rarely publicised. The offshore that the Best Practicable Environmental Option was to for offshore wind have developed from those used for oil oil and gas industry in the North Sea suffered significant reuse sections of the main body of the Brent Spar in the Fig 10 UK production of oil and natural gas and gas, using predominantly driven monopiles but also loss of life in two major incidents—the loss of the extension of a quay at Mejkarvik, Stavanger. Norway. UK electric power production since 1996 is shown in Fig some jacket structures and spars further from the shore Alexander Kielland in 1980 and of Piper Alpha in 1988. The 1998 OSPAR convention agreed that all structures 11, based on Ref 19. Power generation from coal and oil in the North Sea that are less than 10,000 tonnes must be has been significantly reduced in recent years. Data from and a few gravity base structures.
11 The Swordsman number 41 12 The Swordsman number 41 MASTER’S INFORMAL LECTURE ON DIGITAL ENGINEERING On 10 May 2018 in the Worshipful Company of Information Mistress Engineer ‘s REFERENCES Technologist's Hall the Master took the step of delivering the first, of 11) HSE Offshore Injury, Ill Health, and Incident what he hopes will be a programme of informal and inexpensive Partners’ Social Initiative Statistics 2010-11: HID Statistics report HSR lectures.
1) North Sea Field Development Guide, 10th Edi- 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015, Marilyn( to use her preferred form of The initiative got off to a good start with a capacity audience eager to address) arranged an opportunity for tion, 2005/6, published by Oilfield Publications and 2016. learn! The subject matter supported the Master’s theme for his year - partners to get together on the day of Limited. 12) Decommissioning the Brent Spar, by Tony Rice digital engineering. the awards dinner to take advantage of being in London and be a way to give and Paula Owen, 1st Edition, 1999, 182pp, E & F 2) Magnus Foundation Monitoring—an Overview After an introduction to binary arithmetic and it being able to model the partners a chance to get to know each by D E Sharp, Large Scale Pile Tests in Clay, N Spon Limited. simple option of ‘on’ or ‘off’ afforded by an electrical circuit he other better, in an informal setting that Thomas Telford, London, 1993 pp 1-20. highlighted the application to a wide range of everyday appliances. also provided an interesting and 13) The Basis for New Design Formulae for Grouted unusual context. 3) Design of the Veslefrikk Wellhead Jacket by P Jacket to Pile Connections by Colin Billington The Master demonstrated that digital engineering is omnipresent in our everyday lives. M Blair-Fish, M Baerheim and C W Austin, and Ian Tebbett, paper OTC 3788, Offshore We visited Dennis Severs House in Steel Construction Today, 1989, 3, 103-108. Technology Conference 1980. As he moved towards the peroration of his presentation he drew upon his Spitalfields. It is a Georgian house set own experience in railway engineering and signalling. up as a still life drama by Dennis 4) Offshore Wind Energy, Owners Workshop Man- 14) Offshore Installations: Guidance on Design, Severs. This gives an intimate portrait of the lives of a family of Huguenot ual 2nd Edition, RenewableUK RUK 16-032-6 Construction and Certification, Department of The audience had a diverse background and knowledge of digital Energy, Fourth edition, HMSO, 1990. engineering which stimulated an interesting discussion on how, we as silk-weavers from 1724 to the dawn of th 5) PISA: New Design Methods for Offshore Wind engineers, cannot avoid the increasing number of applications that are the 20 century As you follow their made more efficient by digital engineering. Many young engineers fortunes through the generations, the Turbine Monopiles, presentation by Byron Byrne 15) Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing and Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms, API embarking upon their careers will be in the vanguard of firmly sights, smells and sounds of the house and Lidija Zdravkovicć to Offshore Engineering establishing the burgeoning branch of digital or software engineering. take you into their lives. Dennis Severs st Society, 3rd May 2017. Recommended Practice 2A, 21 Edition, Decem- was a painter and it was his intention ber 2000. One of the issues that caused consternation was the extent to which that as you enter each room it would be 6) Geotechnical Aspects of Bucket Foundations Re- software applied to safety systems could be rigorously audited to as though you have passed through the placing Piles for the Europipe 16/11-E Jacket by 16) Crude Oil and Petroleum Products: Production, guarantee that the software was itself safe and without any malicious surface of a painting. ulterior purpose. Tor-Inge Tjelta, paper OTC 7379, Offshore Imports and Exports, Digest of UK Energy Sta- Spitalfields' historic association with Technology Conference 1994. tistics (DUKES) 3.1.1. The first informal lecture has been a success measured by the number of the silk industry was established by members and partners who attended, the quality of the discussion and the 17) Natural Gas and Colliery Methane Production French Protestant (Huguenot) refugees 7) Khazzan Dubai 1: Design, Construction and In- socialising that took place before and after. and Consumption, Digest of UK Energy Statis- who settled in the area after stallation by R S Chamberlin, paper OTC 1192, the Revocation of the Edict of tics (DUKES) 4.1.1. The next informal lecture will be given by Ian Dyson, Commissioner of Offshore Technology Conference, 1970. Nantes in 1685. Interestingly by the City of London Police, whose responsibilities include a national settling outside the bounds of the City th responsibility for cyber-crime. It will be held at the Information 8) The Progressive Structural Failure of the Alexan- 18) BP Statistical Review of World Energy, 67 Edi- of London, they hoped to avoid the Technologists’ Hall on 12 February 2019. der L Kielland Platform, by T Moan, in Case tion, June 2018. restrictive legislation of the City Histories in Offshore Engineering, International Guilds. 19) Fuel used in Power Generation, Digest of UK Centre for Mechanical Sciences (Courses and Energy Statistics (DUKES) 5.3. C# Lectures), Ed G Maier, vol 283, 1985, pp 1-42, We enjoyed a light lunch at the Water Poet Pub where we had an opportunity Springer, Vienna. 20) Capacity of, and Electricity Generated from, Re- with the curator to discuss the museum newable Sources, Digest of UK Energy Statistics Java 9) Installation of Piled Foundations and Production JavaScript and the preservation of important local (DUKES) 6.4. historic sites amongst the modern Modules on Occidental’s Piper A Platform, S developments in the area and engage in Duvivier and P L Henstock, Proc. Institution of some relaxed chatting . Civil Engineers, Part 1, 1979, 66, 407-436 Look out for future informal partner’s 10) The Public Inquiry into the Piper Alpha Disaster, Python C socials The Hon Lord Cullen, Department of Energy, HMSO, 1990. Yvonne Joyce
13 The Swordsman number 41 14 The Swordsman number 41 TECHNICAL SITE VISIT Raspberry Pi at Sony Technology Park,
Pencoed. 3 July 2018 After lunch, courtesy of our hosts, we were taken in to replace traditional vision systems which improved small groups around the plant to see the production lines insertion success rates. for the Raspberry Pi (high volume) and Video Camera On Tuesday, 3rd July a group of 17 engineers and evolution of the plant from being the centre of production (specialist) circuit boards, clean room assembly of The company operates a continual improvement process, partners visited the Sony Technology Park in Pencoed, for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions in the 1960’s to Charge Coupled Device (CCD) chips for camera image with one Raspberry Pi now being produced every 3 Wales hosted by Pete Lomas to see the production lines the present day where it is the centre of Sony’s top-end capture and Sony’s national repair centre. We were also seconds. Around the plant we saw many screens for the Raspberry Pi. broadcast quality video cameras. In essence, shown the Academy, dedicated to the education of school informing employees (and visitors) of production targets, transforming a high volume TV production facility into a children. Of particular note was that the production lines achievements and company goals. The Raspberry Pi, so named because all successful very successful contract manufacturer. were largely comprised of equipment engineered by technology products seem to have a fruit in their name, is Sony at their plant, for which they retain the intellectual Following the tour, and the customary ‘thank you’ the a computer – with a difference. At $35 cost, it is priced Established as a result of HRH The Prince of Wales property rights. This included the programming of the Master presented a Stirling Engine to the affordably (the price of a text book) and with the addition visiting Japan and suggesting that Sony consider moving traditional component insertion machines and newer, Raspberry Pi foundation, challenging them to find a of a commonly available phone charger, television, to Wales, the company has seen changing fortunes with robotic component placing – together with humans doing means by which it could be controlled by a Raspberry Pi! keyboard, mouse and memory card forms a complete no- the end of CRT televisions and using the circumstances final stage to confirm quality standards and rectify any frills computer which is part of a community. Raspberry to develop a modern, profitable business which forms a faults. In particular, it was interesting to see the use of https://www.raspberrypi.org/ Pi won the joint Royal Academy of Engineering / significant but essentially self-governed part of the novel methods of using sensory feedback of the ‘feel’ of Engineers Trust MacRobert Award in 2017. worldwide Sony business. Kevin explained the evolution component insertion (wiggling multi-legged components) David Johnson of video cameras, moving through high definition, 4K to The Raspberry Pi was conceived by Pete Lomas and the latest 8K technology yet to be released. Alan Mycroft as a mechanism to enable potential computer science students to have an understanding of Sony demonstrated a huge commitment to education, what goes on inside a computer (i.e. learn to program and recognising the engineering skills shortage and being control hardware) in a manner afforded to lucky school exemplars of initiatives to educate and encourage young The Master Pete Lomas children in the 1960’s and 1970’s. It aims to stimulate people into engineering. creativity. The team responsible for realising the project included: Pete Lomas gave a presentation about the Raspberry Pi – ● Alan Mycroft what it is, how it was conceived and how it has now sold ● Jack Lang more that 20 million units, rather more than the original ● Eben Upton target of 30,000 units. He then explained how the Raspberry Pi has stimulated huge interest across the ● Pete Lomas world in young people to harness their creativity. The ● David Braben creativity is stimulated by a community of code clubs ● Rob Mullins and other community groups such as Raspberry Jam and CoderDojo. Using relatively simple sensors, members of these communities have undertaken projects such as upper atmosphere photography and even have access to a Raspberry Pi in the International Space Station.
Pete explained that a key message in attracting interest in the technology was the use of the term ‘Digital Making’. The term encapsulates the underlying digital engineering, but in a context that appeals to children who know what making things means but who do not identify with the world of engineering as it is portrayed in the media.
The group were then given a short presentation by Jessica Leigh Jones, one of the Sony team who at 24, has already received 20 awards for her contribution to engineering. She gave an inspirational talk about her Our group was hosted by Sony, who run the production journey from leaving school at 15, the inspiration of her lines for Raspberry Pi at their Technology Centre. After father as an aircraft electrician in the RAF and her GCSE an introduction from the Master, explaining the Electronics teacher, and her career to date. Her ‘break’ background behind the visit, a presentation by Kevin was developing a portable uterine contraction monitor Photograph of latest model of Raspberry Pi 2 Edwards, General Manager, explained the ancestry and which cut manufacturing costs by 99%! 15 The Swordsman number 41 16 The Swordsman number 41 THE COMPANY & redr UK A CASE STUDY BY redr UK
Richard Groome took over from Past Master Graham Skinner as the Company’s In a humanitarian crisis, groundwater is one of the first soil turns to mud. It has a gluey texture and is impossible water supply options you consider. Borehole drilling is to work with. The siting of boreholes and the timing of representative on the board of RedR UK earlier in 2018. The Company is one of REdR’s important, but it’s costly: it’s essential to get it right. drilling are therefore crucial.’’ supporters and Richard is keen to raise its profile within the Company’s membership. RedR UK’s Groundwater Drilling course delivers practical, hands-on training in groundwater development Thanks to RedR UK’s training, I was able to guide MSF Humanitarian Engineers to frontline aid workers. Through a mixture of theoretical staff as to what to look out for, how to check the profiles / classroom sessions and on-site workshops, participants of each layer of soil, how to finalise the development of From drilling boreholes to find water, to the reconstruction acquire a practical understanding of borehole siting, the borehole, and how to test the quality of the water. As of buildings after an earthquake, engineers can make a drilling supervision, pump testing, and water quality a result, we had a well-placed borehole working really vital contribution to the response to a humanitarian crisis. testing. nicely, and we were able to supply the IDPs and host Founded by engineer Peter Guthrie OBE in 1980, communities in Mankien with water that was safe to RedR UK is an international NGO that trains and supports Biserka Pop-Stefanija, Water and Sanitation Advisor drink." aid workers and humanitarian organisations. RedR UK is with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland, has been proud of its engineering heritage and remains dedicated to working in water and sanitation since 1999 and attended The generous support of the Worshipful Company of working with engineers in the humanitarian sector. RedR UK’s Groundwater Drilling course. Engineers and others has allowed us to continue to build Engineers have many values in common: the search for the skills of aid workers like Biskera, in the UK and in tangible, sustainable and ethical solutions; a commitment crisis-affected countries around the world. Thanks to our to innovation and a belief in the need to share and build supporters we continue to equip aid workers responding skills (technical and otherwise), particularly in parts of the to the world’s most acute humanitarian crises with the world that are prone to disaster. skills they need to save and improve lives
RedR UK’s Membership programme is made up 1,800 You can find out more at www.redr.org.uk experienced humanitarians, many of whom are engineers by profession. In 2017 RedR UK Members worked in 88 Cherry Franklin of RedR countries worldwide, responding to urgent humanitarian crises including South Sudan conflict response, the Syrian Refugee crisis and the East African Food Crisis. Alongside the Membership programme, RedR UK runs a successful Affiliates scheme, designed for junior humanitarians who are looking at developing their skills and experience in humanitarian response. Groundwater Drilling Course, UK. Photo: RedR UK
Following the RedR UK training, Biserka put her new skills into practice during a deployment to South Sudan, where groundwater is the principal source of drinking WASH Training, Sudan. Photo: RedR UK water. Although very little information is available on its distribution, or its extraction, it is estimated that 59% of RedR works closely with engineers on some of its key people in South Sudan do not have access to safe projects, including Ready to Respond; a project focused drinking water. on urban emergencies, KnowledgePoint; a free, online technical support service for aid workers in the field, and 1http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/201 building WASH (Water Sanitation And Hygiene) capacity 6_HNO_South%20Sudan.pdf. in Sudan. More recently RedR UK’s Africa Catalyst project sees it working to strengthen the Federation of African Access to water and sanitation is one of many challenges Engineering Organisations in Nigeria. This enhanced South Sudan has faced since it gained independence in capacity will contribute to the longer-term objective of this Earthquake response, Nepal. Photo: RedR UK 2011. The ongoing conflict there has only made life in project; to support other African Professional Engineering the world’s newest country more difficult and dangerous. Institutions throughout the region. In 2017, RedR UK trained 8,050 people in 44 countries worldwide. Every year, many of those who are trained are "Simply gaining access to crisis-affected communities in The support of the Company allows RedR to continue to engineers involved in humanitarian work: the purpose of remote areas can be a huge obstacle” explains Biserka. build the skills of aid workers in the UK and in crisis- the training is to help them better understand the “In places like Mankien, Unity State - which is at the affected countries around the world. humanitarian system, sector-specific principles and heart of the conflict - the first challenge we face is the processes, and the environment in which they are operating. soil, which is black cotton soil. During the dry season, Richard Groome WASH Training, Sudan. Photo: RedR UK it’s like rock. But as soon as it starts raining, this kind of
1 17 The Swordsman number 41 18 The Swordsman number 41 RAMBLING REPORTS New Forest Walk 19 May 2018
The rest of the world might have been transfixed by the We gathered at the home of Jane Forrest, a ‘friend’ of working forest each year. We learned about the lengthy There was time for a visit to the New Forest Centre, and Royal Wedding, but the Livery Company ‘s spring walk the Company overlooking one of the open areas of the cycle of up to 150 years of planting and thinning trees, a presentation by their education officer. We had a quick was the other big event of the day that went exactly to New Forest. Jane volunteers as a New Forest Warden, so principally oak, beech and sliver birch, with some Scots look at the exhibits, that includes a magnificent plan. she gave us short accounts of the history and economy of pine soft wood as well. embroidery on the history of the forest. the New Forest as she guided us across the open heath and through the wooded parts of the forest. In Victorian times, the New Forest was well known as a The walk through the New Forest was a stunning day place to see many species of butterflies. Despite habitat out, walking through beautiful, dense woodland, listening loss elsewhere, parts of the New Forest have become a to the cuckoo, and spotting the wildlife by our feet and in sanctuary for some rare butterflies. We walked through the air. We thank Audrey Canning again for coming up the Frohawk Ride, which had been established in 1996, with this fantastic visit, and for organising it so and were lucky enough to see several pearl-bordered meticulously. And there was even time to see something fritillaries, one of the rarer species. of the Royal Wedding just before the pub lunch. Perfect!
Janet Smart (Guest)
Jane Forrest in full flow!
The New Forest was originally a hunting park for King Jane introduced us to Jack, a New Forest woodsman, William I, and still has thriving populations of five kinds who walked us through the woods to show us the old of deer, as well as the familiar ponies and donkeys that marl pits which had been used to provide lime-rich clay roam the roads and heaths of the forest. The function of that could be used as a fertiliser. He showed us the new the forest changed from hunting to timber production in environmentally efficient oven that converts wood to the 15th Century, supplying the nearby shipbuilding yards charcoal, involving a process of reflux that feeds back the resins that boil off the heated wood to provide further in Bucklers Hard. The trees were managed through There was no escape from the Royal wedding! pollarding up until the 1800s, and after all this time some fuel to sustain the burning process. of the ancient trees still show evidence of this practice. The deer damage young tree shoots, so the trees are still protected in about 100 Inclosures (as was the spelling at that time). The Inclosures were surrounded by a ditch, a hedge of oak and a higher hedge of thorns, which deterred the deer from breaking through to the newly established trees. We also learned that there are about 800 properties that have ancient ‘estover’ rights, which means that they are entitled to receive lengths of wood, 8’ by 4’ by 4’.
We saw piles of tree trunks set by the side of the tracks, A map of the route shown in blue just some of the 50,000 tonnes of timber produced by the Homeward bound
19 The Swordsman number 41 20 The Swordsman number 41 TECHNICAL VISIT TO HMS ANSON AT TECHNICAL VISIT TO THORP AT
BAE SYSTEMS BARROW SHIPYARD SELLAFIELD 13 June 2018
11 June 2018 A party of 14 Liverymen and Freemen and 6 take place in “hot cells” – heavily-shielded A group of 20 Liverymen and partners visited BAE Facts and Figures: partners visited Sellafield by kind arrangement of enclosures with thick windows – and staff work Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, by kind Freeman Michael McLoughlin. from outside using remote manipulator arms. Our �� Astute submarines typically carry a mix of Spear- arrangement of Lieutenant Commander Mark group donned coveralls and orange socks, and fish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise mis- Moulding, Senior Naval Officer HMS ANSON (the At an informal dinner the night before the visit, 23 athletically swung across a barrier before putting siles. Company’s affiliated submarine) and BAE Systems. members of the Company and their partners on site footwear! �� According to Wikipedia Anson is 97 m in length entertained two guests from Sellafield Ltd: Chris At an informal dinner the night before the visit, the with a beam of 11.3 m. Raeburn (Systems Engineer) and our visit host In the FHP, incoming flasks are checked for delegates entertained Lt Cdr Mark Moulding, Paul Adamson (Head of Plant Facing Design damage, fuel is removed, and the flasks are then �� Warrant Officer Rob Blaney and Mr Rupert Prichard 11 years to build a submarine on a 3 year “drum” Office), to whom the Master presented a Stirling monitored for contamination. Around seventeen (MOD Project Manager, HMS ANSON build). beat (the length of time between the start of each Engine to thank him for the tour. shipments arrive each week, power stations have Master Engineer David Johnson presented a new boat). Design life 30 years. limited storage and must shut down if spent fuel is Company wall shield for eventual display on the �� BAE Systems and its forerunners have been We first toured THORP (the THermal Oxide not removed. submarine. building submarines since 1862 (when they were Reprocessing Plant), which separates plutonium building for the Russian and Turkish navies). and uranium from other highly-radioactive waste in Finally, we visited the MAGNOX decanning cell, The visit started with presentations by Brian Benn spent fuel. Commissioned in the 1990s, THORP where aluminium cladding is peeled from spent fuel BAE Systems Visits officer, and WO Rob Blaney. �� Everything is weighed to ensure that the centre will cease fuel reprocessing this year, but will rods, and a maintenance team gained an HMS ANSON is Boat 5 in the Astute Class nuclear of balance ends up where designed, but when subsequently support waste management interested audience as they fixed a problem inside powered submarines (SSN) being built by BAE the boat is first lowered into the water it often activities. the cell with manipulator arms. Systems. We learnt that the boats are built from need slabs of lead to fine trim it (rather like wheel several hull sections and ~400 modules of varying balancing on your car). After distribution of radiation-monitoring badges and belts, our Sellafield hosts Steve Stagg and sizes. The modules are built outside the boat - �� HMS ANSON will carry a crew at sea of 90 and Haylee McCarron gave an overview of plant quicker, easier and cheaper than assembling the all the stores and food needed to enable her to operation from the viewing gallery of the Fuel equipment in the boat. Once a module is complete, stay submerged for a considerable time. it is slid into a hull section. As sections are Storage Pond, where incoming fuel rods cool completed, they are welded together, a very �� Submarines can break though Artic Ice, see underwater for several years . complex and skilled job providing a perfect weld https://binged.it/2t4axzJ without distorting the hull. �� Submarines are not launched, they are lowered into the water: see SSNs are attack submarines whose aim is to https://youtu.be/byBKVkY75sk remain undetected while undertaking anti- submarine, surveillance or land attack missions. Life on board is cramped and even with modern facilities, hot bunking is used when extra personnel are carried. Once qualified through training ashore and onboard, and qualifying in their technical and Looking through a very thick glass window at a submarine safety roles, submariners wear their decanner cell submarine badges (“dolphins”) with pride. After careful checks with a Geiger counter to The highlight of the visit was the tour of Devonshire ensure that we had not picked up contamination, Dock Hall in which up to three submarines can be we thanked our hosts for a most interesting visit. built at one time. ANSON’s hull is complete and she is now being fitted out. It was impressive to see One of the cooling ponds Freemen Mike McLoughlin and James Dickaty (two her up close: out of the water she is HUGE! of the growing number of Sellafield engineers We then moved to the Feed Pond, where fuel rods joining the Company) have offered us another visit On completion of the tour, LtCdr Moulding invited Notes: are extracted from containers, and the Shear Cell – to other parts of Sellafield, in due course. a concrete vault with very thick leaded glass Senior Warden Commodore Barry Brooks to 1. There are no photographs of HMS ANSON windows, where a hydraulic press chops fuel prior perform a Naval duty, presenting clasps to the Long as she is incomplete. However, the Notes: to chemical processing. Service and Good Conduct Medals of Warrant photograph above is of HMS AUDACIOUS, 1. Photographs with permission of Sellafield Officers Clelland and Jones. The Master Engineer her immediate predessor. Ltd and Barry Brooks presented a Stirling Engine for the submarine to After lunch, the group visited the Fuel Handling add to their trophy cabinet to mark the connection 2. All photographs are courtesy of BAE Sys- Plant (FHP), where spent fuel is first received from 2. Report approved by Sellafield Ltd tems Submarines power stations in transport flasks and dismantled with the Engineers Livery Company. Andy Ward and Barry Brooks Suzanne Flynn and Barry Brooks before being sent for reprocessing. Operations 21 The Swordsman number 41 22 The Swordsman number 41 OUT OF TOWN 2018 VISIT TO DERBYSHIRE 20 - 23 September 2018
The Thursday evening is always a welcome affair as old Armed with an authoritative guide book to Derbyshire and the places planned for the OOT , all self friends catch up, the epitome of the fellowship of the published by the Master and his Mistress Engineer, the journey of discovery was fuelled by good food and Company. But what a special occasion this turned out to drink, curiosity and humour that comes from good company. What follows are the highlights and be. We dined in the Nave of Sheffield Cathedral, a site memorable moments of a selected few, nominated by the Editor. of Christian worship since the 9th Century. With ancient walls incorporating stones dating back to the 12th Century melded with (harmoniously) a light modern KELHAM ISLAND as they closed or were relocated are beautifully showcased. extension with beautiful abstract-design stained glass, it was a perfect metaphor of Marilyn and David’s theme for Two minutes ahead of schedule, our coach arrived just as the weekend, “Celebrating the Past and Creating the the first rain drops from Storm Bronagh fell. The The production of forged steel armaments and steel plate in Sheffield is represented by armour plate from Future”. Bessemer Converter had to be photographed before the th drenching began. battleships of the 19 Century, Dreadnaughts of the First World War, and Barnes Wallace’s Grandslam (earthquake) Bomb.
The star of the show has to be the River Don Engine, built in 1905 by Davey Brothers to roll amour plate at Grimethorpe rolling mill. After 50 years it was moved to the British Steel Corporation River Don Works rolling plate for nuclear reactors and off-shore-rigs. In 1978 it was purchased at a scrap value of £20,000 and eventually installed at Kelham. It was run for us: with three Sheffield Cathedral full of Company members and cylinders, 40 inches diameter, and a stroke of 48 inches it guests runs at 12,000 horsepower using steam at 160 psi: it is a very big, fast, loud machine. Its most surprising feature and Margaret had travelled especially from London just was its spectacular ability to reverse direction almost for our dinner and exited to travel that night for Europe. without apparent loss of speed. It could reduce 26 inch 1 plate to 2 /4 inches in 9 minutes and only 33 passes. Left - Lord Blunkett in full voice And so into the wet and windy night, warmed to the marrow by our Johnson welcome evening and fired up for their punishing schedule the morning would bring! There were beautiful displays of pre 1930 cars and motor We were welcomed by Dean Peter Bradley who cycles including Sheffield Simplex, Richardson and emphasised the Cathedral’s modern charitable role. Andrew McNaughton Charron Laycock and much more! Helping local citizens with essential life skills such as adult literacy and English language workshops as well as supporting people without homes, it was placing the David Shillito Church at the heart of today’s community. We had time DINNER IN SHEFFIELD CATHEDRAL to admire the many treasures of this Grade 1 listed building including, the very affecting St George “There are no tarts here” was Chapel which commemorates the York’s and Lancs the slightly arresting Regiment with its wall decorated with regimental introduction to the Bakewell pennants and screen fashioned from the officers, The Bessemmer Converter Silver Band by its Musical swords and bayonets. Director Andy Davey who Fashionably, the museum delivers its message through was, it turned out, taking the Following a meal of exceptional quality and a short the display of the most beautiful items of its collection, baton for the very first time. welcome from the Master, we were treated to a speech rather than the story-boards of chronological There’s confidence in a new from guest of honour Rt Hon the Lord Blunkett PC, developments. Its “whow” factor comes from the job! You would never have accompanied by his wife Margaret and his latest faithful variety, quality and scale of its prize exhibits. guessed it as the Band turned Guide Dog. Witty and serious by turn, David regaled us out a superb, beautifully with the glorious history of the City of Steel he had It is in the developments of the special steels industries executed set, capturing our represented in Parliament for 28 years. Charting the that Sheffield has it rightful claim to fame and in the undivided attention as the finale of the Dinner marking challenges of its late 20th Century decline he ended with displays of tools, machine making and cutlery that the the opening of an amazing Out of Town marked at every its exciting rebirth through higher education, engineering Bakewell Silver Band in full flow museum excels. The highlights from the Hawley point by personal connections with our Master and apprenticeships and new industries leading in such fields Collection, built up from tools salvaged from businesses Mistress Engineers. as AI, robotics and bio-engineering. Remarkably, David 23 The Swordsman number 41 24 The Swordsman number 41 Friday 21 September 2018 Crown Derby made china for the Titanic and today’s We were shown an example of an aero engine casing customers include the Dorchester Hotel and Betty’s Tea which had been machined with improved accuracy and On the Friday morning there was a choice of three reduced time by applying a damping material on its inner destinations Shop. Now we understand why Crown Derby justifies its diameter supported by a compressed air bag. This high price. reduced both deflection and vibration that can occur ROYAL CROWN DERBY when machining thin casings. The group also works on Elizabeth Chandler novel means of manufacturing aerofoils for gas turbines, Royal Crown Derby, was founded in 1750. In 1773 machining of large structures such as aircraft landing George III permitted the royal crown to be used on the SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY ADVANCED gear and novel techniques for work holding and backstamp and Queen Victoria granted permission for MANUFACTURING RESEARCH CENTRE automation. the title “Royal.” (AMRC) Integrated Manufacturing Group and Metrology Using Virtual Reality (Immersive Technologies) to We arrived at the “new” factory founded in 1878 at Groups The University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing was facilitate the assembly of a sports car suspension Osmaston Road and went straight to the Museum to see founded in 2001 and now has over 100 industrial partners samples of designs since 1750. We are probably all including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and The Integrated Manufacturing Group, located in ‘Factory AMRC Training centre familiar with the ornate and gilded Crown Derby china, Airbus and a range of small companies. It is part of the 2050’develops new ways of automatically assembling of which the Japanese inspired “Imari”design is a well High Value Manufacturing Catapult, an alliance of seven complex products using advanced technologies such as The training centre provides training options covering known example. manufacturing research centres backed by Innovate UK. robotics, augmented reality and large volume metrology, four different pathways into engineering apprenticeships Its members can access the national network of for the assembly of complex structures. The research with the opportunity to convert to degree apprenticeships It takes two years to fully train staff but, rather nerve manufacturing research excellence. themes are AI and machine learning, robotics and and chartered engineer status. After four years in excess wrackingley, novices start on the production line from automation, digitally assisted assembly, integrated large of 300 manufacturers in the Sheffield City region have day one. We saw the clay being cut and hand-pressed The group has specialist expertise in machining, volume metrology and automated process monitoring and asked the school to train more than 1000 apprentices. into the moulds and then the slip being poured into automation, robotics, digitally assisted assembly, casting, data analytics, augmented and virtual reality and digital plaster moulds to make handles. After many firings and welding, additive manufacturing, composites, designing twins. The training centre has been designed as a real much smoothing, including alarmingly being tossed into for manufacturing and testing. It also includes the manufacturing environment replicating the feel of an the Rumbler filled with silicate balls, lithograph transfers Nuclear AMRC which helps UK companies win work in actual place of work whilst using cutting-edge are applied, replacing the time-consuming hand painting the Civil Nuclear sector and the AMRC Training Centre technology including virtual reality welding machines of the past. After glazing, 22-carat gilding is applied by which provides training from apprenticeship through to and robotics. hand. The atmosphere was calm and friendly and the Doctorate and MBA level. staff are free to organise themselves as long as they meet We visited four areas. We were all impressed by the size and achievements of their quota. Most of them have been there for over 20 Advanced Robotics High precision the AMRC in 17 years and found the visit most years. The Machining Group High precision metrology metrology informative and enjoyable. Unfortunately, time prevented our visiting some areas including the Structural Testing This group develops innovative techniques and optimised Composite Centre Centre, the National Metals Technology Centre, The processes for machining high performance materials. For Design and Prototyping Group and the Medical AMRC. example, the time for machining the curved dovetails of a The AMRC Composite Centre leads the UK in Rolls-Royce Fan disc has been halved. lightweighting with a focus on producing composite and Photographs and images courtesy of AMRC Sheffield. hybrid parts which combine high-performance metals and composites in a single structure, whilst providing Philip Ruffles significant weight savings. BOMBARDIER VISIT We saw examples of panels for motorsport and a composite strut for an aircraft under-carriage. The centre Our journey to Bombardier in Derby was lit up by a has its own weaving machine and the largest state of the magnificent rainbow – perhaps an omen! art High Pressure Resin Transfer Moulding system in the UK. This system allows the use of highly reactive resins The Bombardier Works is located amongst the to reduce curing times to as little as three minutes. buildings that have seen many previous owners, There is something for everyone but we loved the including British Rail (their Carriage & Wagon exquisitely hand painted plates made today by just two Works), before them the LMS Railway, before artists. An ex-member of staff kindly came in at lunch them, and originally, the Midland Railway (late 19th time, to show us her mother’s farewell autograph book Rolls-Royce Fan disc century). Now it is a hive of high-tech railway signed in beautiful pictures by the artists at the time. carriage engineering, being the only remaining site Weaving machine for High Pressure Transform 25 The Swordsman number 41 preforms moulding system 26 The Swordsman number 41 in the UK that builds new electrically-powered assembly; Bombardier install all of the ‘innards’ of passenger railway carriages. the cabs – mainly the complex control systems – on CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE CUTLER’S HALL COMPANY DINNER site. The 5-stage process through the assembly shop The company employs around 2600 staff. Although is ergonomically-designed to reduce manual labour, All the various contingents converged on the Crich The Livery Dinner on Friday evening is always the Tramway village in the afternoon. The cold bite in the air the majority of these are engaged on carriage and hence risk, to a minimum. Each assembly line formal highlight of any Out of Town meeting and this made the village tea rooms very appealing! year fully lived up to our expectations. It was held at the assembly and maintenance, there is also a significant target is to produce 4-5 completed vehicles per Cutlers’ Hall, just five minutes walk from our hotel. design capability. In the last 3 years, the Company week. Upon assembly, each car is subjected to a has taken on over 90 new apprentices and 56 water test before being placed on its bogies. We were welcomed and introduced to our magnificent graduate engineers. A particular feature of the Crossrail trains is the surroundings by Kenneth Cooke, the current Master need to have 3 different signalling/control systems Cutler. The Company is a trade guild of metalworkers Until recently, 2017, Bombardier have used their installed, as the trains will operate on Network Rail that is almost 400 years old. The current hall is Grade II ELECTROSTAR design to provide new trains for tracks as well as on dedicated TfL tracks through the listed and is regarded as one of the finest Livery halls in London Overground, Southern and South Africa’s centre of London. The designs are by Bombardier in the country. It displays an awe-inspiring collection of Gautrain. Their most recent development uses the Derby. silver ware from across the ages. AVENTRA platform which is the basis of the train currently building for Crossrail – a complex train set The Company also has several depots around the Our dinner amply matched the quality of our surroundings, as we sat under the Company motto: with significant signalling and control systems. The UK to provide day-day and heavy maintenance of AVENTRA platform is flexible in length and in the existing fleet of Bombardier vehicles; the Pour Y Parvenir a Bonne Foi. passenger capacity. vehicles can be monitored remotely with the control centre analysing the condition and performance of The period village scene is the backdrop for a tramway The wines that units so as to anticipate potential mechanical and along a mile long track. The main attractions (after the accompanied our food system failures. tea shop) were the workshops the exhibition of trams and had been personally the tram ride. imported by the Master The new Crossrail (now “Elizabeth Line”) vehicles from near his French will be expected to do 80,000 miles between retreat in Cote de maintenance visits; each train is tested on the test Roussillon - an example track at Old Dalby for 10,000 miles fault-free of the meticulous planning that he and running before delivery to the customer. Marilyn had brought to the entire weekend. All The highlight of the visit, for the Master, was three wines were very driving a new Elizabeth Line train along the short good; the Vin Doux test track at the Works; the rest of us just enjoyed Naturel was exceptional. the short ride – he was a quick learner! And on the way home, another rainbow! All in all, an The Master introduced invigorating and stimulating day. his guest, Doug Liversidge CBE, who Thank you, Bombardier! Peter Hartley has, for decades, played a leading role in incubating and nurturing successful spin-out companies from the The new look livery for a train on the Elizabeth Line university. Both the Master’s and Doug’s speeches celebrated Sheffield in entertaining and different ways, showing their great enthusiasm for the city. It is indeed We were treated to a close-up visit of Crossrail remarkable how Sheffield has thrown off its ‘Full Monty’ trains under construction. The process is a 5-stage image of the 70’s to become the modern, vibrant, wealth- integrated assembly line with the initial main parts creating, power house that it is today. Both speakers are of these aluminium vehicles coming in flat-pack closely associated with the Cutlers’ Company and are a format which are then painted on site. Cabs, floors, living embodiment of how we may ‘succeed through doors and roofs of the new carriages are built by UK honest endeavour.’ engineering companies, many being local, body sides are made in China, bogies come from It was a wonderful evening! Bombardier’s plant in Germany. All components, All the trams are kept in working order and the workshop undertakes routine maintenance and total restoration. except cabs, come fully wired up ready for bolted Graham Owen 27 The Swordsman number 41 28 The Swordsman number 41 PRE-DINNER DRINKS AT CUTLER’S HALL
Saturday 22 September Under the Master’s strict VISIT TO UPPER DERWENT RESERVOIRS instruction, we left on time AND DAMS and we then followed the beautiful wooded Derwent This enthusiastic early rising group amazingly, within 10 Valley past the Howden minutes from our hotel, were in countryside and 5 reservoir and Birchinlee, the minutes later onto the Hallam gritstone moors, 1200 feet village originally built for above sea level! Good weather allowed brilliant views of dam construction workers, the Dark Peak area below Stanage, the largest and most and Yorkshire Bridge, a impressive gritstone edge, 3.5 miles long, which we village built for those who followed. The peaceful bleak moors which are hardly had to leave the flooded inhabited and crossed with long stone walls were a world Derwent village, and away from the bustling, urban landscape of our hotel Bamford, which in the18th base. We then descended from Yorkshire to Derbyshire century was a corn and later into a different world, through beautiful tree-lined roads cotton mill, village. We followed the Derwent river as we to the limestone region of the Derwent valley passing a drove through Hathersage where they made needles and dam which produced the Ladybower reservoir, beneath pins. Little John, the giant outlaw of Robin Hood fame, whose surface is the drowned Derwent village. The water came from here. We passed the David Mellor cutlery level was low and some parts of the village were visible. factory but we did not stop to buy. We then proceeded to Built from 1935-1943 it mainly serves Sheffield and was Chatsworth through Grindleford, Baslow and Calver and the largest reservoir in the UK. then to Edinsor a village moved to give the 6th Duke an interrupted view from Chatsworth! We arrived at We then travelled to the Upper Derwent Valley to see the Chatsworth after a brilliant visit to the eastern Peak reservoir created by Derwent Dam, where the 617 Dam District and all grabbed a coffee! Buster Squadron practiced in WW2 and where the film was made. We alighted and had a great time walking Ken Gray around. No one went for a swim!
The ‘early risers’ at Derwent Dam 29 The Swordsman number 41 30 The Swordsman number 41 CHATSWORTH silverware and cranberry glass from Bohemia, was first used by Princess Victoria at her first adult dinner. Arriving for an early tour, we had untrammelled views of DINNER DANCE AT THE BUXTON DOME Chatsworth after its 10 year, £32m restoration. The narrative history of the restoration has been recorded too in restorers’ own “words on windowpanes.” And so, all too quickly, to the final major item on our excellent dinner was served by students on Hospitality The house stands on land bought by Sir William programme: a dinner dance at the dome in Buxton. On courses. Cavendish, second husband of Bess of Hardwick, who A brief view of the theatre and the estate from the the way there I was slightly disturbed to read that the after his death installed her son as her heir and purchased belvedere completed the tour, before lunch in the Devonshire Dome was unsupported and, moreover, After coffee, and following the silent auction again so for him the earldom of Devonshire for 10,000 guineas. imposing stables and the scenic tour to Sheffield past the reckoned to be the largest of its kind in Europe. I quietly capably organized by Audrey and John Canning, the live The 4th Earl rebuilt and remodelled Chatsworth over 20 Ladybower reservoir. hoped that it – all 560 tons of it – would not realize the group struck up. Function Fever played an enjoyable years, and the 6th Duke built the North Wing. fact whilst we were there. But I need not have been medley of old hits that got the dance floor full. A frisson Diana Blair-Fish concerned because I soon saw that 44 massive of excitement rippled through the hall when, with a loud Our tour, of some thirty rooms, highlighted just some of circumferential columns were doing their stuff as they bang, a missile radar-decoy chaff dispenser was fired and Chatsworth’s treasures: an exquisite marble statue of a had since completed by the 5th Duke of Devonshire in the dancers were showered with metallic strips. I had veiled vestal virgin just off the Painted Hall. In the late 1789. Those strong, silent sentinels had seen much in just begun to measure the strip lengths to estimate the 17th century Chapel stands St Bartholomew in front of this imposing and atmospheric space – horses prancing in jamming frequency when I realized that the lead singer the carved alabaster altarpiece holding his entire skin in the centre when it was stables, “sick poor” patients when had actually discharged a very large and impressive party outstretched hand —a Damian Hearst sculpture, covered it was a hospital and now students as part of the popper. So dancing continued unabated. I fancied that in gold (all the gold at Chatsworth is real). University of Derby. Like us, they listened attentively to those 44 columns were nodding to the beat and musing a warm welcome by Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice that, with all the prancing going on, the Dome had come We marvelled at a trompe l’oeil painting of a violin Chancellor of Derby University who explained that the full circle. No, it wasn’t Strictly Dancing but it was great hanging on a connecting door in the State Apartments Buxton campus covers degrees in Events, Hospitality, fun and a very enjoyable conclusion to a wonderful Out and galleries lined with 18th century oil paintings and Tourism, Spa and Outdoor. It was evident that Professor of Town in the Peak District. more recent works by Lucian Freud. The magnificent Mitchell is passionate about providing relevant training Library contains the scientific manuscripts of Henry for the real world. Indeed, following our welcome, our Peter Liddell Cavendish, and the Dining Room, now set with The library at Chatsworth
A general view of Chatsworth House
31 The Swordsman number 41 32 The Swordsman number 41 COMPANY NEWS
SUNDAY 23 September After the heavy rain on Thursday and the dull cloudy days of Friday From the MASTER News from the Almoner 2018 and Saturday we now got to see Derbyshire at its best. The limestone possibly the Royal Charter – for The Court has agreed that the Another successful luncheon was paved path to the summit was well those prize winners who had the MAM TOR AND THE Company should participate in a Pan held at the RAF Club on 14 May worth the climb, leading to stunning potential to become Freemen in the BEAUTIFUL HOPE VALLEY Livery Initiative endeavour to 2018 attended by widows of past views of the Hope Valley bathed in future, in order to maintain a present the Livery movement at large members. brilliant sunshine. We proceeded connection with the Company until Sunday saw the walking group in a favourable manner, given press down along the ridge and then then. An Associate would have a having a lovely ‘lie in’ (until around suggestions that it contributed little diagonally back down the hillside to nominal ‘quarterage’ of £50, which 7:00, after the 6:00 starts of the other to society following assertions by the Blue John Cavern via the old might be waived initially as part of days!). After breakfast, we fought HM Government’s opposition. We A625 which we can still remember Ambling along what’s left of the A625 our way out through the thousands agreed to offer members’ driving on before it slipped down the an Award, and would be given of runners gathering for the participation in a number of surveys hillside for the final time, being certain benefits to encourage their Yorkshire 10k run, down to the NCP to establish the abandoned in 1979. participation along their journey. car park and followed the required size of the It was agreed to appoint a rather circuitous route out of Livery Across the fields back to the car park Liveryman or Freeman to oversee Sheffield to Castleton. movement, its then down to Castleton for a well- this on behalf of the Membership The Almoner and Hon. Chaplain, level of deserved pub lunch. Unfortunately, Committee, and to identify suitable Barry Gasper and Peter Hartley All went well until a crisis of support to the sunshine had brought out many candidates retrospectively from our respectively are very pleased that the confidence at the bottom of the very society and its others: parking therefore proved a most recent Awards cohort. Court has recognised that narrow Winnats Pass led to our role in the 21st bit of a drama and lunch was rather widows/widowers of members who having to telephone organiser century. The slow, but nothing could dull the A Companion of the Company was have passed away will be entitled to Audrey for directions, but eventually Court were not enjoyment of those majestic views also being ‘worked-up’ by the be known as Associates of the Susan, David, Jane and I met up supportive of a of the Derbyshire hills and dales. Even from the Top of Mam Tor, membership committee to provide a Company in recognition of their past with the others in the car park and common charitable fund, as we Derbyshire’s industrial heritage was more formal connection to, for connection with the Company. we set off up the hill to Mam Tor. wished to ensure our members’ Rod Muttram apparent example, widows or widowers of contributions went to further the Company members who remained engineering causes that members had engaged with the Company until expressed their support of. Members their demise. would be advised how to participate Military affiliations through the normal communication The Court discussed, at length, the HMS PRINCE OF WALES channels. nature of military affiliations with a view to ensuring that those entered The Engineers’ Trust fund has now into by the Company were relevant, reached £2M. Dave Cooper and Senior Warden Cdre Brooks manageable, realistic and had David Hughes have become understood obligations and represented the Company at the Trustees, replacing PM Isobel objectives from both parties. affiliates day in HM Dockyard Pollock Hulf and Malcolm Vincent. Rosyth, hosted by HMS PRINCE Following the review of investments The Company continues in its search OF WALES on 16 May 2018. by Dan Diggins, our independent for an archivist, and anyone who Over 40+ people attended from Trustee, the Trust is looking to might be interested is encouraged to The End reduce risk in it’s portfolio and will London Livery Companies, contact the Clerk. be producing a revised investment affiliated service units (army and strategy in the near future. The Trust RAF). The Company’s financial position is continues to review its awards for sound, albeit understanding that PS. Put next year’s dates relevance to the communities that it The two awards were made of position is challenging as a result of seeks to reward, encourage and which the second award was in your diary for the slow progress in developing the support. presented by the Senior Warden. OOT at Plymouth - required management accounts through our new book-keeping The Senior Warden also The Court approved the concept of service. presented certificates to both the 13-16 June 2019 Associates of the Company – not a Admiral Wildish Engineering membership grade which would Innovation and the Commander require changes to regulations and The Master
33 The Swordsman number 41 34 The Swordsman number 41 Marine Engineering Operational Engineering Standards in BP Group At Crewe, I worked on engines and Engineering winners.. Engineering prior to my retirement engine testing, emissions testing, Eur Ing James Richard in 2013. vehicle dynamics and refinement, Dickaty The senior warden gave a short and I project managed some special speech about how the Engineers I have been involved in Scouting individual vehicles for a worldwide In 2012 I joined BAE Systems I live with my wife, two young Company and IMarEST are pleased since joining Cubs as a seven year selection of customers. I remained at Submarines Division as a aspiring engineer daughters and a to be co-sponsors for these old and have been an Assistant Scout Crewe until 2001, completing my Commissioning and Business menagerie of animals on a croft in engineering awards as we encourage Leader, Group Scout Leader and career there as Head of Whole Capability Manager . As a civilian I the middle of the Cumbrian and support engineering excellence. Group Chairman over the years. Vehicle Engineering, a position that was allowed to go to sea and helped countryside. We enjoy spending reported directly to the Engineering to successfully deliver HMS time cruising our narrowboat The Institution of Royal In my retirement I keep bees Director. Ambush ’s sea trials . I also worked “Bluebell” on the Lancaster Engineers (normally 2 hives) in my garden and with our American colleagues to Canal, which is a shared family this year had over 15 Kg from one develop the manufacturing and hobby. Liveryman Yuli (Chaido) hive. I still have a keen interest in commissioning processes for the Doulala-Rigby has been made cars - particularly those of the 70s Dreadnought Programme . In 2014 the first civilian fellow of the and 80s - and have a 1980 Reliant I was recruited into Sellafield Ltd. Scimitar GTC. (The convertible of Institution of Royal Engineers. I commissioned the Calder Hall which only about 440 were ever reactors so they could defuel safely in The company has been made). It only tends to get out of the 2015 . I was then transferred to my informed about the recent garage on nice sunny summer days. current role as the Senior deaths of the following Company After 2-4 years of occasional work Commissioning Programme members. Announcements on it, the car jointly took the local I started my engineering career in Manager for the Pile Fuel Cladding club concourse trophy this year. 1995 when I cut my teeth on the Silo, which is a 1950 s legacy waste Liveryman Professor Kenneth Slater preserved steam ship SS Shieldhall , store from the Nuclear Weapons FREng FIET passed away on 24 Recently clothed Finally I am a very keen ‘DIY’er and maintaining and operating the programme My team and I will soon June 2018, just before his 93rd in the last year have completely steering gear which was powered by a Liverymen be withdrawing the first box of birthday refurbished our en-suite bathroom beautiful brass and bronze compound waste during our active with a walk-in shower and steam engine. I joined the Royal Navy Ross Smith commissioning of the waste Past Master Dr Cadzow Smith CBE refurbished all our house windows as a marine engineering mechanic in retrievals plant . I feel greatly FREng FRSE passed away on 10th with the latest thermally efficient After leaving RR&B in 2001 I 1997. Looking forward to seeing the honoured that a dyslexic former July 2018 he had been unwell for a glass units - however I did have to worked, as a consultant with world on an aircraft carrier (or some mechanic will be the one leading this while. Dr Cadzow Smith joined the get the professionals in to provide Pininfarina. I got involved in several other large and comfortable vessel ), operation. Livery on 1st July 1984, became a some very necessary scaffolding. production cars for both Jaguar and the Navy with its unique sense of Court Assistant on 1 April 1991 and Volvo before working in the USA on humour drafted me to the submarine My Grandfather , an Incorporated I am looking forward to participating amphibious vehicles. service where I spent the next 15 years was Master of the Company 1997- Engineer with a career spanning 60 1998. in as many of the Company's events not seeing the world . But it was a years , said that one should always as possible but with a daughter ( and Finally, I returned to working in wonderful job where they let a 17 year use engineering as a means to Liveryman Professor John Coldwell first grandchild) living in Western Coventry where I became involved old play with nuclear reactors. philanthropy , and since then I have CEng FIET FRAeS who passed Australia, I may not always be in the with several very low volume special been involved in our profession UK!! away on 11 July 2018. car projects with individual vehicles Sadly for me , my career submerged through voluntary causes such as selling at over half million was cut short when I permanently being an active STEM Ambassador Liveryman Robert Richie passed Matthew Waterhouse pounds. injured my spine during an to schools in socially deprived areas, away on 10 September 2018. operational deployment . I spent the an IEng and CEng mentor to From a very early age – 10 or next three years teaching young Freeman Lieutenant Colonel Harry Now, I am President of the Daimler Sellafield graduates and Armed thereabouts – I have always had an & Lanchester Owners’ Club (I have engineers in HMS Sultan , until I Forces leavers , working as an Malthouse passed away on 14 interest in cars and in particular in volunteered to be medically September. I am a Scotsman, born in Edinburgh a Daimler SP250), I scrutineer for advocate for the charity keeping older cars on the road. So, it the MSA at some motor sports discharged . On my very last day in the ‘Engineers Without Borders ’, as an with an engineering science graduate Liveryman Peter Neill Blair who was natural to apply for a thick events, I am also a member of the Navy I became Incorporated with the Industrial Advisor and PRI from Edinburgh University. I worked sandwich course at university. They passed away on 29 September 2018. most of my life in the automotive IMechE Professional Review IMechE. Assessor for the IMechE. were very popular in 1969. I started Committee, and I am Chairman of industry - involved in brakes, tyres, at Roll-Royce Ltd in Derby with the electronics, switchgear and my local Parish Council. intention of going to Crewe and into lubricants/engine testing. With the the car division. BP aquiline of Castrol, I was VP Never a dull moment!
35 The Swordsman number 41 36 The Swordsman number 41 Yuli (Chaido) Doulala-Rigby
Members’ Announcements Yuli has been honoured with being the first civilian for the temporary bailey bridge in Workington after the fellow of the The Institution of Royal Engineers with floods of the early 2010s where a policeman was killed. membership number C001. The Editor wanted to know more and asked Yuli to explain what she had done to be Yuli continues to support the Royal Engineers in its Dave Cooper FCGI so honoured. STEM events and this past summer was the guest industry speaker and led a panel discussion at a 150 all- Dave Cooper attended Imperial College on 15 June Yuli said that she did not apply for this recognition. It female Cadet event. where he was presented with his Fellowship of the City started with supporting a STEM event for 900 female & Guilds London Institute. The presentation was made school girls at the Sandhurst Military Academy In view of Yuli’s enthusiasm and being a riole model by Chairman of the City & Guilds of London Institute organised by WISE and supported by the Royal General Urch, President of the IRE invited her to Council and former Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Engineers. At the VIP lunch reception Yuli made a become a Fellow of the IRE as she fulfilled the newly Authority, Sir John Armitt. speech about how to attract and inspire young people, established conditions for a civilian, to qualify for the and in particular females, into engineering. She has also first Fellow of the InstRE (FInstRE). The Fellowship, which requires nomination by at least supported the Army, by volunteering her free time and two existing Fellows was awarded to Dave for his many weekends as well as her employer’s (Tensar) time, Yuli is used to ‘firsts’. She was the first female Fellow “unswerving commitment to the training of young in various workshops about the innovative use of of the ICE NW region and the first female Chair of the engineers and his work for the UK lift industry”. Tensar’s geogrids in civil engineering including various International Geosynthetics Society UK Chapter. declassified projects that Tensar has delivered with the Army over the past 35+ years, including the foundations
Congratulations to Malcolm and Linda Vincent who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Friday 29 June , As part of the celebrations they travelled to the Everest Base Camp in Tibet via Nepal, one of the most challenging destinations on their bucket list ! Yuli surrounded by a contingent of female cadets
37 The Swordsman number 41 38 The Swordsman number 41 benefit to UK submarine availability. high quality projects, both on time THE ENGINEERING AWARDS THE SERVICES’ and within resources. As the only OPERATIONAL Through all of this Lt Cdr Bowmer Regimental Clerk of Works involved PART 1 has shown exemplary leadership to throughout, SSgt French’s ENGINEERING the ME Department and has been stewardship of the whole programme instrumental in maintaining high of preparation and delivery in THE SERVICES ENGINEERING AWARDS AWARDS morale across the submarine in Cyprus was a masterful exposition of Awarded to an officer, from various general. The submarine will return both leadership and technical with various state of the art machine- Service and Corps areas, who has best to the Fleet in 2018 as the UK’s most acumen. Despite being junior in his THE SERVICES THE SERVICES learning libraries and to plot and made the application of professional capable SSN. This success will be role, he exuded the knowledge and ENGINEERING ENGINEERING analyse results. He conducted an engineering judgement or technical testament to the hard work and expertise of a highly competent dedication of Lt Cdr Bowmer. Clerk of Works. He was vital to the UNDERGRADUATE POSTGRADUATE extensive literature survey to track innovation to contribute significantly down the required training data that quality control programme and his to the maintenance or enhancement of AWARD AWARD the algorithms operate on. His work, ROYAL ENGINEERS’ attention to detail, extreme diligence which made use of tools that have operational capability or effectiveness and proactivity ensured successful in any theatre of operations, including OPERATIONAL Awarded to an officer graduating Awarded to an officer completing a never been tried in this domain, completion and handovers of all the UK. The appropriate senior projects - attracting rave reviews from the Defence Technical postgraduate technical degree who resulted in an impressive advance in ENGINEERING AWARD performance. Using his specialist Service authority makes from the clients in all cases. Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS) who has achieved overall academic methodology, more accurate CHF recommendations for the Operational SSgt Matthew French RE. SSgt has achieved outstanding academic excellence and contributed most to the Throughout, he has been a driving predictions are obtained more Awards. French has been nothing short of performance and demonstrated clear advancement of technical knowledge force behind delivering structured quickly than previously. The quality excellent during his last 16 months and suitable opportunities for young leadership and commitment to a or its application through a research of his written report and oral delivering construction supervision soldiers to gain experience in their professional engineering career in the project. presentation were particularly ROYAL NAVY to 35 Engineer Regiment as it built trades and to gather evidence for Armed Forces. praiseworthy, resulting in an overall towards a Joint Force Enabling OPERATIONAL competencies towards their mark of 70%. Exercise in Cyprus and subsequent Sub Lieutenant Daniel Jinks RN. ENGINEERING AWARD vocational qualifications. Designs The Nuclear Reactor Course is a deployment on Op SHADER. His Midshipman Henry Trutch RN. As well as finding time for his completed internally to the Regiment postgraduate diploma course and impressive supervisory and Henry Trutch was an exemplary studies and Naval Duties S/Lt Jinks were carefully considered to forms part of the Marine Engineer Lieutenant Commander mentoring achievements are scholar and bursar throughout his 5 maintains an active lifestyle. A keen . LCdr maximise these opportunities. This (Submarines) training pipeline. The Christopher Bowmer RN amplified by his relative year Defence Sixth Form College and regular footballer he also enjoys Bowmer is the Deputy Marine has added significant value to the course is a key stage in the process inexperience, unusually having been and Defence Technical University attempting to surf when time Engineering Officer (DMEO) on one development of others. Several of training Royal Naval personnel to assigned direct to Regimental duty Squadron career. He went to the permits. During this very demanding of the UK’s attack submarines. soldiers within the Regiment are supervise nuclear reactors, and is from his Clerk of Works course, University of Southampton and course, he made time on his annual During routine maintenance an issue considering Clerk of Works academically rigorous, as appropriate rather than with the benefit of a through hard work and commitment visit to Polzeath to help a charity was identified in the submarine’s applications due to the fine example for students who will discharge such formative tour in a Chilwell STRE gained a 2:1 BEng in Electronic providing a surfing weekend to electrical generation system that he has set. He takes considerable an onerous responsibility. Highly first. There has been neither the Engineering. A natural leader and injured Royal Marines. would necessitate unexpected time to develop and aid individuals motivated, S/Lt Jinks produced slightest hint of any lack of keen sportsman he won consistent replacement of part of the generator in their quest for excellence. strong results throughout the NRC, knowledge nor technical praise for his commitment and Based on the way that he has applied equipment. Lt Cdr Bowmer had only achieving distinctions in all the inexperience in his performance inspirational example. He qualified himself to his studies and on his recently joined the submarine and SSgt French is now deployed on taught elements of the course. throughout force preparation and as an Endurance Training Leader and enthusiastic commitment to his there was no plan to rectify the fault. Operation SHADER as part of the Consistently strong throughout, Jinks now deployed in Iraq, he has was selected as ‘Squadron Cadet’, a work, he will be a valuable asset to However, by successfully managing Military Construction Force and his helped other students to understand continued to be exemplary. distinction awarded to the bursar the nuclear reactor programme and a repair never before attempted on an professionalism has continued to be who displays the best leadership some of the more challenging areas pervasive. He is a ferocious driving to the wider engineering community. In-Service submarine during Fleet He has been instrumental in the qualities in the unit. of the course subjects. Jinks gained a force behind the delivery of Time, Lt Cdr Bowmer led the most organisation of a yearlong artisan highly commendable combined operational infrastructure, which is challenging maintenance period ever and construction-training He achieved an excellent balance academic and research score of 79%. widely noticed across the Coalition Both the Awards above were made attempted in HMNB Clyde. The programme. Its coherence and between his University studies, to work required major systems for its high quality and S/Lt Jinks was tasked with a on the recommendation of the measured progression has been DTUS Thunderer Squadron and to (including Main Steam) to be cut. comprehensive technical finish. computational research project to Operations Director of the Defence deeply impressive. It started with future career networking. Above all There was no standard procedure for Where previously systems were investigate the use of machine Academy of the United Kingdom at low complexity, section and ½ he maintained constant enthusiasm this task but his risk analysis enabled failing, he has found fixes. Where learning for prediction of critical section tasks in the local Paderborn for his professional engineering Shrivenham, Wiltshire. the Design Authority to make Coalition relationships were fraught, heat flux (CHF), one of the key area. Thereafter followed a 3-week career and, having made a very informed, timely decisions they are now succeeding. Quite thermal constraints on the Naval exercise at the Defence School of positive mark at the University, at minimising the impact. The addition simply he is an excellent ambassador PWR. During the course of the Transport (Leconfield), delivering Britannia Royal Naval College and of a number of other packages added for the British Army and the Corps project, he taught himself how to troop level training through the within the RN Engineering yet more complexity to the of Royal Engineers through his work program effectively, and then apply medium of new and refurbished community, he has a very bright maintenance period. This included a and professionalism. various machine learning libraries to infrastructure tasks for the School future in the Armed Forces. first of class Reactor Control and a difficult task. Despite no and DIO followed. The year Instrumentation (RC&I) upgrade. programming experience prior to the culminated in ambitious construction The lessons from this will de-risk project, he wrote all of his own code tasks in Cyprus (Exercise future upgrades providing a wider to prepare his input data, to interface PINESTICK 17/2), which delivered 39 The Swordsman number 41 40 The Swordsman number 41 ROYAL SIGNALS ROYAL ELECTRICAL & a period of unremittingly high air capability following the planned engineering judgement to generate available some 4 months ahead of tempo. He identified significant retirement of Tornado GR4 and the the associated safety assessments schedule and in good time to relieve MECHANICAL vulnerabilities in system availability assumption of all roles by the while carefully balancing the Tornado GR4s committed to Op OPERATIONAL ENGINEERS and integrity, and through his Typhoon Force in March 19. Sqn operational, regulatory and technical SHADER, the operation against the ENGINEERING AWARD tenacity and technical expertise he Ldr Hirst played a central role in the assurance requirements. Through his Islamic State terror network has secured sustainable engineering timely completion of Brimstone leadership, enhanced Typhoon Captain B Brown R SIGNALS. OPERATIONAL support to safeguard the capability of missile test firings, using his weapons capability will now be Capt Brown is the Subject Matter ENGINEERING AWARD MOD, partner and Allied assets Expert for operational support of worldwide where previously little Electronic Counter Measures for was guaranteed. Force Protection (ECM(FP)). This Major Paul Round-Turner THE ENGINEERING AWARDS . Maj Round-Turner’s provides mitigation against insurgent REME engineering excellence, eye for detail The span and complexity of improvised explosive devices PART 2 and determined approach throughout engineering responsibilities, targeting UK service personnel. The the inspection phase on Ex PRAIRIE including on-going projects and capability was introduced as an PHOENIX became the catalyst for international capability development Urgent Operational Requirement for ROYAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING WATER ENGINEERING mission success and higher programmes with a value in excess operations in Afghanistan in 2012 equipment availability in BATUS of $100M, has placed a huge demand ENGINEERING HORIZONS BURSARIES AWARD and has now been funded to deliver a during 2017, up by 16% from 2016. on Sqn Ldr Rhymer. capability to current operations. ENGINEERS TRUST WINNERS This, combined with maintaining a Notwithstanding, by dint of Hence, the challenge has been to use The Water Engineering award is made Unit Fleet in Tidworth – when all his unremitting effort, excellent the capability in many different jointly with the International Water deployable manpower was in leadership, technical acumen and YOUNG ENGINEER OF dynamic electromagnetic In 2016 the Engineers Trust supported Association for the best presentation BATUS – was a considerable commitment to quality and safe THE YEAR environments with a more 5 Horizons Bursaries through the IET, and paper at the annual UK Young challenge. Maj Round-Turner’s working practices he has also been technologically aware and aimed at students or apprentices who contribution towards the unit-level instrumental in minimizing risk to Water Professionals Conference. determined adversary. This has The RAEng Engineers Trust Young may face, or have faced, challenges estimate was profound: centralising life for personnel working in austere meant that the equipment needs to be Engineer of the Year competition, or personal obstacles and are UK the fleet; placing equipment out of and dangerous conditions. Winner 2018 (Medal) – Dr Katie constantly improved to achieve far awarded by the Royal Academy of residents. A further 4 Horizon use; advising what risks to take; and Smith more than it was designed to do. Bursaries were awarded in 2017. The refining a specialist trade group Engineering with support from the Captain Brown has been closely Worshipful Company of Engineers, bursaries are for £1,000 per year for Dr Katie Smith graduated from centralisation plan all required his the duration of the degree or involved in the evolution of the analytical mind. THE DEFENCE offers five prizes of £3,000 to early Durham University with a BSc in capability and in finding innovative ENGINEERING apprenticeship of up to 4 years. Natural Sciences in 2010, followed career engineers in full time higher They are: ways to improve the levels of Maj Round-Turner is the Worshipful EQUIPMENT & education, research or industrial by an MSc by Research in 2012. She protection. This has required him to Company of Engineer’s Royal then continued her studies with a SUPPORT AWARD employment whose achievements are Mr Daniel Breen – an Advanced understand the intricate design Charter personified: proactive in the PhD from Nottingham University, recognised as outstanding. details of both the hardware and evolution of engineering technology Apprenticeship in Engineering at and was appointed as a Drought software and exploit them to and provocative in encouraging Awarded to the person who has Heathrow Airports Analyst and Hydrological Modeller maximum effect. Of particular note debate. His exploits are far-reaching contributed most, through application Winners 2018 (£3,000 at the Centre for Ecology and are the advances made in antenna and future-focused. Beyond all this of professional engineering judgement Prize): Ms Marie Isaacs – a Body Engineer Hydrology, Wallingford in 2014. technology to improve protection his outstanding engineering including the use of leadership, – CAD apprenticeship with Jaguar close to the platform and the Katie won the prize for the best competence gives him ambassadorial management and technical acumen, Mr Simon Bowcock - Corrosion Land Rover and Warwickshire improvements to the system to status within REME. He is a most paper presented at the International in the acquisition of new capability or Engineer, BP College ensure that the ECM measures do deserving winner of the Worshipful Water Association’s UK Young not affect our own communications. Company of Engineers Award. to meet materiel availability targets Water Professionals conference for any of the Armed Forces. The Dr Christopher Donaghy- Mr Samuel Jarvis – studying 2018, where she described her work His dedication to this capability has electronic engineering at the as part of the NERC UK Droughts been outstanding. Through his recipient can be an individual of any Spargo – Assistant Professor of University of York and Water Scarcity Programme, energy, dedication and technical rank or a team from the regular or Electrical Engineering, Durham ROYAL AIR FORCE reconstructing flow data from the innovation, underpinned by a calm, reserve Armed Forces, the Royal Fleet University past 125 years to inform future methodical approach, he has Ms Dilani Selvanathan – a software Auxiliary, or the MOD civil service drought predictions. Both judges and effectively maintained a life-saving OPERATIONAL engineering apprentice with the serving in the Defence Equipment & Mr Khouloud El Hakim - Project delegates, at the conference, capability notwithstanding the British ENGINEERING AWARD Support Organisation with a described it as a ‘great presentation’ constantly evolving threat both at Field Engineer, Bechtel Ltd Broadcasting Corporation and a clear winner. home and abroad. recommendation by Chief of Defence Squadron Leader Stuart Rhymer Materiel. Dr Robert Hoye - Thomas Nevile RAF. Sqn Ldr Rhymer’s Katie has regularly presented at enhancement of engineering, Junior Research Fellow University conferences, and published widely Squadron Leader David Hirst compliance and safety processes for of Cambridge on hydrological modelling over the RAF. Sqn Ldr Hirst has been a globally dispersed array of last 3 years. This, her studies and pivotal in his role in the integration communications systems has career to-date demonstrate her of new weapons on the Typhoon Mr Chetan Kotur - Executive underwritten enduring support to passion for her subject and her aircraft, thereby helping to ensure Assistant to CEO, Polestar multiple Operational Theatres during concerns for our environment. the continuity of critical UK combat
41 The Swordsman number 41 42 The Swordsman number 41 the steering group for an annual organisation, as evidenced by his HAWLEY AWARD STEPHENSON competition called Young Eco BARONESS PLATT championing of the development of SPONSORS Winner 2018 (Medal & £5000 AWARD Engineers. This involves over 20 OF WRITTLE AWARD 3D CAD and Building Information different schools in the Kent area Modelling (BIM). The model covers Allis cum Humanitate John Laing Prize) – Robert Edwin Rouse demolition and reconstruction of The Award is for those who have been and is a competition where mixed Originally established to recognise plc groups of boys and girls build buildings, the mechanical and Robert Edwin Rouse is a scientist, particularly successful in encouraging engineering excellence amongst those electric go-karts (called Goblins) electrical installations and the AMEC plc Keir Group engineer and designer. He is young people to study engineering purchased from Greenpower. The pursuing final year studies leading to inventory management for the new currently reading for a PhD at the with an emphasis, but not exclusively, students work as a team to design academic qualifications for entry to equipment all within a tight space or AstraZeneca National Grid University of Cambridge having on mechanical engineering. In 1997, and build the bodywork from the Engineering Council's which requires careful planning and already completed an MSc at phasing of tasks to ensure a safe members of the Institution of recycled materials and then race their Incorporated Engineer grade, this BP Nuclear Decommissioning Imperial College London and an MA working environment for all trades. at the Royal College of Art. His first Mechanical Engineers made karts over 2 racing days. A teacher Award was refocused in 2013 to those Authority He has co-ordinated cross- degree was in Mechanical donations to fund a Worshipful and a STEM ambassador, who is who achieved registration as usually an IMechE member, assist disciplinary teams in development of British Energy Nuclear Industry Engineering at Exeter where he Company of Engineers Loving Cup to Incorporated Engineer in the each group. Steve has been a the 3D model, which is expected to gained a first. His passion for th Association mark the Institution’s 150 leading light in this project for more preceding calendar year. Named for support longer term maintenance engineering combined with his love Anniversary. Donations in excess of than 5 years and the competition the Late Honorary Liveryman and planning and asset management. BSI Royal Academy of Engineering of the marine environment has those needed for the Loving Cup were continues to grow in popularity. Court Assistant Emeritus, The Matthew’s career shows rapid brought about a design of a device used to establish the Stephenson Baroness Platt of Writtle CBE FREng progress, recently being appointed Carron Energy (Uskmouth power Co for assisting in cleaning up the oceans. His invention extracts Award and further donations were Steve is also an active Project in recognition of her work in support Project Manager responsible for Ltd) Royal Society of Chemistry BLOODHOUND ambassador. He marine and fluvial plastic pollution received from members in later years, of the Engineering profession in multiple projects of up to £16M. He has given many presentations and is proactive in encouraging school Costains Rutland Fund through integrated, commensal supplemented by a substantial grant general and Incorporated Engineers technologies and is both timely and facilitated activities with local and college leavers to enter the Management Ltd from Rolls-Royce plc. The Engineers’ students to introduce engineering in particular, the Award was first profession, helped developed his important with the world currently Company acknowledges the and to inspire the next generation of made in 2002. The Engineers’ employer’s M&E apprenticeship Deloitte & Touche PLC RWE looking at single use plastics and the damage they cause to the assistance of the Institution of engineers. Examples of his initiatives Company acknowledges the recruitment programme and actively npower Mechanical Engineers and the included a rocket car project, other assistance of the Engineering Council drives closer links between Wessex environment. One unit with a processing area of 6m2 can remove Engineering Development Trust design and make projects and and its partner Professional Water and the IET. Dr Robert Hawley Scottish Power explaining the wide range of up to 120 tonnes per year. (EDT) with nominations for this Engineering Institutions in selecting opportunities available in the world EDF Energy Shell Award. of engineering. the winner. Engineering & Technology Board Winner 2018 (Medal & £1000 HAWLEY AWARD As a senior manager working for Society of Environmental Eng Prize) – Steve Smith Delphi Technologies, Steve has Winner 2018 (Medal & £1000 FOR ENGINEERING LEETE PREMIUM promoted STEM activities within the Prize) – Matthew Foyle INNOVATION Engineering Council UK Thames AWARD Steve Smith has been a leading light company to the mutual benefit of Water in promoting STEM throughout local schools and the company. The atthew Foyle is an excellent role Established in 2012 under the South East England. He represents initiative has allowed graduate M The Hawley Award, established model for career progression from Engineers’ Company Liverymen The the Regional Institution of engineers to learn leadership skills in 2006, is awarded annually for Will of Liveryman Dr David apprentice technician to Incorporated Go-Ahead Group Plc Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and and, by working with young Leete for the purpose of making Engineer. Whilst working full time, the most outstanding advises and promotes engineering in engineers they can relate to, has he has not only completed an ONC, engineering innovation that Fidelity The Weir Group PLC awards in what Dr Leete called schools and colleges throughout the helped local students explore careers HNC and HND, but has also area. in engineering. delivers demonstrable benefit Production Engineering obtained a 1st Class Honours degree Hammonds UKAEA to the environment, by a Research but defined from Aston University in He is promoting a program devised Steve has made, and continues to sufficiently broadly to Professional Engineering and is resident of the UK who is at an HSBC VT Group by an engineer in the western region make, a major contribution to the currently studying for a Masters. In early career stage, holds a encompass the whole field of where primary school pupils design, promotion and understanding of the work environment he is IAC Water Conservators’ Company build, test and improve fan boat STEM in schools to students across a graduate or post-graduate what is now known as responsible for mechanical and models whilst applying their wide age-range within the South degree in engineering or Manufacturing Research, an electrical design for Wessex Water, IET World Nuclear Association understanding of electricity, forces Eastern region. His passion for showing detailed understanding of science from a recognised UK agreement was made with the and materials. He is successfully excellence and engineering is an the control and safety systems university and is a graduate or Institute of Marine Engineering Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), working with the Hub for South East inspiration to professional engineers assuring water quality, as well as a of England to bring this program to of all levels. more senior member of an University of Cambridge, to good awareness of the environmental over 20 schools. In addition, he has provide a “premium” above and microbiological factors that the engineering institution. helped raise funds to train and equip process must control. An normal Departmental Training local engineers and has also arranged enthusiastic advocate for innovative Awards to be awarded to their training for STEM ambassadors. technology, Matthew is proactive in Steve is involved with Medway best new PhD research student introducing new technology to his Education Business Partnership on in 2013 and in each of the
43 The Swordsman number 41 44 The Swordsman number 41 following two years. Eligibility SIR PETER GADSDEN Queensland’s School of Civil ner. Her passion for communicating construction firm in Surrey. There ARKWRIGHT Engineering, supporting him to Science and Engineering is clear. she took the role of Site Manager is restricted to UK Nationals BRITAIN AUSTRALIA Dawn is excelling at this very inter- at The Royal Academy of Music SCHOLARSHIPS undertake an exchange at the whose prospective projects do disciplinary project and has present- in Marylebone. She describes the AWARD University of Edinburgh. Ian’s not benefit from CASE awards ed her work at several conferences prospect of working alongside a primary area of research is the The Worshipful Company of The Sir Peter Gadsden Award is and recently published her first paper strong team of predominantly and the £18,000 total award is fire performance of engineered Engineers currently supports 4 to encourage an exchange be- - excellent progress for a 3rd year male colleagues as daunting, but staged over 3 years of PhD bamboo buildings, and this award Arkwright Scholars undertaking tween Britain and Australia of research student. she clearly rose to the challenge study subject to sustainment of gave him the opportunity to work and has a strong sense of the engineers undertaking postgrad- their Sixth Form studies at with specialists at the Building Alongside her academic work Dawn commercial and business satisfactory performance. uate studies schools in Greater London as a Research Establishment Centre is an ambassador for the University aspects of civil engineering and potential lead-in to higher for Fire Safety Engineering in engaging in a variety of outreach ac- her sponsor describes her as Jay Patel is a Post Graduate at Edinburgh. The collaboration tivities, targeted at a broad range of having proved herself to be a engineering studies. Winner (£6000pa for 3 Bath University researching High helped him to develop models for audiences. She is an excellent role strong leader both in workplace Temperature Superconductors. model for students who aspire to and at university. She has a years) – James Macdonald evaluating and quantifying They are: Jay is working on a new type of study a STEM subject and an active strong social awareness and common sources of error in fire The Leete Premium Award, superconducting motor, which advocate for widening participation. following the Grenfell Tower fire testing. During his exchange, he 2016-18 could potentially reduce the size chose to do her final year Miss Saskia endowed by the late Liveryman has presented his work to David Leete’s half million-pound of large machines by a factor of dissertation into the implications Bustrode – Putney High researchers at the University of of the disaster, working with a legacy to the Trust, has now 10. It is a technology that could School, London SW15 6BH Bath and Imperial College CADZOW SMITH local structural engineering lead to wind turbines exceeding provided 3-year awards of £6000 London, building links for future consultancy specialising in fire their current 7MW ceiling by a AWARD 2016-18 Mr Nicholas per annum to 4 production collaborations. safety. In this, she was engineering doctoral research factor of 2. His particular interest determined to make an Roberts – Highgate School, students at Cambridge is in ‘High’ temperature Established in 1996, the Cadzow immediate impact and her work London N6 4AY University's Institute for superconductors ie those that are MERCIA AWARD Smith Engineering Awards were centred on improving the Manufacturing. superconducting at the endowed by the Eastern Group plc in standard of fire risk assessment. 2017-19 Miss Lucy Bell temperature of liquid nitrogen The Award is made annually to a recognition of the outstanding The Managing Director of the consultancy was so impressed James Macdonald, is in the first (77K). Traditional student under 30 for a postgraduate services to engineering of its former year of his PhD study with the Fluids with her work that she has been 2017-19 Mr Cormac Hardy superconductors require paper describing how engineering Chairman, Dr James C Smith CBE In Advanced Manufacturing research offered a graduate position with expensive and potentially techniques are being used for the FREng FRSE now a Past Master group under the supervision of Dr dangerous liquid helium. The new the company. She has ambitions advancement of medical treatment Engineer. The Awards are for to become a chartered fire safety Ronan Daly. superconducting material they are and provides a medal and bursary excellence on an accredited engineer. using is a Magnesium Diboride towards the cost of a taught or undergraduate engineering course (MgB2) wire that has similar The focus of James' research is the research programme of postgraduate conducted at one of eleven universities Whilst working at Mott fabrication of superhydrophobic sur- mechanical characteristics to MacDonald she was part of a studies in Medical Engineering. within London and the Home faces through direct laser texturing. Copper wire. Whilst Bath are scheme called Inspiring Counties. Besides academic This process imparts superhydropho- specialising in the application of Engineers, going into schools bicity through inherent modification the technology, with support of excellence, the recipients of the and leading design and build Winner 2018 (Medal and of the surface texture and chemistry the Gadsden, Jay will spend time Awards must have demonstrated self- projects. This was driven by a £500 Bursary) – Dawn Gillies to overcome the durability challeng- at the University of Wollongong, confidence, professional awareness, recognition that she herself had es associated with coating approach- leadership and sound common sense. had little exposure to the New South Wales in order to Dawn Gillies graduated from the es. The laser texturing process has build coils for his motor. opportunities of engineering proven capable of producing some of University of Glasgow in 2012 with whilst she was at school. She has Wollongong are specialists in the the most strongly nonwetting surfac- an MEng in Electronics and Music. Winner 2018 (Medal & worked as a volunteer at a es ever created with key benefits of mechanical properties of MgB2 This was followed by a PgDip in homeless charity and partly low cost, scalability and HSE neu- and have developed techniques 2015 from the University of Edin- £2500 Prize) – Kelly Hughes finances her university course by trality. Further work will investigate for its use. The materials aspects burgh in Signal Processing and Com- working in the mental health-care hybrid techniques of laser processing of superconductors are munications, continuing on at Kelly Hughes is in the final year sector. with digitally enabled additive coat- significantly different from Edinburgh as a PhD student in the of the BEng Honours Civil ings to produce patternable control conventional ‘room temperature’ EPSRC and MRC Centre for Doctor- Engineering Sandwich The panel sees her as someone of surface functionality. Targeted materials. The work will be al Training in Optical Medical Imag- programme at The University of who, overwhelmingly, has the rd Greenwich and is expected to surface functionalities will involve reported in an academic paper. ing where she is now in her 3 year skills and ambition to succeed in self-cleaning, integrated sensors of PhD studies. Her paper entitled graduate with first-class honours. her career. They also feel that the and electronics. ‘How Squishy is a Cancer Cell’ Cadzow Smith Award will presents complex work on investi- During her year in industry she contribute significantly to enable Ian Pope received the Gadsden gating the stiffness of biological worked with Mott MacDonald and her to achieve her ambitions.” award during the second year of cells, with application to the diagno- with Osborne, a small his doctoral studies in fire safety sis of pancreatic cancer, in a very engineering at the University of clear, concise and interesting man- 45 The Swordsman number 41 46 The Swordsman number 41 ROYAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING MacROBERT AWARD
The Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award is the premier prize for UK innovation in engineering. It seeks to demonstrate the importance of engineering and the role of engineers and scientists in contributing to national prosperity and international prestige. It is awarded annually for an outstanding example of innovation and benefit to the community, which has also achieved commercial success. The award honours the winning company with a gold medal and the team members with a prize of £50,000. The Engineers Trust is supporting the Award with £20,000 annually for 10 years.
Winner 2018 (£50,000 Prize) – robust and reproducible way. These samples can be used to identify the unique chemical ‘biomarkers’ of a variety Owlstone Medical of diseases, also known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in human breath. As VOC levels change at the The Owlstone Medical team received the 2018 award for very earliest stages of disease and provide information on the unique Breath Biopsy® platform that has the the current activity of cells and tissue, the breath samples potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives and $1.5 could lead to earlier diagnosis of diseases such as cancer billion in healthcare costs globally. when treatments are more effective and more lives can be Owlstone Medical’s ReCIVA Breath Sampler has saved. Breath biomarkers also have the potential to opened up the potential for earlier diagnosis and revolutionise the way medicine is prescribed, as they precision medicine across cancer, inflammatory disease could be used to monitor drug effectiveness and match and infectious disease. patients to the correct treatment, and cut healthcare costs by lowering drug wastage. Owlstone Medical has created the first platform capable of capturing breath samples and analysing them in a
47 The Swordsman number 41 The Worshipful Company of Engineers’ Forthcoming Events
07-Nov-18 MacRobert Award Seminar - Owlstone Royal Academy of Engineering Medical’s ReCIVA 10-Nov-18 Lord Mayor’s Show The City
14-Nov-18 Evening event for potential new members Information Technologists Hall
10-Dec-18 Carol Services and dinner Chapel Royal, Tower of London & Clothworkers’ Hall 08_Jan-19 Court & Partners Dinner Salters’ Hall
12-Feb-19 Cyber Security Lecture Information Technologists Hall
01 March Visit to Brecknell Willis Chard, Somerset 2019 05-March-19 Election Court, Church service and dinner St Vedast and Wax Chandlers’ Hall 29-March-19 United Guilds Service St Paul’s Cathedral and TBA
30 March Early Spring walk Highgate to Hampstead 2019 04-April-19 The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch Guildhall
09-April-19 Visit to Toshiba Research Europe Cambridge Science Park
30-April-19 Installation Court and Dinner Merchant Taylors Hall
01-May-19 Brooch Lunch Alderman’s Dining Room, Guildhall PROVISIONAL DATES & LOCATIONS FOR MASTER’S YEAR 2019-20
08-May-19 Master’s Lecture HQS Wellington
13-May-19 Almoner’s/Companion’s Lunch RAF Club
21-May-19 Festival of Sons of the Clergy St Paul’s Cathedral and TBA
23-May-19 Submarine Museum Gosport Gosport & Southampton RRS David Attenborough & NERC Laboratories 13-16 June 19 Out of Town Meeting Plymouth
Booking is essential for all events. Members of the Company should use Web Office http://wcemember.azurewebsites.net/ to book on-line for all main events. Queries for other events should be sent to the organiser.