Pontifact 30

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(‘‘a z C F z 3 6 7 9 13 12 12 18 21 30 31 33 34 23 24 25 36 50 54 42 43 45 53 46 48 54 55 40 56 58 60 61 66 77 63 66 67 67 74 70 70 79 71 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • . . . .

Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Verran Hopkins M. Derek 1952—1972 W. Dodd Guilfard by • • Maslowicz by M. work Lance . . • . . . . C. . . Cover of Verran by . Maestro Andrew and Day Wright . Harbour . . . . . by Butler Value The Derek Three Phillips First your by . . . Chris . by Dni’id and Stakes Ken Staff— Guilford by Dockertv and 1972 Wainwright — by . • • . by Cross M.

Commemorative Two Rotunda Lament Tunnel A. One Elliott Knowles Tom Blake C. Jobs 1972 holes Stamp Thai D. Bridges’ . G. . . by Don’t by Lindsay AWARD, Tunnel Jim S. Berth by Berths Peter Arturo Lawley or and F. little Smith by Beau by the by by Kong J. of Story Vie Bachelor’s Dam by AWARDS, Path Ponlifacts’ Lights by A and Peter Terms lot by Roads . . Colquhoun Newsletter Cross-Harbour a Hong or by INDUSTRIAL FEATURE: Bay BADGER in Airport the Newsletters: Marine Site DESIGN Panorama Office Newsletter Commemorative Office Clydesider Office and Newsletter Garden London Robin in Kong Newsletter of by TIMES Tak BERT by projects by Lee Site Newsletter Cove Cove

Kong SPECIAL Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong STEEL Flights Chung Mun: Kinabalu OF of

Anniversary Kai Share Hong Drinker’s PANORAMA the PROFILE IN Map Up Hong Our Hong Gin Kwai Brunei Kota Hong Early Glossary Plover Ko The Tuen Extra-Curricula Hong Plover The Hong London Thailand Glasgow Nigeria Tunnel Soccer Camera Cricket Squash Golf Tennis Badminton Darts NOTES NOTES: FINANCIAL WORLD NUMBERS

CONTENTS

Hong 20th PARTNERS’ HONG PEOPLE STRUCTURAL THE NEWSLETTERS: CLUB JOB STAFF WEDDING EDITORIAL THE PARTNERS & of KIRKPATRICK Magazine WILSON House SCOTT The 3 6 7 9 13 12 12 18 21 30 31 33 34 23 24 25 36 50 54 42 43 45 53 46 48 54 55 40 56 58 60 61 66 77 63 66 67 67 74 70 70 79 71 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • . . . .

Kong SPECIAL Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong STEEL Flights Chung Mun: Kinabalu OF of

CONTENTS

Hong 20th PARTNERS’ HONG PEOPLE STRUCTURAL THE NEWSLETTERS: CLUB JOB STAFF WEDDING EDITORIAL THE PARTNERS & of KIRKPATRICK Magazine WILSON House SCOTT The 2 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, [972

I Partners’ Panorama

c-I

he question of a road crossing of Hong road vehicles have increased six times, ships’ Kong harbour was raised with the late cargoes two-and-a-half times, aircraft move Dr. Guthlac Wilson and Mr. Grace during ments six-and-a-half times and air passengers their first visit to the Colony in September, 1952. and freight 13 and 25 times respectively. The only Our interest and subsequent participation in the forms of transport to have decreased are junks, crossing therefore spans the twenty years of our rickshaws and pedicabs, while another loss to N presence in the Colony, and the opening of the tradition is the gradual replacement of the tunnel is a splendid and fitting event to mark tailored cheong sam, by the cheaper off-the-peg the anniversary. A great deal happened in those mini-skirt. —: twenty years. This astounding growth and activity made Pre-war Hong Kong was a picturesque, easy extraordinary demands on physical development going the traditional L.L. Colony of type, living on in both the public and private sectors. The the entrepot trade of the second port on the Public Works Department’s capital expenditure China coast, and moving at the pace of the grew from £2 million in 1954 to almost £35 coolie, sampan, junk and rickshaw; a life million in 1971. sheltered from the extreme heat by thick stone Such is a broad picture of the Colony’s growth walls, arcaded verandahs and high ceiling fans, over the post-war years. Let us now turn to the enjoying a peace and quiet that mingled after sun part we played in it. down with the distant clatter of mah-jong and We were invited to Hong Kong to engineer the the weird strains of eastern music. In 1948—49,a Colony’s new airport—an appointment which we sudden influx of refugees from the new Commu owed to the late Theodore Bowring, Director of nist China triggered off a truly remarkable Public Works, who had previously been our change that was to turn the Colony into a modern DPW in Malawi. Mr. Grace and I were engaged bustling city on the western pattern with intense in airport work in Hong Kong immediately after 11 over-crowding, extensive industry, tall air- the war, and it was a coincidence that we should conditioned buildings, traffic jams, jet aircraft return together to a similar task in civilian life. and the other attributes of modern city life. The Mr. Guilford’s article on Kai Tak is of great population rose from 2-i- million in 1952 to interest to me, and I would only add that the 4 million in 1971, yet the growth of local industry substitution of a single runway with one curved t I was such as to produce a fourfold increase in approach in place of two dead-end runways trade and create a labour shortage! It is of raised many gloomy forebodings about the topical interest to note that while wages have limitations the curve would impose on aircraft doubled over the past decade, consumer prices types and night flying at the airport. Tests with a have only risen 50%. Standards of living have Comet in England on a mock-up of the curve improved, home ownership has trebled since found it acceptable—a judgment that has been 1961, and 70% of households have television! amply confirmed in practice. It is indeed gratify Adequate holidays are now mandatory, and ing that the curved approach is no bar to the recreational facilities are being extensively current extension of the runway to take more

3- developed. Tourism has risen from 220,000 in demanding aircraft of the future. Before leaving 1961 to a million in 1971. In the last 15 years Kai Tak, I should like to mention that the

I 2 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, [972

I Partners’ Panorama

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3- developed. Tourism has risen from 220,000 in demanding aircraft of the future. Before leaving 1961 to a million in 1971. In the last 15 years Kai Tak, I should like to mention that the

I 4 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 5 contract documents were prepared in London, will surely be the most dramatic and scenic of down over the South China Sea I sat wondering appointments confirmed for some very worth receiving a final scrutiny by a QC and a New highways, and I have no doubt that future how the Colony would have changed, and while jobs, including a major redevelopment in York contractor described them as the finest bridging will follow the attractive lines of our whether I would be a stranger in a new environ Bishopsgate for Baring Brothers and Banque documents he had ever seen. They enabled Mr. past bridgework in the Colony. ment. I need not have worried since as we lost Beige, the 700 ft high Orchard Square Develop Hawkey to settle the claims in the course of a Switching from road to rail, we prepared height over Lema and I picked out the islands ment in Singapore, for which the first stage is fortnight’s visit! various outline designs and estimates for the of Lantau and Cheung Chau with junks plying estimated to cost £35 million, and the Manchester- As time passed and figures for actual and Mass Transit Study submitted by Freeman Fox between them, the whole atmosphere of Hong Sheffield (Longdendale) New Route—another estimated future population grew, the Govern & Partners, and Government’s decision on the Kong came back to me. As we passed Tsing Yi, ‘Lancaster-Penrith’. ment realised that development to accommodate implementation of this report is due shortly. Kwai Chung, Lai Chi Kok, the Foothills Road— The past year has been saddened by Bob the increase would have to extend beyond the With so much work in Hong Kong, the barely discernible between new buildings— Moodie’s deatb, but this does not prevent us harbour area. In 1957, they appointed us to Resident Partners could be excused for resting rounded the curved approach and touched from extending a very warm welcome to his report on five land development schemes in the on the laurels of their many successes in the down on my beloved Kai Tak, I knew that I was successor, Mr. Bond. The level of activity of our New Territories and three roads. Mr. Lindsay’s Colony. But no, their policy has been to carry back in my ‘second home’. My visit, though various partnerships and companies continues to article describes how the scheme at Kwai Chung their expansion outside Hong Kong, and branch short, was sufficient to confirm that despite rise and the Secretary can be assured of a busy life. was implemented and subsequently extended to offices were established in Brunei and Thailand many changes the Colony is still the same As you know, tenders for our new Basingstoke accommodate container berths—an important in 1966 and 1972 respectively. The airport and wonderful place! office are due in soon, and we will keep you posted development which together with the tanker roads in Brunei are very sizeable jobs and the Turning to home affairs, it is very gratifying with further bulletins as the project develops. terminal for Esso is our contribution to the Thai roads potentially so. that we have won a second Structural Steel May I, on behalf of the Partners, wish you all betterment of the harbour. Industry was at first No catalogue of jobs can depict the variety and Design Award, this time for the BEA Servicing a very happy Christmas and New Year. slow to move to Kwai Chung, but the tempo has technical interest of the work undertaken by our Hangar at Heathrow—congratulations to all increased recently, and the Government are Hong Kong firm. Hong Kong itself is a veritable directly concerned. We have recently had our J. K. M. H. proceeding with limited developments at Castle engineering ‘Mecca’, while the branch offices Peak and Sha Tin, two of the other sites on have added yet further variety. We are proud to which we reported. have played an important part in the miraculous When Binnie & Partners asked us to work expansion of Hong Kong, and are grateful to with them on Plover Cove, I remember being have been entrusted with work in so many amused to see the water engineers poring over different fields of its development. A graph the Admiralty charts in search of a dam site in reproduced in this issue illustrates how the the sea, in much the same way as we a few years practice has grown in size. It has also grown in PARTNER HONOURED for an complexity with a variety of clients, previously had searched the charts alterna associations BY tive development of the airport. Such are the with other consultants and dealings with con pressures of land-hungry I-long Kong! I often tractors of many nationalities. A great measure ROSE SOCIETY think that for a variety of reasons Plover Cove is of our success is due to the loyalty, talents and the most outstanding job that any of our firms sheer hard work of our Chinese staff, while our The Royal National Rose Society has announ have undertaken. What appeals to me is that the expatriate staff have accepted the total involve ced recently that it has awarded the Dean Hole visible finished product of a thin strip of land ment that work in Hong Kong demands and Medal to Mr. Bowen in recognition of his rising just above the water looks so unpretentious have given us first-class service. Having ex voluntary work over many years and his out and yet fulfils such a vital function—and this perienced the stresses and strains of resident standing contributions to international relation surely is the essence of good engineering. partnership, I can appreciate better than most ships and collaboration, Our last main sphere of activity has been in the successes that Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Elliott The Dean Hole Medal is the supreme accolade road and rail communications. Pride of place have in their turn achieved, and the value of the of the Society and may be bestowed on amateurs goes, of course, to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. backing given by Mr. Phillips and Mr. Guilford, or professionals of any nationality in any country Derek Verran’s article covers the story, but I which deservedly led to their own partnerships. ‘for service to the Society and/or the Rose’. cannot refrain from saying what a thrill it was The size and diversity of the practice not only Yet, its status has been so jealously preserved to see this brilliant scheme virtually in its finished warrants three Resident Partners but calls for that only fifty-five awards have been made in the state. It is remarkable how well the tunnel and its quite extensive collaboration with London. last 64 years and no distinction is more highly connections fit the topography and street lay There is no doubt that our firms at home and regarded by rosarians the world over. outs on both sides of the harbour; the site seems overseas are mutually beneficial and, with im to have been made for the scheme. proved communications, we foresee a trend Being now something of a road man, I am towards closer collaboration between them. delighted with our share in the roads and bridges One thing is certain: at the end of its first twenty stakes which Andrew Maslowicz describes. It years the Hong Kong firm is sounder and contains such a variety of urban and rural work, stronger than ever before. with extensive bridging and, to say the least, an My visit to Hong Kong last March followed unusual tunnel scheme! The Castle Peak road an absence of six years and as my Jumbo let 4 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 5 contract documents were prepared in London, will surely be the most dramatic and scenic of down over the South China Sea I sat wondering appointments confirmed for some very worth receiving a final scrutiny by a QC and a New highways, and I have no doubt that future how the Colony would have changed, and while jobs, including a major redevelopment in York contractor described them as the finest bridging will follow the attractive lines of our whether I would be a stranger in a new environ Bishopsgate for Baring Brothers and Banque documents he had ever seen. They enabled Mr. past bridgework in the Colony. ment. I need not have worried since as we lost Beige, the 700 ft high Orchard Square Develop Hawkey to settle the claims in the course of a Switching from road to rail, we prepared height over Lema and I picked out the islands ment in Singapore, for which the first stage is fortnight’s visit! various outline designs and estimates for the of Lantau and Cheung Chau with junks plying estimated to cost £35 million, and the Manchester- As time passed and figures for actual and Mass Transit Study submitted by Freeman Fox between them, the whole atmosphere of Hong Sheffield (Longdendale) New Route—another estimated future population grew, the Govern & Partners, and Government’s decision on the Kong came back to me. As we passed Tsing Yi, ‘Lancaster-Penrith’. ment realised that development to accommodate implementation of this report is due shortly. Kwai Chung, Lai Chi Kok, the Foothills Road— The past year has been saddened by Bob the increase would have to extend beyond the With so much work in Hong Kong, the barely discernible between new buildings— Moodie’s deatb, but this does not prevent us harbour area. In 1957, they appointed us to Resident Partners could be excused for resting rounded the curved approach and touched from extending a very warm welcome to his report on five land development schemes in the on the laurels of their many successes in the down on my beloved Kai Tak, I knew that I was successor, Mr. Bond. The level of activity of our New Territories and three roads. Mr. Lindsay’s Colony. But no, their policy has been to carry back in my ‘second home’. My visit, though various partnerships and companies continues to article describes how the scheme at Kwai Chung their expansion outside Hong Kong, and branch short, was sufficient to confirm that despite rise and the Secretary can be assured of a busy life. was implemented and subsequently extended to offices were established in Brunei and Thailand many changes the Colony is still the same As you know, tenders for our new Basingstoke accommodate container berths—an important in 1966 and 1972 respectively. The airport and wonderful place! office are due in soon, and we will keep you posted development which together with the tanker roads in Brunei are very sizeable jobs and the Turning to home affairs, it is very gratifying with further bulletins as the project develops. terminal for Esso is our contribution to the Thai roads potentially so. that we have won a second Structural Steel May I, on behalf of the Partners, wish you all betterment of the harbour. Industry was at first No catalogue of jobs can depict the variety and Design Award, this time for the BEA Servicing a very happy Christmas and New Year. slow to move to Kwai Chung, but the tempo has technical interest of the work undertaken by our Hangar at Heathrow—congratulations to all increased recently, and the Government are Hong Kong firm. Hong Kong itself is a veritable directly concerned. We have recently had our J. K. M. H. proceeding with limited developments at Castle engineering ‘Mecca’, while the branch offices Peak and Sha Tin, two of the other sites on have added yet further variety. We are proud to which we reported. have played an important part in the miraculous When Binnie & Partners asked us to work expansion of Hong Kong, and are grateful to with them on Plover Cove, I remember being have been entrusted with work in so many amused to see the water engineers poring over different fields of its development. A graph the Admiralty charts in search of a dam site in reproduced in this issue illustrates how the the sea, in much the same way as we a few years practice has grown in size. It has also grown in PARTNER HONOURED for an complexity with a variety of clients, previously had searched the charts alterna associations BY tive development of the airport. Such are the with other consultants and dealings with con pressures of land-hungry I-long Kong! I often tractors of many nationalities. A great measure ROSE SOCIETY think that for a variety of reasons Plover Cove is of our success is due to the loyalty, talents and the most outstanding job that any of our firms sheer hard work of our Chinese staff, while our The Royal National Rose Society has announ have undertaken. What appeals to me is that the expatriate staff have accepted the total involve ced recently that it has awarded the Dean Hole visible finished product of a thin strip of land ment that work in Hong Kong demands and Medal to Mr. Bowen in recognition of his rising just above the water looks so unpretentious have given us first-class service. Having ex voluntary work over many years and his out and yet fulfils such a vital function—and this perienced the stresses and strains of resident standing contributions to international relation surely is the essence of good engineering. partnership, I can appreciate better than most ships and collaboration, Our last main sphere of activity has been in the successes that Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Elliott The Dean Hole Medal is the supreme accolade road and rail communications. Pride of place have in their turn achieved, and the value of the of the Society and may be bestowed on amateurs goes, of course, to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. backing given by Mr. Phillips and Mr. Guilford, or professionals of any nationality in any country Derek Verran’s article covers the story, but I which deservedly led to their own partnerships. ‘for service to the Society and/or the Rose’. cannot refrain from saying what a thrill it was The size and diversity of the practice not only Yet, its status has been so jealously preserved to see this brilliant scheme virtually in its finished warrants three Resident Partners but calls for that only fifty-five awards have been made in the state. It is remarkable how well the tunnel and its quite extensive collaboration with London. last 64 years and no distinction is more highly connections fit the topography and street lay There is no doubt that our firms at home and regarded by rosarians the world over. outs on both sides of the harbour; the site seems overseas are mutually beneficial and, with im to have been made for the scheme. proved communications, we foresee a trend Being now something of a road man, I am towards closer collaboration between them. delighted with our share in the roads and bridges One thing is certain: at the end of its first twenty stakes which Andrew Maslowicz describes. It years the Hong Kong firm is sounder and contains such a variety of urban and rural work, stronger than ever before. with extensive bridging and, to say the least, an My visit to Hong Kong last March followed unusual tunnel scheme! The Castle Peak road an absence of six years and as my Jumbo let 6 P0NTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 7

Hong Kong Newsletter

byJim Blake

°ur Chinese friends always relegate time to the following twenty-year termers: to its rightful place, as something which S. G. Elliott Leung Yue Kai can be used but which is never allowed K. A. Phillips Henry Lo to control the needs of its master. Two years or C. M. Guilford Norman Liu twenty or two hundred or two thousand years is Cheung Kam Chiu Chin Koy San but a continuuni, and the emphasis that we of There is insufficient space to mention by name the outside world place upon such artificial all those who have served ten-years and upwards, divisions is seldom, if ever, given significance in but their loyalty and hard-work is nevertheless the central kingdom. fully recognised whether they are ‘inside’ or Progress depends upon the needs of the ‘outside’ staff. moment and the interest of those involved. This But what of the present? Since, in Hong often conflicts with the time-orientated values of Kong jargonese, the dollar coming in is more newcomers to I-long Kong, resulting in many important than what has been or might be. frustrating experiences during shopping or work Witness our crazy stock market, where scenes of ing and energy expended in chasing up delivery daily gambling are surpassing anything at Happy promises. But those of you who would criticise Valley race track. Those taking part range from such apparent laxity in matters of time, should tai pans (or their wives) with tens of thousands iecall, as was done during the past week by the to place, or the local cleaner with hundreds. Hon. Director of Public Works, the energy Investment for long- or short-term return has no which can be directed to produce ‘instant’ meaning, all that matters is the number of shares results if urgency is the prime need. He was changing hands daily since this determines the referring to the early 1960’s, at which time a share price, and whilst the merry-go-round keeps water-supply scheme was installed by the Chinese turning the prices go up. Those who point out authorities, including crossing a mountain range, that even the best of fair-ground machines must within a seemingly impossible short time to stop, are refuted by those who believe that fair meet the urgent needs of Hong Kong at that time. grounds will never lose their attraction; and the These remarks are in explanation to our local majority believe that in any case they will always friends, who may consider it strange that we jump off before the merry-go-round stops. should concern ourselves with reviewing a mere Against this background, the size and scope of twenty years of association with Hong Kong. civil engineering projects in Hong Kong con From the time of passing through the airport, tinues to grow. Current optimistic pronounce driving over roads and flyovers, crossing the ments concerning Mass Transit, coupled with harbour without taking to the water, until the improvement in relations between Peking turning on the tap in one’s home or hotel, the and London, suggest that the growth rate will be end results of works undertaken by SWKP in sustained. if this happens, the next twenty years Hong Kong are never far away. These results could find us exhausted or exhilarated or, per have been achieved only by the hard work and haps, listening to our Chinese friends and just co-operation of local and expatriate staff, many making money. of whom are now elsewhere, but whose names have been captured in print during previous where is that office boy! I must ask his newsletters. advice on Dairy Farm, or was it Green island Of those who remain, congratulations are due shares the amah recommended? 6 P0NTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 7

Hong Kong Newsletter

byJim Blake

paving seen the list of Hong Kong idyllic existence lasted for only six months so contributors to this issue of Pontifact, that we barely had time to tire of the half-hour I recognise that I am not the best drive to and from Kowloon morning and equipped to talk about the firm’s earliest days evening. The only snag that we encountered was here. Recent news about the proposed move to the indifferent telephone service but, because we Basingstoke, however, has reminded me that I were there only in the winter months, we never alone have worked in all the design (as opposed shared Mr. Henry’s experience of having to to site) offices that the firm has occupied during barricade the picture window in the lounge twenty years in Hong Kong. Almost all that is, against typhoon wind and rain. as I was not in at the very start when work began, In April 1958, the staff from both the Airport first in a room at the RAF quarters and then in a and New Territories Offices moved together into disused airport building near the old control the fifth floor of Manson House, a new block tower. housing shops, restaurants, offices and flats on Quite early on, the firm moved into a Nissen bustling Nathan Road near the tip of the hut close to the then Airport Police Station Kowloon Peninsula. it was at this time claimed which was to be our home for a number of years. that we were the only firm of Consulting Engineers Entry involved presenting your pass to an armed to have not only one but two nightclubs on the policeman at the gate and fitting a suppressor to premises. There is no truth whatever in the your car’s distributor to prevent interference rumour that this led to extensive burning of the with airport radio communications. A brick ante midnight oil although I can remember one room was built on to one end of the Nissen hut occasion when engineers and tracers worked all to provide a reception area and an office for the through the night to meet a pressing deadline. April, 1959 (Resident Partner then was Mr. J. K. M. Henry) Resident Partner. Although Mr. Henry signed the three-year When I first encountered this, the firm’s first lease for the Manson House offices with some ‘permanent’ Hong Kong Office, it was air- misgivings at entering into such a long-term conditioned and this provided relief against two commitment, they were to be our place of major scourges, the summer heat and the noise business for no less than eleven years. The year of aircraft engines. Previously a conibination of after moving into Manson House (named by the noise, heat, humidity, wind and rain had on way after the famous doctor and anti-malaria 41 occasions created conditions of complete bedlam. pioneer, Sir Patrick Manson) we expanded down I!. After a very brief spell in the Nissen hut, I to the fourth floor—and nearer to the nightclubs moved out to take charge of a ‘branch office’ in —to accommodate the Joint Office with Binnie one of the most scenic locations overlooking & Partners for the Plover Cove Scheme. When Tolo Harbour in the rural New Territories. The we eventually moved to Star House, we carried office consisted of a bungalow named ‘Killary’ the Joint Office with us and Binnie’s I-long Kong after the magnificent Irish fiord and formerly Office joined us in a convenient and mutually occupied by the then Resident Partner, Mr. Henry, beneficial arrangement; subsequently, Freeman and his family. (It has since regrettably been Fox & Partners followed suit when they, too, re-named ‘Killarney’ by some Philistine.) The set up a local firm. Manson House saw us establishment was complete with a cook who through several cycles of expansion and contrac prepared appetising lunches and a gardener and tion during which we overflowed into various we had free access to a kidney-shaped swimming flats on the upper floors only to recede to our November 1972 (Resident Partners: Mr. S. G. Elliott, Mr. K. A. Phillips and Mr. C. M. Guilford) pool in the landlord’s garden next door. This starting place on the fifth floor. The only real

i 8 PONTIFACT No. 3D CHRISTMAS, 1972 9 4 Hong Kong Office Staff Hong Kong Panorama (or, The Vieivfroin Star House) by S. G. Elliott

i 10 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 Ii snag about our long sojourn on Nathan Road Street/Winsley Street traiisfer because delays in compound about the two buildings. The ground engineers, respectively. Uriwan and Nibha, ever was that the standard of maintenance of the settling the details with Binnies meant that the floor is the drawing office and the engineers smilingly efficient, attend to the clerical side. entrance and communal areas deteriorated and new offices were not nearly ready when we had work in the upstairs bedrooms with the added A contingent of specialists from the London and the odours, or should I say malodours, of to vacate the old. For a time, I had an office the convenience of two bathrooms with baths and Kenya offices gave the Bangkok office its initial cooking and food handling and preparation (the size of a ballroom all to myself but made up for showers. The wooden floors upstairs are so launch but have all since returned home. Four latter frequently on the stairways) were many, it soon after when I had to sit through showers of highly polished that it is the done thing, and the Resident Engineers, one for each of the current varied and all but inescapable. We cannot leave plaster while partitions grew around my desk. common usage in Thailand, to divest yourself of feeder roads, are straining at the leash to get to Manson House without a reference to Harry With commendable speed, order was created out your shoes before mounting the stairs. Thailand. They are ‘Mac’ Mackinlay (who with Pooley, whose period of administration roughly of chaos in a manner reminiscent of the last four By comparison, the Brunei office with its his wife Elsie presided over the Bangar colony covered our stay there. days before the opening of an exhibition. concrete floors is quite mundane, but, also during construction of the roads in Brunei), being a converted flat, the establishment enjoys Des Boon and Mike Earwaker (both ex Brunei, the amenity of showers on the premises. the former having rejoined after several years of The Brunei office is in Bandar Sen Begawan, sampling the farther hills) and Jim Parkin from the new name given to Brunei Town two years the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. ago in honour of the previous Sultan. He abdi Managing the Brunei Office is Vie Lawley cated in 1967 in favour of his son, but is still (who came from Lagos) and his deputy Mike the dominant influence in the State. The office Earwaker, also originally from Nigeria, although was established to design and supervise construc he and his wife Rose have been staunch members tion of a state-wide road network, only the first of the Brunei team for so long that we have phase of which has been built. It has also admini almost forgotten his earlier affiliations. Chief stered the creation of an international airport Resident Engineer for the Airport is John with a 12,000 ft runway out of a swampy jungle. Eddison whose wife appears to have a monopoly The partly completed runway accepted Brunei’s on all travel into and out of the State and some first jet service when the infant Singapore how always manages to keep track of all the The Site of Star House (arrowed) c. 1908 Star House. 1en of Harbour International Airlines landed one of its Boeing last-minute changes of plan that seem to be a 737’s there on 1st November, 1972. This daily part of visits to Brunei. Other members of the Star House was built in 1967—68by a local We soon settled in and the new offices seemed service is particularly opportune as Brunei has Airport resident staff are John’s deputy, Paul property and business tycoon with the alleged to meet with general approval, particularly from been cut off since 1st October from all other Christopher, Lew Jardine, Paul Croney, Mahen help of Communist Chinese finance. During the those of us lucky enough to have a view over the scheduled air services as a result of a dispute Coomaraswarny, Job (pronounced as in job unrest in Hong Kong in the backwash of the Western Harbour past the Ocean Terminal to over reciprocal landing rights between Britain number) Lim, on detachment from PWD, and, Cultural Revolution, it is rumoured that the the anchorage beyond. It is a scene never without (representing Brunei) and Malaysia. on temporary assignment from Hong Kong, gentleman concerned was importuned by his interest with container and general cargo ships, Work in the ‘outstations’, perhaps Brunei in ‘Van’ van Aswegan. Many others, too numerous erstwhile collaborators for a HK$200,000 junks and ferries, hydrofoils and walla-wallas particular, has more than its fair share of frustra to mention here, made unstinting contributions ‘contribution’ to the ‘Anti-Imperialist’ struggle. (water taxis) not to mention passenger liners, tions with a seemingly endless succession of towards the successful outcome of the Brunei Having paid up he soon found that the ante LASH ships and warships ever on the move. At obstacles, both natural and artificial, to getting projects. They came mainly from Hong Kong, had been raised and that he was expected to night, the view is no less compelling with myriads anything done. Thus it would be unthinkable to London, Malaysia, Taiwan and Ceylon but most fork out a further HK$2,000,000. At this stage, of lights of every hue reflected in the water and it end without mentioning at least some of the have returned home now that our work is he decided that discretion was the better part of often involves real effort of will to concentrate on stalwarts who have carried the flag into these drawing to a close. valour and abruptly disappeared, together with the latest client’s complaint or contractor’s claim. parts. Barry Paget, now in charge in Bangkok, In conclusion I should like, on behalf of all his family. Reports filtered back to Hong Kong Our time in Star House has been a period of previously performed the same function in the Partners, to thank all staff, past and present, that they were in Switzerland and later Canada steady expansion but we have always been lucky Brunei for over 44-years. He is ably assisted by local and expatriate of the Hong Kong Partner but it was a good year or more before they saw enough to find new rooms adjoining our existing Terry Ottway (ex London) and by ‘Vie’ Peralta ship, in Hong Kong, Brunei and Thailand, for fit to reappear in Hong Kong. In the meantime, space before coming apart at the seams. No-one and Direck, locally engaged Filipino and Thai their unselfish efforts and their loyal support. a canny Scottish ‘hong’ (trading house) had can tell what the future will bring but, judging by bought Star House for a song and were offering the past, we can probably look forward to cyclic leases at minimal rents in order to fill it with growth and recession, never, we trust, going least delay. beyond the limit in either direction. With its ideal location, right alongside the Since 1966 we have had a branch office in Star Ferry terminal and only a seven minute Brunei and, from the beginning of this year, ferry ride from the business centre of Hong another in Bangkok. The office in Bangkok PRIVATEERING ENTERPRISE Kong Island, we could hardly afford not to go consists of a modern two-storey Thai house in a Three owners of berths at Kwai Chung there. Our previous lease was just running out secluded soi (residential side street) right along Each want to cash in on the boom. and so it was that in the spring of 1969 we made side the super-highway leading to the airport. They drive us distracted the move. It was not like the slick professional The landlord’s daughter lives in an adjoining With arguments protracted job that Bob Moodie made of the Victoria house and the garden is fenced to form a little As to who pays for what and to whom.

i 12 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 13

other balloonists (usually billed as ‘intrepid’) practically everybody else of importance made came to Hong Kong and at least one had a the long journey from the Island to watch, most HONG KONG OFFICE “PONTIFACTS narrow escape. Remembered only as Senor only to be disappointed. The wind rose and the JOBS—STAFF—VALUE OF WORK Hernandez, he had just stepped into his gondola pilot, a Belgian named van de Born, dared not when the balloon above him exploded in a sheet risk a take-off. However, after many of the + (1952—1972) of flames. In the words of a contemporary visitors had gone away, he was able to get aloft / report, Senor Hernandez emerged ‘burned and in his Farman. The next demonstration did not Notes / blackened’. take place until 1915 when Captain Tom Gunn 1. Value of work in hand excludes Like the rest of the world, Hong Kong had flew a seaplane at Sha Tin. Four years later, an work in the report stage. been astounded by the feat of the Wright brothers aircraft pilotedby a certain Mr. Lim took off 2. Construction costs have more than doubled throughout the oeriod. and the coming of the first heavier-than-air from the centre of the race course at Happy machine was eagerly awaited. An unconfirmed Valley and unfortunately crashed into a timber report states that the first aeroplane to fly in yard. It was not until 1924 that flying activities Hong Kong took off at Sha Tin in 1910 and made in the Colony were centred at Kai Tak on a /+ a circuit of the bay. However, the first officially permanent basis. That is another story recorded flight in Hong Kong took place at Sha (Information from Hong Kong Airport, Hong Tin on 18th March, 1911. The Governor and Kong Government Information Services).

/ The Kai Tak Airport Story

by C. M. Gtiilford

1952 953 i954 955 1956 1S57 1955 1V59 960 1961 962 1963 1964 1965 966 967 965 969 1970 1971 1972 1973

nceforth Hong Kong will not only closely associated with the project, felt proud of be noted for its fine natural harbour having achieved world recognition. but also for its imaginatively planned Just over a third of a century before, in 1924, runway. As with our harbour in the past, so will the first aircraft landed at Kai Tak when it was a this runway help us in this modern air age to small grass area about 400 yards by 300 yards, develop the trade on which Hong Kong’s quite big enough for the small planes of those Early Flights in Hong Kong prosperity was founded.” days. It is this area which grew into what today is Thus spoke the then Governor of Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport. In that year a Sir Robert Black, on 12th September, 1958 when Flying Club and School were started and the Kai Tak’s new 8,350 ft long runway (on an 800 ft small airfield was soon to be used by a number of wide, 4 mile long reclaimed promontory jutting flyers who came to Hong Kong in the course of out into Kowloon Bay) was formally opened. long-distance pioneer flights. In May 1924, It was a grand occasion. The Governor and Captain Doisy landed in the Colony in the course n the year 1891, Captain Baldwin said life. As take-off time approached, people unable Lady Black were flown by helicopter to Kai Tak, of a flight from Paris to Tokyo. The next month that he would make an aerial ascent by to go to the launching field kept a sharp lookout breaking a red-white-and-blue silk ribbon saw the arrival of some American flyers, Brock balloon and descent by parachute. The from all parts of the Island. The 14,000 residents stretched across the width of the runway as the and Shlee flying the ‘Pride of Detroit’, in the Colony’s 14,000 Europeans knew enough about of Kowloon were told that they also would aircraft came in to land. Obligingly a rainbow course of a round-the-world flight. Other pioneer the dangers of ballooning to be intrigued; easily be able to see the balloon. Those who had appeared and arched over the runway just after ing flights included those of F. R. Loring (Madrid most of the quarter of a million Chinese residents prophesied disaster for Captain Baldwin and his the Governor had finished his opening speech. to Manila), Fraulein von Erzdorf (Japan to refused to believe such a flight possible. balloon were quickly proved wrong. The launch This polychrome curve, considered by the Surabaya), von Gronau (round the world), Unlike today, leisure was an art to be ing was smooth and the parachute descent Chinese as a sign of good luck, brightened the Captain Dickson (Shanghai to South Africa) assiduously cultivated by every European in the uneventful. The first flight in the history of afternoon marked by continuous rain. Despite and Colonel Nogues, who carried the first air Hong Kong of 1891 and most of the ‘foreign Hong Kong was a success. the bad weather, it was a day when all Hong mail from Hong Kong to Paris (mail in those community’ went to watch the Captain risk his In the years following the turn of the century Kong, in particular, those SWKP engineers days was considered more important than 12 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 13

/ The Kai Tak Airport Story

by C. M. Gtiilford

1952 953 i954 955 1956 1S57 1955 1V59 960 1961 962 1963 1964 1965 966 967 965 969 1970 1971 1972 1973

operations. Soon afterwards, in December 1941, recorded in the South China Morning Post as the Japanese without warning attacked British follows: and USA possessions in the Pacific areas and, “London—A British firm on consulting after a fierce struggle, Hong Kong surrendered on inquiries has now been appointed to advise Christmas Day. the Hong Kong Government on the technical During the occupation, the Japanese turned aspects of the development of Kai Tak air Kai Tak into a strategic air base and extended the port. It is Messrs Scott and Wilson, of London. airfield considerably by incorporating further One question the consulting inquiries will be land to the north and west, the latter involving asked to consider is whether Kai Tak airport the demolition of an appreciable area of Kowloon can be adpted for the use of Comet jet City and part of the Hill of Sung and reclamation airliner.” of some thirty acres. The Japanese also built the Mr. Grace arrived in Hong Kong on 3rd large inteicepting nullah that bordered the November, 1952 (the journey time was by then northern and western boundaries of the airport reduced to about 24 days) to set up the Scott & and the two crossing paved runways, each rather Wilson office complete with soils laboratory. over 4,500 ft long. These would have been of Over the next two and a half months his expatri greater value to Hong Kong after the war had ate engineering staff comprising Messrs G. M. J. they not been very poorly built. They were, in Williams, J. K. M. Henry, Roger Whiting, Ken the main, the work of forced prisoner-of-war Phillips, Peter Lumb, David Coffey and Michael labour, including many local members of the Guilford arrived to be followed a little later by Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force who, apart John Sutton. To complete the technical staff from being unskilled in such work, took every three Hong Kong university graduates, Ho opportunity for sabotage. It is alleged that in Chung, T. M. Yuen and C. C. Wong, three many places they made the surface of the run laboratory assistants Norman Liu, Chin Koy ways so thin that it collapsed under the weight Shan and Freeman Liu and a tracer, Miss Toni of a bicycle! Whitehouse were employed. The administrative After the Japanese capitulation, engineers had section included Mrs. Diana Moore (secretary), a lot of work to do before Kai Tak was fit again Cheung Kam Chiu (messenger) and two drivers, for civil air traffic and it was not until 1947 that Leung Yue Kai and Henley Lo. Of the original the airport was really considered suitable to nine local staff no less than six are still with us take its place in international air operations. today. The runways were already known to be inade During the following five years, when the quate for the four-engined aircraft that would be office was situated in a Nissen hut on the airport, The runways at Kai Tak showing new extension operating to Hong Kong in future. After some local staff who joined then and still remain with thought, the authorities decided that, if Hong SWKP include Cheung Kam Sing (chainman), passengers who were carried at their own risk). there do not appear to have been any regular air Kong was to remain on the world’s air routes, it Harry Ha and Cheuk Ping Kwan (draughtsmen) In 1927 the Government took over Kai Tak services until, in 1935, experimental flights were would have to build another airport. This proved and Fung Kui Fun (accountant); Man Chuen and the Royal Air Force established itself there. made between Hong Kong and Penang by quite a problem as the only two sites studied for Chung (chainman) only left in August 1972 to Meanwhile the Hong Kong Harbour Office took Imperial Airways (the predecessor of BOAC). a new airport, namely at Deep Bay and Stanley become a Partner in a private business. Expats responsibility for the civil airfield, the Harbour- In 1936, Imperial Airways began a weekly Bay, were rejected, the former because of its who joined during this period included John Master becoming also the Director of Air service between Hong Kong and Penang to nearness to the Communist Chinese border and Gandy, Jack Parker, Jack Wiseman and John Services. connect with the England-Australia flights, the latter because of constructional difficulties Holt. It was some years before the field was to the journey to England taking about 9+ days. and the high costs that these would entail. For the young engineers, the early days of the rejoice in the name ‘airport’ and, by 1932 when Later the same year, a thrice-weekly mail and Subsequently in 1951, the Ministry of Civil investigation and design work were filled with the airport area had grown and covered just over passenger service was started by China National Aviation prepared a report on redevelopment interest. It soon became apparent to us that the 400 acres, it was still an all-grass aerodrome. Aviation Corporation between Hong Kong, plans for Kai Tak airport and recommended two ‘dead-end’ runway layout was not the best The airport at that time had a small collection of Canton and Shanghai. The following year that the services of consulting engineers be solution, and after investigating a number of terminal buildings where the passengers were brought the first trans-Pacific passenger flights employed to implement extension of one of the alternatives we suggested a single runway with ‘processed’ and their baggage checked, a hangar to Hong Kong, operated by Pan American existing runways by some 2,000 ft and the con a curved approach to one end. This was accepted for aircraft and such basic aerodrome equipment Airways using ‘Clipper’ flying-boats which landed struction of a new 8,850 ft long runway which by Government. Most of us at one time or other as trucks and fire engines. Landing fees were in Kowloon Bay. would protrude about a mile into Kowloon Bay. were involved in the extensive marine and land introduced and airport revenue jumped to more By 1938 the airport was seeing increasing Both runways would be ‘dead-end’, terminating investigations, laboratory testing, comprehensive than HK$14,000 a year! traffic, in that year almost 10,000 passengers at the foot of mountains with only one usable marine, current and land surveys (including the Though pioneers continued to land in Hong being handled, and two years later a simple approach. The firm were duly approached and roof-tops over Kowloon City), the curved Kong in the course of long-distance flights, lighting system was installed for night flying on 28th August, 1952 the appointment was approach over the Kowloon Tsai foothills to be

I 14 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 15

I CHRISTMAS, 1972 17 16 PONTIFACT No. 30

to Paul Y Co. Ltd for the removed, schemes to move three blocks of 10- awarded Construction storied flats, investigations of existing and fore terminal apron and Hsin Chong & Co. Ltd for casts of future passenger and traffic movements, the terminal building. The latter was formally innumerable schematic layout plans and estimates opened by the then Governor, Sir Robert Black 1962, thus the original and finally the detailed design of seawalls (3 in November completing project. miles), reclamation (180 acres), pavements £84 million Kai Tak development a on ‘Extension Kai Tak (80 acres), drainage, lighting dolphins, piers, In 1967 Report of Runway’ was submitted to Government. bridges (the earliest being SWKPs first in Hong Airport The established that the further extension Kong, a three-span 84 ft long concrete/steel report and structure across the old nullah, designed, built of the existing promontory was feasible the reclamation be formed and commissioned in 23 days), terminal and recommended’ that as the principal freight buildings and other associated works. employing decomposed granite filling material instead of sand used in the earlier Our project report was submitted in August 1953 works. various reasons the decision to and it was not until two years later that the Sung Wong Toi Boulder—1972 For with until principal contract was awarded. proceed the works was not taken early 1969 when we were instructed to extend the We were all fascinated by our first flavour of the loaded revolvers (on occasions calling in at the Kal Tak Stores ‘The Cannon’ by 2,500 ft. The principal East, its old Colonial style of architecture, its cricket club or one’s own flat for refreshment) and runway promontory was in 14 of sea- smells, the traditional Chinese customs, the raids on opium dives and other places of low Dynasty, when the Emperor retreat before works required construction of miles in 1644, reclamation of some 60 acres (nearly clatter of mahjong, its spirits (both evil and repute. the Manchus who, had already inaugu walls and imported!), the contrast between the extreme The airport development involved us in a rated the Ching Dynasty in North China. The two-thirds of which will be paved) and involved as some 2 m.c.y. dredging, I m.c.y. of wealth and poverty, its transport facilities (for small way with the past. At one point a detailed actual inscription on the cannon reads follows: handling of granite instance, the sedan chairs to be found parked in survey was made of an historic 1,000 ton granite “Commissioned by rockfIll and 54 m.c.y. of decomposed Hoi filling, 20 sites the Wyndham Street), its varied restaurants, its boulder which used to be perched at the top of a CHOT, Governor of Wai and created Ting excavated from around multiplicity of shops packed with curios, ‘cheap’ small hillock overlooking Kowloon Bay and had Hoi General by urban area. cameras and electrical goods, inexpensive shell to be removed; during adjacent excavation works Imperial Command Tenders for the main reclamation and seawall were in 1970 the fish and plentiful food (a vivid contrast to the in the war it had rolled to the bottom. On one TO, by Imperial Command appointed works invited April and con austerity of UK rationing) and, above all, its face of the boulder were inscribed more than 600 Governor-General of tract was let to the Japanese firm of Kumagai cosmopolitan atmosphere. years ago the Chinese characters ‘Sung Wong Kwang-tung and Kwang-si Provinces Gumi Co. Ltd for about £74 million. A small also to In view of the somewhat delicate situation with Toi’, or ‘Terrace of the Sung Dynasty Emperor’. FAN, General Officer Commanding Kwang trial pavement contract was awarded of to China at the time (the Korean war was still in According to legend, the last Emperor of the tung and guardian the same firm, the purpose which was progress) and the uncertainty regarding the Sung Dynasty took refuge near the boulder when of the iMPERIAL HEIR evaluate the strength of existing pavements and the financing of the project, many of us stayed fleeing from the Mongols. However, in interests Colonel SW LEJ-YAN directed the casting for to check experimentally the design for new HO Commander of the pavements. The recommendations of the report about a year in the Peninsula Hotel. One of us, of economy, a decision was made to split the HING-CHEUNG, (with when suffering from ‘Hong Kong dog’ (unfortu section bearing the characters, rather than move Ordnance Depot. Sixth moon of the fourth on these trials were accepted minor modifi and, in 1972, the £3 million contract, nate as his bathroom had been turned into a the boulder bodily, and to re-erect it in a specially year of WING UK. cations) July existing dark room) was visited whilst bed-ridden by the laid-out garden. Weight 500 catties EMPEROR” which includes overlaying the runway, acting Director of Public Works for the purpose Along the Kowloon Tsai foothills stood the Bill Villiers (C.R.E.), David Butterworth, was awarded to Paul Y Construction Co. Ltd. of obtaining new estimates for one of the many sole remaining section of the original Kowloon John Gandy, Gordon Wilson, John Webb, It is expected that the extended runway, airport subsidiary fire revised schemes, another went to sleep in his City wall with one old gateway still in existence Michael Guilford, David Coffey, Derek Ball and approach lighting systems, and other bath (fortunately empty) and a third climbed in a saddle surrounded by squatter huts. How (Preece, Cardew & Rider), Jack Wiseman (for station, jetty, foul sewer extension Cyril will be and into his room via the bamboo scaffolding when ever, these relics were soon to disappear once terminal building only), Syd Drury, ancillary works completed opera many staff in of 1973, a fitting ending to repairs were in progress. We were enthusiastic in excavation started. Cottrell, Nobby Clarke and local tional the winter other outside activities and made our presence Hopes were high when the marine dredging supervised the runway reclamation works, a mark the eve of Kai Taks fiftieth anniversary. million carried out by Societe (Editor’s note: journey time from London felt in the sporting world, in particular on the began. There was a chance that the riddle of the £5+ contract The cricket, tennis and hockey fields, at yachting, overladen Japanese plane, which local gossip Francaise d’Entreprises de Dragages et de to Hong Kong is now 16 hours as against 94 mountain walking, squash, amateur dramatics alleged took off with bullion just before the end Travaux Publics in association with Gammon days in 1936 and with the advent of the Concorde and varying other indoor sports. Many of us of the war and crashed into Kowloon Bay, (Malaya) Ltd and the largest civil engineering it will almost be possible to commute.) would solved. However there was no such project undertaken in Hong Kong to that date. were directed into the local auxilary services be OVERHEARD AT KAI TAK AIRPORT including the Hong Kong Defence Force, luck—the only interesting item found was an In spite of the large quantities of materials to be from Special Constabulary and Essential Service old 3-catty-er (4-pounder) cast iron cannon handled, namely, 24 m.c.y. of mud dredging, Expatriate wife (to visitor London depart 8 sand filling, 24 m.c.y. of ing after a very prolonged stay): Corps (considered a ‘skive’). Highlights included which was then proudly mounted outside the m.c.y. of decomposed to I the annual camps which involved living in pretty CRE’s office and now stands near the site of rock filling and 4 m.c.y. of rockfill and pitching, “Give my love your children—though primitive conditions, various Governor’s military the old fort above Battery Path on Hong Kong the project was completed within the scheduled don’t suppose they’ll remember me.” and police annual reviews, exercises in Kowloon Island. The cannon was cast in 1649, being the three years and within the tendered sum, no Visitor (with feeling): they’ll me either.” and the New Territories, walking the beat with fourth year of the Wing Uk reign of the Ming mean feat. Subsequently major contracts were “I don’t suppose remember

I CHRISTMAS, 1972 17 16 PONTIFACT No. 30

I 18 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 19

construction of the first stages of a comprehensive to announce that they had had a brilliant idea... reclamation of the bay as part of what had by It was on this job that Syd Drury made his then become the Kwai Chung Development famous remark, previously recorded in Pontifact Scheme. At this time the bay was being used but which bears repetition, “My horoscope says Gin Drinker’s Bay chiefly for shipbreaking (the Arundel Castle was I mustn’t lose my temper today, so i’ll have to among the vessels broken up there), for storing wait until tomorrow to say what I think of this byJ. F. Lindsay timber afloat and for rubbish-dumping. All in reinforcement.” their turn presented problems during construc The rubbish dump (sorry to keep referring to tion, the shipbreakers and the timber merchants it, but it somehow featured large in everyone’s because they were reluctant to leave and the thoughts at tiie time) created even more trouble rubbish by its distinctive and pervasive aroma by starting to disintegrate under tidal action. hose who have never been to Hong Kong known in Chinese as Lap Sap Wan (rubbish bay). and its propensity for breeding flies. It was decided to contain it within an earth bund may be forgiven for wondering why soul So there were no protests and the bay has been The contractors for the main stage of the and our contractor rather rashly stepped in less engineers were permitted to eradicate almost entirely filled in and forms part of the reclamation were Japanese. We have had where others had failed. Initially all went well for ever a stretch of water with the evocative area now called Kwai Chung, but the old name Japanese contractors working for us before and but in deeper water the soft mud on the sea name of Gin Drinker’s Bay. What were the local will always be remembered by military historians since but one is always surprised anew by the bed began to win and perhaps a hundred feet of pressure groups doing about such desecration of —the first defence against the Japanese invasion size of the team they assemble for even the most newly placed bund would disappear overnight. the environment? Why no irate correspondence of Hong Kong in December, 1941, was the Gin routine discussion and the patience needed to The technique of bottom-dumping material to in the South China Morning Post or even from Drinker’s Bay Line. achieve results. Gordon Wilson, the Resident blanket the mud, used for part of the Kai Tak peppery retired Old China Hands in The Times? In 1957 we were commissioned by the Hong Engineer, suggested an apparently simple inno runway construction and in the general Kwai Alas, while a rose by any other name may smell Kong Government to report on the feasibility of vation which he reckoned would save time and Chung reclamation, saved the day and the rubbish as sweet the converse equally applies and Gin economic reclamation of several sea inlets, effort in a concreting operation only to be told was eventually confined, though the smell and Drinker’s Bay, which gained its name in balmier among them Gin Drinker’s Bay (later irreverently that it was quite impracticable. Some three weeks the flies remained. days when it was a popular spot for launch nicknamed ‘Haw Kei Haven’), and two years later a beaming deputation arrived at his office One lesson spelled out yet again at Kwai picnics, in latter years was much more aptly later were appointed to design and supervise the

Outer part of Gin Drinkers Bay, 1963. Note the Similar view, 1972. The former island (nowlevelled) small island Then . . and now lies near the centre of the Container Terminal

A 18 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 19

Outer part of Gin Drinkers Bay, 1963. Note the Similar view, 1972. The former island (nowlevelled) small island Then . . and now lies near the centre of the Container Terminal

A 20 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 21

Chung was the difficulty of predicting subsoil the benefits of a single contract. We inevitably Kwai Chung and the container terminal in Plover The first container ship, the 60,000 ton Tokyo conditions in Hong Kong’s terrain. An extremely became greatly involved in all this and, although Cove? Or even carried things a stage further Bay tied up at one of the new terminal berths comprehensive site investigation indicated a it was only partially successful in its prime like the character in one of P. C. Wren’s books, early in September last, less than 19 months after large surplus of rock but in the event it was a objective, we were eventually appointed as a clergyman in a drought-ridden territory whose construction started. When one realises that this struggle to obtain sufficient good rock to com engineers by all three operators though our bishop said “Let’s build a dam and pray for vessel, one of the new generation of container plete the sea wall at the mouth of the bay and the sphere of responsibility varied in each case. rain” and who was unfrocked for replying “Why ships, is 950 ft long and comparable in size to protection of the coastal road and the typhoon We soon found ourselves not only with our not wait for rain and then pray for a darn?” the QE2, can carry more than 2,000 containers shelter which were included in the contract. three clients of different nationalities but with Two sad things have occurred so far during and load or discharge in two days cargo which it An interesting example of the power of typhoon two main contractors (one Japanese and the construction. The sea wall, faced so painstakingly would take several conventional vessels weeks to winds followed a fairly severe one in 1964; the other a consortium of French and Hong Kong with massive granite blocks during the original handle, one appreciates to some extent the site office windows were peppered with tiny firms with a leavening of Swedes), numerous reclamation scheme, had to be ignominiously impact and the possibilities of containerisation. neat holes caused by blown sand. Chinese sub-contractors and, for good measure, beheaded and buried in the new work, though it Early reports indicate that the terminal is One of the main features of the work was the two quay walls of such widely differing character tries to fight back by remaining a hard spot and operating even more efficiently than had been construction of a storm water ‘nullah’ or culvert as to be almost incompatible, yet which had to creating problems of differential settlement. expected and one can only hope that Hong through the reclamation to take the run-off from marry into each other both in design and during The other tragic event was the burning and Kong will be spared the problems that have it and from a long valley inland. When it rains in construction. Small wonder that Robin Osborn capsizing of the former Queen Elizabeth which beset the introduction of full containerisation Hong Kong it really does so in earnest (the yearly was observed one day in the office, Bible open at had been moored a mile off the terminal sites. elsewhere. All those in the Hong Kong and rainfall of London can occur in a couple of days) the Tower of Babel story, shaking his head sadly She still remains partly submerged, a twisted and London firms who have been involved in this and the nullah was designed to carry 6,500 cubic as he muttered “We never learn.” rusty hulk, looking at dusk for all the world exciting job will watch the outcome with more feet a second. It is some 50 ft wide and 12 ft The Resident Engineers supervising each like a chain of small islands. Even this tragedy than usual interest and pride. deep and looks so impressive internally that contractor, Ian Donald (now succeeded by had its lighter moment. Soon after the fire broke We still have other commitments in the area, someone suggested that it was wasted as a mere Chris Wright) and Lance Dodd, have at times out a fire engine, with bells ringing and sirens notably the approaches to the bridge across drain and should really be incorporated in the felt that they needed passports to visit each other’s screaming, raced onto our partly completed Rambler Channel which will link Tsing Yi proposed underground railway system. A dual site, so rigid has been the demarcation between reclamation. The crew jumped off brandishing Island to the mainland. Further container carriageway road runs on its roof. them. Nor have the supposedly inscrutable axes, all set for action. When they realised that a developments are mooted and we have already When our part of the reclamation was finished Japanese been immune from the difficulties of the wide stretch of water still separated them from reported to yet another client on possible in 1966 our interest in Gin Drinker’s Bay waned situation; at one site meeting on boundary the blaze they stood around sheepishly for a few future berths. Perhaps our long association with for a few years, although we extended the coastal problems a long impassioned outburst by one of minutes and then quietly drove away. Gin Drinker’s Bay is not yet at an end. road towards Kowloon by building Lai Chi Kok their engineers was, probably tactfully, translated Bridge and reported on extending it in the other as “Mr. X says that life isn’t worth living.” direction towards Castle Peak. The area was also Work started on site in February, 1971 and, considered as a possible casting basin for tunnel when complete by spring 1973, will have involved units. The Government and private enterprise 3,000 ft of quay wall construction, 3 million built a small city of multi-storey blocks and cubic yards of dredging and more than 8 million factories on the 200 or so acres we had provided cubic yards of excavation and filling, together by reclamation and by hillside terracing, and the with paving, drainage, water supply, flood Kwai Chung Newsletter area as yet unreclaimed continued to be filled in lighting and the wide variety of buildings which gradually. container operations demand. The new reclama Berth One Then in 1970 the Hong Kong Government tion straddles the sea wall which had been built by Wright produced its long-awaited proposals for a con under the earlier scheme and totals 94 acres. Chris tainer terminal complex at Kwai Chung and we Hong Kong is used to getting two jobs for the were retained to advise two of the potential price of one and the filling material excavated developers and operators of the berths. The from neighbouring hillsides will produce a bonus proposed method of award of lots by Govern to Government of 80 acres of terraces for here have been many changes at Kwai Nor was I referring to the change of scenery ment was unusual; shipping lines and whar subsequent development. 7 Chung Berth One since the beginning of behind, with the rapid carving out of the hills fingers could offer either to operate berths The quay wall designs required the filling the year. And I didn’t just mean the across the road. Here the ‘have-your-cake-and- provided by Government or to construct them immediately behind them to be sandy but, as we disappearance of quaintly named Gin Drinker’s eat-it’ Hong Kong Government have kindly themselves and then operate them. In the event might have guessed, the material available proved Bay under the sheds and offices of the new leased a barren hill to Modern Terminals Ltd three of the originally intended four berths were to be mainly clayey so selection was of prime container terminal, these buildings now standing giving them the privilege of forming valuable awarded on the construct, develop and operate importance. Recalling one of the difficulties at 250 yards from the quay’s edge. Along that quay building terraces to hand back as a free gift to basis to American, Japanese and basically Plover Cove, where clayey soil was needed for the stand gargantuan cranes; with big, yellow, Government again. British operators. There followed an intriguing core of the dam but only sandy soil was readily science-fiction ‘straddle carriers’ bleeping their No, I was really referring to the old and new period of political and financial wheeling and available, the writer wonders whether a major way across and through a giants playground of and changing faces around the site and offices. dealing among these operators in an attempt to error in location wasn’t made—perhaps we toy bricks spread out and piled up within neatly Sparring partners at the top, setting the pace and combine for construction purposes and thus gain should have built the Plover Cove Dam at yellow painted lines on the black asphalt. achieving the date although impossible, were

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Among the ARE’s, Janies Ng can tell us At the time of writing, fourteen others com newcomers all about the early days of the pro plete the team: surveyors T. K. Yeung, K. W. Ho, ject; Shen Jui Ming knows all the intricacies, Robert Chan, and K. M. Tsang; lab technician both structurally and electrically, of all the David Wong Man; assistant inspectors and buildings; and Chiu Choi from April to Ng foremen Paul Wong, William Fung, Peter Lam, October looked after pavements and borrow areas before deciding to find pastures new with P. K. Chan, N. Y. Wong and W. N. Chan; and the Singapore PWD. The latter was replaced in last but far from least the inside team keeping turn by Eddie Ho, recently from Kai Tak the drawings and paperwork in order, draftsman Runway and a spell in Star House, who quickly P. K. Chuck secretary Shirley Wong, and clerk settled in and picked up the threads of history. Raymond Yeung.

Berths Two and Three

byLanceDodd

We have been engaged for the last few months This year, that of the ‘Rat’, is according to in a civil engineering equivalent of a Monte Carlo Chinese classification one of uncertainty; this Rally with crane delivery dates, arrivals of con has been borne out by the weather which has tainer ships, etc. as check points; to date loss of been more than usually eccentric; the heavy points has been avoided but the future is not rains of June which caused so much damage and optimistic. However on the site we are now at full loss of life in Hong Kong fortunately let us off strength with Richard Denton-Cox in charge of lightly with some minor flooding but we were the berths and Choy Tak Yan the borrow areas embarrassed when in November typhoon ‘Pamela’ respectively, ably supported by ARE’s Lau after jiving in the South China Sea suddenly em Yuk Leung, Wong Siu Fan and Tang Wai Wan. braced Hong Kong. David Cheng left us after his year on site for the Berth Three nearby became operational early is 60,000-ton containership Tokyo Bay at Berth No. 1, placid pastures of Star House but it believed in November when one of the myriad fly-by- Kwai Chung Container Terminal, September 1972 he still hankers after the excitement of container night container handling companies, which have berth construction. David was married whilst sprung up on every available bare patch of land with us, an example other suitable candidates in the vicinity, decided that our eastern sea wall Resident Engineer Ian Donald and, from the berth had properly emerged from its muddy might follow. made an excellent lighter berth for loading con Sweden, Contractor’s Project Manager Sven depths, came Jack Collins of Preece Cardew & Morale is high, however we were rather tainers. They were persuaded however, that Bauge, steering their respective teams to the Rider to help us with our electrics. and without depressed to hear that the location in which we squatters rights do not extend to sites under our historic first berthing of third generation con him we would have been floundering indeed. He work has been classified by Government as a supervision! One by-product of our little brother’s tainer ship Tokyo Bay on 5th September. Al is now performing a similar service for the ‘Noxious Trades Area’. We have no illusions of operational status is that a stout wire fence now though now back in harness at Kai Tak, Ian adjoining Berth Two. A visitor for two months, the image civil engineering holds in the lay mind, prevents the minor raids and counter raids that modestly dodged the plaudits by taking a well extended to four, was Gordon Trigg, from but we didn’t realise we had sunk so low. formerly took place on the frontier. earned leave from the end of August, handing London Office, doing vital work in chasing and over to Chris Wright fresh (?) from arduous keeping tabs on progress and a varied network months on the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. of services, and telling of building a city from Highlander SARE Torn Muir, key man of scratch in British Honduras. Cracking the whip the outfit, co-ordinating, instructing, orgarlising, was Cyril Hudson, inspector of works from and quietly insisting on the highest standards Yorkshire, swapping yarns with Ian Donald of WHAT AM I? was there throughout—until at the end of bygone days at Port of Tema, Ghana. Fellow in October he too decided a month away was spectors were Frank Nelson who has looked after Briton? needed. At the time of writing he is perhaps the buildings, and Alec Thomson from Dundee Hong Kongon? luring trout and salmon to the fly in true high who fitted in a brief six weeks between harbour British? Hongon Kong? Hong Kong Belonger? land style—but Down Under. Meantime Des tunnel and airport extension to tide us over the Hong Kongish? Hongon Kongon? Honger Konger Belong? Boon, awaiting a return to roadworks in Thai period when Cyril took a month’s leave intending Hongish Kong? Hongon Kongish? Honger Kong Belish? land, is helping out in Tom’s absence. Soon after to marry off his daughter, but without succeeding! Hongish Kongish? Hongish Kongon? Hongish Kongon Beler? 22 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 23

Berths Two and Three

byLanceDodd

PONTIFACTS GLOSSARY OF OFFICE TERMS

A PROGRAMME: Any assignment that can’t be completed by one ‘phone call. CHANNELS: Plover Cove Marine Dam The trail left by an inter-office memo. by D. A. Wainii’rightand C. M. Giiilford STATUS QUO: The mess we’re in. TO EXPEDITE: To confound confusion with commotion. CRITERIA: WKP’s chief contribution to the Plover investigation and office study on all aspects of the Measures which the other person uses to underestimate what you have already over estimated the job to Cove Water Scheme, which was under scheme was carried out. The reservoir to be be worth. taken jointly with Binnie & Partners, formed at Plover Cove by the main marine dam UNDER CONSIDERATION: has been the 1+ mile long, 125 ft high, main and two smaller subsidiary dams would store Never heard of it. marine dam at Plover Cove which cost over £12 37,000 million gallons, more than trebling the million and for this anniversary issue, it was Colony’s water storage capacity. UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION: thought it may be of interest to review the history The site investigation included drilling, boiing We’re looking in the file for it. of this project. (mainly from rigs mounted on two modified IN TRANSMITTAL: Much of the Colony’s land area of 398- square cargo-barges), in situ vane, penetration, per We’re sending it to you because we’re tired of holding the bag. miles is spread over 236 islands and islets, many meability and salinity testing and laboratory of which are uninhabited. Whilst it has a testing. A Swedish foil sampler was used success A MODIFICATION OF POLICY: healthy, though erratic, average rainfall (86 in.! fully for the first time in the British Common A complete reversal which nobody admits. year), there are no sizeable lakes or rivers. wealth for obtaining continuous samples (up to Population and land have been at the root of 40 ft in length) of the sea-bed mud. In all, there SYNTHESIS: the problem, too many people and not enough was nearly two miles of drilling, boring and A compounding of detailed bewilderment into a vast and comfortable confusion which offends no one. land and water restrictions have been the rule continuous sampling in the Plover Cove reservoir A SURVEY IS BEING MADE ON THIS: rather than the exception. After the Pacific area. A vital part of the investigation was an We need more time to think of an answer. war, as the Colony prospered with increasing extensive search (involving a further two-thirds population and industrialisation, the problem of of a mile of boring, drilling and pit excavation) to FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL DATA NECESSARY: water supply became even more acute. The Tai find suitable natural materials for building the We’ve lost your stuff. Send it again. Lam Chung and Shek Pik Schemes were com dams. The land borrow areas finally selected READ & INITIAL: pleted in 1957 and 1963 respectively by B&P, were all near the sea to facilitate the use of Lets spread the responsibility for this. the latter reservoir being connected to Hong barges. Kong by a twin-submarine pipeline, some The investigations at the dam site revealed a SEE ME RE THIS: 8 miles in length. However, these schemes 30 to 50 ft thickness of soft marine mud lying in Come down to my office, T’m lonesome. barely restored the balance between supply and 30 to 40 ft of water along the whole line of the demand and Hong Kong still lacked the storage dam. In places at the bottom of the mud were LETS GET ON THIS: TOGETHER capacity needed to give a more balanced yield sometimes found clumps of reeds in a com I’m assuming you’re as confused as I am. over dry years. Sites where large conventional pletely preserved state. Under the mud stratum LETS HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER: impounding reservoirs could be exploited with were mixed sand and clay deposits strong We’ll listen to what you have to say as long as it doesn’t interfere with what we have already decided to do. out interfering to any great extent with the enough to support an earth-rockfill type of dam Colony’s rural communities and agricultural but too compressible to support any rigid RESEARCH WORK: development had already been utilised. construction, e.g. a concrete dam. Hunting for the person who has removed the file. Thus in 1958 the Hong Kong Government An important part of these early investigations had no option but to consider whether large was the construction of a fully-instrumented test FUNCTIONAL CONTROL: reservoirs could be created in coastal inlets. mound adjacent to the main dam site (costing You tell him what to do and he’ll tell you where to go. Two locations were investigated jointly with about £100,000) using decomposed granite as TABULATING DATA: B&P, one being the 3- mile long by 4 mile wide the principal embanking material. Successful Dragging information out of an inaccessible place, listing it and then filing it in an equally inaccessible Plover Cove bay, at that time a remote and completion of the mound proved that it was place. scenic part of the New Territories where at one possible to form under water an adequately time pearl oysters were cultivated, and the other stable and impermeable embankment without CONFERENCE: the smaller inlet at Hebe Haven. Soon after the any unduly complicated techniques of selection A conference is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but who meet collectively and agree that nothing can be done. feasibility report had been submitted, a full site or placing.

A 24 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 25

PONTIFACTS GLOSSARY OF OFFICE TERMS

A 26 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 27

The detailed design and preparation of docu that, on balance, overall seepage would be of road cutting was being formed in the local red removed from the foundation trench by bucket ments to be used for the calling of tenders was stored water outwards rather than salt water in soil near Plover Cove. the dragon which that hill and grab dredgers and dumped in the sea some undertaken in London. A foundation trench, wards, the long-term mean level of the impounded represented was clearly hurt and bled, which 1+ miles away. Filling materials were carried to 600 ft wide, was to be dredged across the sea-bed water exceeding that of the sea. resulted it was claimed, in sickness in the nearby the mouth of Plover Cove in a fleet of barges and and the 1+ mile long dam raised by dumping The reservoir works attracted world wide village. As a temporary measure until the slope deposited in a methodical manner. In all, some decomposed rock and sand on either side of the interest and tenders from many countries were could be treated with green-coloured mortar, a 10 million cubic yards of sand (dredged by carefully selected and placed soil which formed received. The French firm, Societe Francaise bamboo/rush mat screen was erected at the suction dredgers) and decomposed rock (excava the impervious core. Rip-rap overlying filter rock d’Entreprise de Dragages et de Travaux Publics, request of the village elders to shield the cutting ted by face and wheel shovels and traxcavators) and sand was to be placed on the outside to builders of the original Kai Tak Airport and from the villagers. Another complication arising and 1+ million cubic yards of rock was put in the provide the necessary protection from wave Shek Pik Dam, was awarded the contract at the from Fung Shui was the re-siting of ancestors’ dam, mainly, by bottom-opening barges and action. end of 1963 which was, at that time, the largest graves. These, usually comprising neatly stacked grabs. Being on the south coast of the Chinese main civil engineering contract ever to be let in Hong bones in large earthenware urns, are positioned One of the floating grab placing/dredging land, Hong Kong lies within the belt affected by Kong. The narrow road to Plover Cove, which on carefully chosen sites where even the height of pontoons employed on the project was the typhoons which frequently form in summer over wound along the northern shore of Tolo Harbour the hill exerts a good or bad influence; the Blue world’s largest unit of its type with electronically the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. One serving a few isolated farming and fishing Dragon guards the deceased’s left and the White actuated, semi-automated control. Specially de typhoon a year on average passes close enough to communities, was reconstructed and extended. Tiger his right so the latter, being the stronger, signed in Holland and assembled in Hong Kong the Colony to produce gale force or greater Around the coastline of Tolo Harbour work sites must be the higher of the two. Furthermore, for the Plover Cove scheme, she bore the name winds. More rarely, severe typhoons pass directly were established to obtain the necessary decom there should be a hillock in front of the grave of the French resort, Biarritz. The trolleys on her over Hong Kong, usually causing widespread posed rock, sand and rock filling materials. and flowing water nearby. All these factors two 200 ft tracks each carried grabs capable of destruction. In the Plover Cove area, these One of the larger land ‘borrow areas’, Ma Liu must be seriously considered to avoid invoking lifting up to 24 cubic yards of material at one bite. severe typhoons can induce a quick rise in sea Shui, was partly formed as a future campus for displeasure from the gods if the grave is to be in order to check the stability of the dam at all level above the usual tide level and this has the Chinese University of Hong Kong, since removed and the affected villagers appropriately stages of construction and during subsequent reached a proven 14 ft. Thus, the spillway had nearly fully developed. compensated. pumping out and refilling, a large number of to be sufficiently high to safeguard any stored Due regard had to be paid to local superstition, When work started in earnest on the dam, instruments were inserted in the dam to measure freshwater from typhoon seas. This also ensured in particular ‘Fung Shui’. For instance, when a seven million cubic yards of marine mud was pore-water pressures, settlements and horizontal .

Main dam after closure Plover Cove marine dam—1968 26 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 27

Main dam after closure Plover Cove marine dam—1968 28 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 972 29 movements. In all about 400 instruments were Halloween Night, the St Lucia Festival, New the heightening of the dams by 12 ft and the placed below sea level. Year’s Eve, the start of pumping out and a great building of 64 large air-regulated reinforced Before the reservoir could be closed off from number of farewells. The Swedish contingent concrete siphons across the old spillway, are the sea a very important operation was necessary, even constructed a sauna bath on the shores of nearing completion. These works will increase namely, the resettlement of the inhabitants of six Plover Cove and opened it to all-corners. the storage water level in Plover Cove by 17 ft, so villages around Plover Cove, whose homes and Members of our staff contributed many years enlarging the capacity of the reservoir from agricultural land would be flooded when the of service to this Scheme which created great 37,000 to 50,000 million gallons. In the office, reservoir filled. As these villagers had no road interest around the world and has paved the way Steve Cotterell, David Wainwright, Richard access they had to be taken by sea through the to a new approach to building dams—under Gamlen (principally Tai Po Tau pumping station final closure gap in the dam. They were rehoused water. In the office those principally involved on and ancillary works), Patrick Tjoehardi, in specially constructed blocks of flats in nearby the dam works were Stanley Elliott, Stanley Raymond Wai and others have all assisted on Tai Po and given generous compensation for their Ford (B&P), Michael Guilford, Michael La the dam raising works and, on site, Tom Dockerty very abrupt transition from isolated fishing com Touche (B&P), David Wainwright, Bill Lamb, has had Fong Lee-ming, John Grindlay and munities into a busy urban environment. Li U. King and Paul Ng. Some of those working support staff to help him. Final sealing off of Plover Cove from the sea Picking up lish after pumping out on site included Lance Dodd (subsequently Although the £12 million raising and extension c posed an interesting problem. Two means of Michael Guilford) and Michael Townsend works were still incomplete, on the sunny closure were studied; the first envisaged using station. Tons of fish were promptly removed by (B&P) in over-all charge, Jim Gordon, David afternoon of 20th January, 1969, inauguration of large floating caissons with built-in sluices (used the delighted fisherfolk, the last survivors being Coffey, John Holt, Arnold Graham (B&P), the Plover Cove Water Scheme by the then in many closures on the Delta scheme in Holland) 5 ft long conger eels hiding in the mud, and sold Steve Cotterell, Robin Osborn, Basil Bressler Governor, Sir David Trench, took place on the and the second involved uniform raising of a in the nearby market. Meanwhile the ‘boffin’, (B&P), Peter Ferguson, Mike Owen, John spiliway. After Stanley Elliott, Stanley Ford wide horizontal rock mound. Comparatively Alvin Smith (B&P), was busy contriving ways Dunnicliff (B&P), Vincent Chan, Ed Ha (B&P), (B&P), Michael Guilford and Paul Molyneux cheap and readily accessible rock favoured the and means of restocking the reservoir with fresh Choi Tak Yan, Ho Yui-kwan, Shi Man-fai, (B&P) as well as Hon. A. M. J. Wright (Director selection of the latter method. The closure water fish in order to achieve the favourable Raymond Wai, Yong Kong-weng, Yeung Wood of Public Works), Teddy Wilmot-Morgan (Direc operation was carried out in December 1966 ecological balance needed to check insect and kow, Jackie Chan, Michael Li, George Brown tor of Water Supplies) and representatives from across a 3,000 ft wide gap and the maximum algae growths. (B&P), Leon Callaghan, Les Doe, John Grindlay, the principal contractors engaged on the scheme, velocities measured (over 9 ft/second) corres Impounding began next month and by October, Bill Lloyd, John McCabe, Bill Middlemiss, Len had been introduced to His Excellency, the two ponded closely with those predicted from model the start of the normal dry season, the reservoir Porter (B&P), Lew Turner (B&P) and Fred Stanleys mounted the dais to take their seats tests. In their keeness to obtain these readings held almost 11,000 million gallons of somewhat Tyndall (B&P). The intermingling of names beside the Governor. In his speech, after un three of the senior site staff overloaded the brackish water. Water from the reservoir had from both firms is indicative of a harmonious veiling the commemorative plaque, His Excellency cantilever of the measuring pontoon, thus first to be blended with fresh water from other partnership over the years which is still continuing. paid a fitting tribute to the firms with the words: causing instability of the unit and finished up sources and put into supply at a time when the Although since 1968 the Colony has enjoyed a “The engineering problems associated with in the water! An hour or so later, in a motley civil disturbances resulting from activities of full unrationed supply of water, further increases forming a barrage in the sea have been over selection of clothes, these three gentlemen, Mao’s Red Guards in China were near their of population and water consumption have led come by the imagination of the Consulting somewhat sheepishly, joined the contractor’s staff height. The resulting water had a noticeable to the uprating and extension of the original Engineers, coupled with ingenuity in design in their New Year’s Eve celebration. salinity although below the internationally Scheme. The reservoir raising works, comprising and thoroughness in execution.” With the gap closed it became popular to accepted maximum. The subsequent land-based undertake the 10-mile walk around the newly- operations to complete the dam to its full height formed reservoir and to collect coral and shells presented rather an anticlimax to the more from the old beaches. The deserted villages had glamorous marine orientated pre-closure works. an air of sadness as exploration of the little The Plover Cove Water Scheme has been a stone houses revealed many discarded articles of product of international teamwork. The con everyday rural life there. sultants were British and construction was Within a month of closure the pumping out of carried out by French, Swedish, Japanese and sea water commenced. It was originally planned local Hong Kong enterprises. The work force A TRUE STORY to extract only to a depth some 30 ft below mean employed on the Scheme in its various stages, in sea level so that the water remaining in the addition to the above nationalities, included reservoir would act as a buffer to prevent disturb Americans, Australians, Dutch, Germans and An enterprising engineer hit upon a bright established firm of razor blade manufacturers. ance of the saline sea-bed mud by incoming fresh Norwegians and at one time totalled some idea for supplementing his salary by free supplies He wrote to them in praise of their razor blades flood water from the main tunnel system and 4,500 men. of biscuits and toilet requisites. Playing upon which were so good that one had lasted a whole natural catchment. However, because of a pro There was also a cosmopolitan flavour at the the human susceptibility to flattery he picked year. They could, of course use his letter in any longed drought this plan was abandoned and Plover Cove club, built specially to cater for this items of which he was in short supply and wrote future advertising. The firm, which is most pumping was continued, leaving the reservoir multi-racial community. Church services, in to the manufacturers extolling the virtues of the likely run by another engineer, replied with a virtually empty by May 1967. In all some 18,000 cluding numerous christenings were held at the product. In many cases the manufacturer re letter full of thanks and enclosing a whole year’s million gallons of salt water was extracted by club-house as well as special festivities for such sponded with complimentary boxes of biscuits supply of razor blades in appreciation. He has means of the floating temporary pumping events as the Summer Equinox, Bastille Day, and toothpaste etc. He met his match in a well kept it to show to friends. 28 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 972 29 movements. In all about 400 instruments were Halloween Night, the St Lucia Festival, New the heightening of the dams by 12 ft and the placed below sea level. Year’s Eve, the start of pumping out and a great building of 64 large air-regulated reinforced Before the reservoir could be closed off from number of farewells. The Swedish contingent concrete siphons across the old spillway, are the sea a very important operation was necessary, even constructed a sauna bath on the shores of nearing completion. These works will increase namely, the resettlement of the inhabitants of six Plover Cove and opened it to all-corners. the storage water level in Plover Cove by 17 ft, so villages around Plover Cove, whose homes and Members of our staff contributed many years enlarging the capacity of the reservoir from agricultural land would be flooded when the of service to this Scheme which created great 37,000 to 50,000 million gallons. In the office, reservoir filled. As these villagers had no road interest around the world and has paved the way Steve Cotterell, David Wainwright, Richard access they had to be taken by sea through the to a new approach to building dams—under Gamlen (principally Tai Po Tau pumping station final closure gap in the dam. They were rehoused water. In the office those principally involved on and ancillary works), Patrick Tjoehardi, in specially constructed blocks of flats in nearby the dam works were Stanley Elliott, Stanley Raymond Wai and others have all assisted on Tai Po and given generous compensation for their Ford (B&P), Michael Guilford, Michael La the dam raising works and, on site, Tom Dockerty very abrupt transition from isolated fishing com Touche (B&P), David Wainwright, Bill Lamb, has had Fong Lee-ming, John Grindlay and munities into a busy urban environment. Li U. King and Paul Ng. Some of those working support staff to help him. Final sealing off of Plover Cove from the sea Picking up lish after pumping out on site included Lance Dodd (subsequently Although the £12 million raising and extension c posed an interesting problem. Two means of Michael Guilford) and Michael Townsend works were still incomplete, on the sunny closure were studied; the first envisaged using station. Tons of fish were promptly removed by (B&P) in over-all charge, Jim Gordon, David afternoon of 20th January, 1969, inauguration of large floating caissons with built-in sluices (used the delighted fisherfolk, the last survivors being Coffey, John Holt, Arnold Graham (B&P), the Plover Cove Water Scheme by the then in many closures on the Delta scheme in Holland) 5 ft long conger eels hiding in the mud, and sold Steve Cotterell, Robin Osborn, Basil Bressler Governor, Sir David Trench, took place on the and the second involved uniform raising of a in the nearby market. Meanwhile the ‘boffin’, (B&P), Peter Ferguson, Mike Owen, John spiliway. After Stanley Elliott, Stanley Ford wide horizontal rock mound. Comparatively Alvin Smith (B&P), was busy contriving ways Dunnicliff (B&P), Vincent Chan, Ed Ha (B&P), (B&P), Michael Guilford and Paul Molyneux cheap and readily accessible rock favoured the and means of restocking the reservoir with fresh Choi Tak Yan, Ho Yui-kwan, Shi Man-fai, (B&P) as well as Hon. A. M. J. Wright (Director selection of the latter method. The closure water fish in order to achieve the favourable Raymond Wai, Yong Kong-weng, Yeung Wood of Public Works), Teddy Wilmot-Morgan (Direc operation was carried out in December 1966 ecological balance needed to check insect and kow, Jackie Chan, Michael Li, George Brown tor of Water Supplies) and representatives from across a 3,000 ft wide gap and the maximum algae growths. (B&P), Leon Callaghan, Les Doe, John Grindlay, the principal contractors engaged on the scheme, velocities measured (over 9 ft/second) corres Impounding began next month and by October, Bill Lloyd, John McCabe, Bill Middlemiss, Len had been introduced to His Excellency, the two ponded closely with those predicted from model the start of the normal dry season, the reservoir Porter (B&P), Lew Turner (B&P) and Fred Stanleys mounted the dais to take their seats tests. In their keeness to obtain these readings held almost 11,000 million gallons of somewhat Tyndall (B&P). The intermingling of names beside the Governor. In his speech, after un three of the senior site staff overloaded the brackish water. Water from the reservoir had from both firms is indicative of a harmonious veiling the commemorative plaque, His Excellency cantilever of the measuring pontoon, thus first to be blended with fresh water from other partnership over the years which is still continuing. paid a fitting tribute to the firms with the words: causing instability of the unit and finished up sources and put into supply at a time when the Although since 1968 the Colony has enjoyed a “The engineering problems associated with in the water! An hour or so later, in a motley civil disturbances resulting from activities of full unrationed supply of water, further increases forming a barrage in the sea have been over selection of clothes, these three gentlemen, Mao’s Red Guards in China were near their of population and water consumption have led come by the imagination of the Consulting somewhat sheepishly, joined the contractor’s staff height. The resulting water had a noticeable to the uprating and extension of the original Engineers, coupled with ingenuity in design in their New Year’s Eve celebration. salinity although below the internationally Scheme. The reservoir raising works, comprising and thoroughness in execution.” With the gap closed it became popular to accepted maximum. The subsequent land-based undertake the 10-mile walk around the newly- operations to complete the dam to its full height formed reservoir and to collect coral and shells presented rather an anticlimax to the more from the old beaches. The deserted villages had glamorous marine orientated pre-closure works. an air of sadness as exploration of the little The Plover Cove Water Scheme has been a stone houses revealed many discarded articles of product of international teamwork. The con everyday rural life there. sultants were British and construction was Within a month of closure the pumping out of carried out by French, Swedish, Japanese and sea water commenced. It was originally planned local Hong Kong enterprises. The work force A TRUE STORY to extract only to a depth some 30 ft below mean employed on the Scheme in its various stages, in sea level so that the water remaining in the addition to the above nationalities, included reservoir would act as a buffer to prevent disturb Americans, Australians, Dutch, Germans and An enterprising engineer hit upon a bright established firm of razor blade manufacturers. ance of the saline sea-bed mud by incoming fresh Norwegians and at one time totalled some idea for supplementing his salary by free supplies He wrote to them in praise of their razor blades flood water from the main tunnel system and 4,500 men. of biscuits and toilet requisites. Playing upon which were so good that one had lasted a whole natural catchment. However, because of a pro There was also a cosmopolitan flavour at the the human susceptibility to flattery he picked year. They could, of course use his letter in any longed drought this plan was abandoned and Plover Cove club, built specially to cater for this items of which he was in short supply and wrote future advertising. The firm, which is most pumping was continued, leaving the reservoir multi-racial community. Church services, in to the manufacturers extolling the virtues of the likely run by another engineer, replied with a virtually empty by May 1967. In all some 18,000 cluding numerous christenings were held at the product. In many cases the manufacturer re letter full of thanks and enclosing a whole year’s million gallons of salt water was extracted by club-house as well as special festivities for such sponded with complimentary boxes of biscuits supply of razor blades in appreciation. He has means of the floating temporary pumping events as the Summer Equinox, Bastille Day, and toothpaste etc. He met his match in a well kept it to show to friends. 30 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 972 31

Plover Cove Site Newsletter Our Share in the ‘Roads and Bridges’ Stakes

put all this . . . water here!”, never function and were described by one byAndreii,A/Iasloivicz said the Hong Kong Auxiliary cynical Lancastrian student of nature, as being Air Force CO, as his helicopter as much use as a chocolate tea pot! crashed into a brimming Plover Cove Reservoir Plover Cove must have undergone a radical last month. Prolonged summer rainfall has kept and permanent change since those early halcyon the rising living standards during London, Paris, Tokyo, etc., they also exist here the water level lapping up and up, against the days of sauna baths and boating. The Tai Po the last decade or so, the car, and furthermore are compounded by lack of land new siphon bases above the old spiliway horizon road is now a weekend ‘autostrada del undertaker’ hitherto available to few, has be and population density in the urban areas un level and has kept the stifling summer air re and attempting to join the throng is akin to come a status symbol with increasingly larger matched elsewhere. sounding to the laying of bets for and against starring in a road safety horror film. numbers of people being able to afford it. Since Government expenditure on roads and bridges overflow. The contractor has showed traditional All the quarters except for those three occupied 1961 vehicle registrations in Hong Kong have rose from some HK$16 million per annum in Chinese ability to adapt by stripping off and by SWKP staff, are occupied by general Govern increased more than threefold, with the result 1959 to HK$40 million in 1967. Tn 1968 the wading about for the weekly tub whilst continuing ment families and are in great demand. Lee-ming that there are now 266 vehicles for each mile of Hong Kong Long-Term Road Study Report was to erect formwork. Progress has been adequate Fong is hoping to return to the guessing stick road. Whatever traffic problems prevail in produced which, if fully implemented, would and if ingenuity for running repairs can balance game in Star House shortly. The John Grindlay reluctance to execute maintenance, all work and Tom Dockerty families return to UK early should be completed on schedule by next April. next summer. Everyone here was disappointed The main dam raising plods along and a fair that David Coffey’s office ball and chain wouldn’t number of the old wave-wall blocks have been allow him to visit us during his recent industrious repositioned at the final crest level. trip, but those who saw him swear that British pie, There is odd scepticism that the siphons will pickles and pints have gained a little ground. :-% by TOM DOCKERTY

Site Staff Plover Cove Approach roads to tunnel

A. 30 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 972 31

Plover Cove Site Newsletter Our Share in the ‘Roads and Bridges’ Stakes

Site Staff Plover Cove Approach roads to tunnel

A. 0

32 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 33 call for an annual expenditure of HKSIOO opened Cross-Harbour Tunnel is becoming a The field for the ‘Roads and Bridges’ Stakes been set with the object of completing the million in 1975 and HKSI5O million in 1980. serious rival in this pastime. In 1966 construc increased when Government decided to imple construction of the new road by 1976, by which The Firm entered the ‘Roads and Bridges’ tion of the Lai Chi Kok Bridge began and on ment, if not perhaps in full, then in great measure, time the new town of Tuen Mun will rapidly be Stakes on a walkover in 1959 with the construc completion provided the last link in the new the Long-Term Road Study Report of 1968. taking shape on a large reclamation area in tion of Kowloon Foothills Road—25 miles of route between Kowloon and Tsuen Wan. Thus early in 1969 two other London-based Castle Peak Bay. mainly two-lane road, a flyover and a footbridge. Concurrently design work was proceeding on firms of consultants were appointed for various At present all the industrial and commercial The flyover was the first prestressed concrete the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Road Connections projects together with three local firms for minor traffic to this part of the New Territories has to structure built in the Colony. This project was and Lai Chi Kok Interchange. The successful assignments. The new arrivals made fast starts use the one narrow and tortuous coastal road. completed in 1961 at a cost of about HKS42 completion of these three basically bridgework and their various reports were well received. This road leads to many of Hong Kong’s fine million. At about the same time there was projects amounting to some HKS56 million in However, they soon discovered that invariably beaches and n summer it is even more congested another job—Lo Wu Classification Range Road value, added a new dimension to the Firm’s there was a considerable gap between submission by our favourite hobby here of being roasted —a mile or so of an access road which was no activities and enabled us to acquire some expertise 4 of reports and being able to start work on sites. inside cars collected together in thousands into sooner completed than its surface was churned in the simple form of bridge construction. Sites Also with the increased demand it is becoming enormous traffic jams. We plan (hope?) that the up by army tanks. Fortunately, however, an un for these works included a marine bay, new and more difficult to recruit suitably qualified and new road will end all this. It will take to the hills: detected error in the estimates provided sufficient old reclamations, original hill sides and narrow experienced local staff. No doubt these problems at first a single carriageway; finally a dual three- funds in the vote and in the end most of the streets fronted by dilapidated buildings with will be overcome in time but one gets the im lane road about 15 kilometres long (yes, even HK money was spent—so perhaps it was foresight markets in the middle. A parapet of the Canal pression that the edge of the initial dash has is going metric) will give travellers magnificent after all! In 1963 work started on the Kwai Road Flyover passes two feet outside a building, been somewhat blunted in the hot and humid views over the sea to the outlying islands. The Chung Development Scheme and by the end of and an enterprising tenant has since found the climate of Hong Kong! design period is extremely short but we have 1965 the 27 miles long Coastal Road was structure’s drainage very useful for household Since being in competition with others we been helped considerably by the commendable completed. The road, dual three-lane carriage waste disposal! Markets have since been built have been appointed for the Airport Tunnel decision to reduce the eight-word title for the way for 22 miles, reducing to dual two-lane under Lai Chi Kok Bridge and Canal Road Road, Tsing Yi Approach Roads and Tsuen scheme to one of three words—the ‘Tuen Mun carriageway on top of the Kwai Chung Culvert, Flyover. Beams and columns have been found Wan—Castle Peak Road. The four-lane vehicular Road’. (Someone please calculate the saving in was designed for a speed of 70 mph and is by tasks that could not reasonably have been fore tunnel, some 2,800 ft long, together with its ink and typewriter ribbon!) far the fastest stretch of road in the Colony. seen at the design stage. Nevertheless the struc connections will provide a relief road between Wong Hung Chuck, who has been with the Speed enthusiasts keep using this road just to tures perform adequately and cope smoothly central Kowloon and Kwun Tong to the east of team from the outset, Yuen Wai To and David see how fast their cars can go! The recently with the traffic. the peninsula. The tunnel is being built by the Butler (who arrived from Kendal in April to cut-and-cover method of construction and is due look after the project) saw the Report completed to be completed in 1975. Tsing Yi Approach on time in June. Design has now started and the Roads are to be finished by the end of 1974 team has been strengthened by Raphael Cheng and call for the construction of some three miles and by the welcome arrival of newcomers to the of roads and a five-span flyover. The first stage firm, Tam Man Shui, Felix Leung, Tai Kong of Tsuen Wan—Castle Peak Road, comprising and Garry Sun. The design is already proving a some 10 miles of a single three-lane carriageway most challenging and rewarding experience to all on a new alignment on the hillsides above the those concerned with it. existing two-lane road, is due to be completed At present out on the hills (somewhere) Leung in 1976. The combined cost of these three pro Cheuk Tong and Yu Ki Lam are guiding a jects is about HK$300 million, ensuring busy comprehensive ground investigation along the times for those concerned in the next few years. proposed route. The idea is not primarily to The field is now closely bunched on the far side worry the designers stiff but to give them a little of the track. It will be a while yet before heads idea of the problems they will be asking the are turned for the home stretch. We are confident contractor to face when construction starts. that with continuous help and encouragement Elsewhere, spread all over Hong Kong, we from our parent Firm we shall hold our own to have little yellow machines banging away making the winning post. holes in the ground: all the way up Nathan Road; on the terminal platform of the Kowloon Canton Railway; high up on mid-levels; in a amongst squatter huts. Investigations for the Tuen Mun; and lot of little Mass Transit Railway; probing the causes of holes landslides. This work is being dealt with by Christian Buchli, who joined the firm earlier The Tsuen Wan to Castle Peak Road scheme this year, Peter Wong, on secondment from came to life again after spending five years in Freeman Fox & Partners, and Peter Storry who limbo awaiting the green light from the Public enlisted only very recently. Lai Chi Kok expressway and bridge Works Department. A very tight programme has DAVID BUTLER 0

standard’s ropey except for one choir which is second part and we’re all looking forward to the good but they’re mostly married and that doesn’t next one so come on. In the most recent of a line solve any problems and the Hong Kong singers of successes Penny was dead on an open stage who are sometimes married but don’t mind too all interval and never looked up to see that much anyway and are sometimes too much fun everyone had gone off boozing and she was Extra-Curricular and sometimes good but stick around and i’ll tell you when they’re best. They produce a or a Bachelor’sLament Gilbert and Sullivan opera and some other light thing (Strauss, OfT’enbach) alternately every six by The Maestro months or so and the subject of this section has been in the chorus, sang tenor parts and conduc (To BE READ As IT WAS WRITrEN—FAST) ted the last two and is known as a proper whatsit in the latter role but thinks he gets results and hasn’t had an all-out rebellion yet but there’s time and anything can happen in these far flung ‘Ah! Say that again’ she murmured corners. In a similar manner to friend Gamlen, ‘Your voice is music’ minus pipe boost plus ego boost, became treasurer of the organisation and subsequently and con ‘I don’t know anything about music’ lie replied currently chairman and musical director and ‘Bitt1 know what I like’.” (ANON) there’s a powerful position involving auditioning ‘The Maestros: Messrs. Wainwright, Gamlin, Bruce, new members which helps to solve the problems Breslaw and Moody’ outlined in paragraph one above and explains the bags under his eyes on Wednesday mornings. Vivienne and Peter Knowles were stalwart singers and always knew their parts which was great until they dragged her out at the start of just as well with one conductor and we’re sorry the second half and she had to wait for Paul’s this is Hong Kong and we’re twenty Philharmonic or any other outfit not fussed to see them go especially since Peter was good at two words before she could go home. 0S and you know what we’ve done are about when people turn up to rehearsals and farce which isn’t surprising and we’ve had plenty In February/March 1973 we’ve a Festival of doing and might do and how hard we some of us are but don’t be offended as we need of practice haven’t we. the Arts sponsored by BOAC er a!. which work, etc., and its all true and more but what you and you can continue to smoke during the One show boasted five of our number which shouldn’t be confused with El Al and you’ll about our spare time. Spare time and social life rests as long as its not that foul stuff. The Phil isn’t bad for a bunch of plumbers and I’ll bet have an easier time getting tickets in London, and there’s a thing and staff services don’t harmonic is a highly assorted bunch who give the Partners lost a bomb that week. Bruce Nigeria or Bangkok than we will as they’re employ bachelors to get the real facts and that’s concerts every six weeks or so which would not conducted an orchestra of twenty give or take giving away airline tickets with them and they’ve rough and I know after three years and a bit or set London standards on fire but its all we’ve got one or two in which Gamlen horned, David nearly all gone and not on sale here yet which is no bit as you like. We’ve done a survey subjecting and they try and its worth the couple of bucks Wainwright celloed Basil Bressler from Binnies tough but not surprising and there’s a bit of traditional sampling techniques to rigorous to get into the air-conditioning and Richard is played second fiddle and on the stage Peter acid around about that and I’m bitter. Anyway mathematical analysis and the result’s not nice. good but not co-operative and won’t give me a Moody from joint engineers, Plover Cove drew we’re forming a choir to sing with Menuhin’s Ten male expats to two point eight of the female photograph to eke this lot out a bit. Anyway spontaneous applause from the audience as a Festival Orchestra or the LPO or Schwarzkopf equivalent so there are droughts, bad ones. they’re smarter than me in the East and had fearsome/fearless pirate/policeman and there’s or someone and Fonteyn is coming so i’ll solve They’ve always had a stable of eligible bachelors only to give him a fill to his pipe and slip him a no prizes for guessing the show. David the ticket problem and slip in at the back as a in the firm here and just now’s no exception couple of gins and tonic and before he knew it he Wainwright plays intermittently with the Phil, ballet dancer since I’ve always wanted to check though I say it myself so what goes on then? was Philharmonic treasurer and that’s not funny in quartets and at soirees which is a good word up on them chaps anyway. Well there’s cricket, hockey, tennis, swimming, in this part of the world where cash goes fast no my grandmother used to use and she couldn’t So that’s about it. There’s a pantomime or sailing, judo or drinking for the rough types but matter whose is in your pocket and I know and play the cello but David can and well and all this similar approved at Christmas, local singing those of us who are more refined, like, subject a sympathise. But more to come. flattery is because he’s about to be conned by his groups, Chinese opera, Cantonese drama and the discerning section of the local populace to our conducting colleague into his next show for office and there’s plenty of drama there but that’s outstanding musical and dramatic skills and thats which he is already flexing his arm, This therefore another story and probably a better one than this “There is a delight in singing, tho’ no one hears detailed to tell you about and they’re serves as notice on both the Wainwright family too you’ll say I was what I’m Beside the singer.” but conned. breathing down my neck. and the Partners for the last week in May. Expat drama is kept going by two clubs and ‘The singers went before “The horn, the horn, the lusty horn Singers are vain and John Bruce is no excep when they’re good they’re very and when they’re The players on instruments followed after; Is not a thing to laugh or scorn.” tion and i’m not offended and you’ll get a bad they really plummet but not when Penny Amongst theni were damsels playing with photograph like it or not if we can get something Came’s around. Penny’s espoused to Paul of the timnbrels.’’ Richard Gamlen is our office triton ‘blowing flattering enough sent to London in time and same name of airport fame himself featuring to loud his (wreathed) horn’ in the Hong Kong they had better. We’re all big fish and the great critical acclaim in a two-word, thirty- These lads had their priorities right. 34 P0NTIFACT No. 30 C1-IRISTMAS, 1972 35

mote and operate a dual two-lane carriageway including a slipway and jetty for fabricating, toll tunnel sited between Hung Horn on the launching and fitting-out the tunnel units, and a mainland and Causeway Bay on the island, that barge for handling and placing the screed and work on the project started in earnest. Scott tunnel units; a steel caisson for the north ventila Wilson Kirkpatrick & Partners, again in associa tion building; and the 1,800 ft long earth and The Hong Kong tion with Freeman Fox & Partners, were com rock-fill bund in 60 ft of water for the construc missioned to continue as the Consulting Engin tion of the south approach. The first tunnel eers, and design drawings and contract drawings unit was laid on 29th December, 1970, and the were prepared throughout the first six months of last unit placed in February, 1972. Within a few Cross-Harbour Tunnel 1966. After abortive attempts to negotiate a weeks of placing the last unit it was possible to contract in August and September, competitive make an underwater crossing of the harbour on byDerek Verran tenders were invited in October, 1966, from foot. The tunnel was opened to traffic in August, appropriately qualified contractors and consortia 1972, the work thus being completed in two years of international repute for return by February, eleven months, one month shorter than the 1967. contract period. This is a notable achieve-

1972 sees tile completion of a project with which tile firiii has been concerned for tile past twenty years. The Harbour Tunnel was opened to traffic in August, 1972, and HRH The Princess Alexandra unveiled a coillillelnolative plaque at an inauguration ceremony on the 2/st October, 1972.

Tile Hong Kong Cross-Harbour Tunnel has been built to meet the needs of the ever-growing traffic between the twin cities of Victoria, on the island of Hong Kong, and Koivioon on the mainland. Over the years, this t,afflc has been carried by numerous ferry services which, in 1970, carried a daily average of 16,700 vehicles and 655,000 pedestrians. Tile mien’tuminelis currently carrying 25,000 vehicles per day and has all ulti,i,ate daily traffic capacity of about 80,000 vehicles.

The firm first started work on this project when During the study and throughout construction of in 1952 Dr. Guthlac Wilson, a founder partner of the tunnel, Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall Scott & Wilson, suggested to Mr. K. B. Aliport, & Partners have advised on architectural matters. manager of the Harriman Realty Company (a The studies for the feasibility report included subsidiary of Wheelock, Marden & Company an origin-and-destination traffic survey which One of tunnel carriageways Tunnel entrance Limited), that a fixed crossing of Hong Kong was undertaken on behalf of the Consulting the Harbour might be a commercial proposition and Engineers by the Road Research Laboratory. Negotiations with the successful tenderer, a ment bearing in mind that the tunnel is one of the at that time Scott & Wilson prepared an outline This survey was used as a basis for estimating consortium led by Costain International Limited, longest immersed-tube tunnels in the world, design for a long-span bridge. In the mid-fifties future cross-harbour traffic and hence toll but failed in the of 1967 and the longest underwater road tunnel in Asia. the Hong Kong Government, after investigating revenue. The report concluded that the construc proceeded middle due to the financial uncertainties which followed During the pre-contract design work many other the provision of a road link, decided against tion of either a bridge or a tunnel was feasible riots in the tunnels in the world were visited and various constructing this themselves but proposed that and financially viable. There were, however, the Colony at that time. however, renewed in 1969, methods of studied. Special commercial firms should be permitted to promote strong objections to the bridge proposals from Negotiations were, construction in and a loan of £1475 million was offered by vestigations were also put in hand on hydraulic such a scheme if they so wished. both marine and aviation interests and hence Lloyds Bank of London, backed by the Export studies, ventilation problems and such matters in 1959 Wheelock Marden & Company the Hong Kong Government favoured the as of ships’ anchors the rockfill Limited, Hutchinson International Limited, proposal for a tunnel to be constructed by the Credits Guarantee Department and repayable the effects on within seven years of of the tunnel. protection over the immersed-tube tunnel. Kwong Wan Limited and Sir EIIy Kadoorie immersed-tube method. completion The contract was signed on 26th June, 1969, tunnel, 6,088 ft long between portals, has Successors Limited, with the support of the It was in August, 1965, when the Government The on 1969. dual each 22 ft wide, Hong Kong Government, founded the Victoria granted a franchise to the Cross-Harbour and work began site on 3rd September, two-lane carriageways, While plant and equipment to the with traffic headroom of 16 ft. On the mainland City Development Company Limited to study Tunnel Company Limited (successors to the construction value million was being mobilised, work on side the carriageways widen out to a toll plaza the possibility of providing a road crossing of the Victoria City Development Company)* to pro of2 a bored-pile wall for the north was where there are 14 toll lanes with collection harbour and commissioned the firm in association approach commenced. Simultaneously, the contractors booths, six of which are reversible to allow for with Freeman Fox & Partners as consulting *Jn 1969,when construction was started, shares were began the design and construction of major tidal flow conditions. The ventilation buildings, engineers to undertake a feasibility report and to by the Hong Kong Government and by also taken up costing in excess of £2 million each containing ten axial flow fans, are sited at prepare outline designs and estimates of cost. the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. temporary works CHRISTMAS, 1972 36 PONTIFACT No. 30

the junction. The space between the steel tubes the ends of the submerged tunnel. Beyond each with a concrete keel, sprayed concrete exterior and around them was then filled with tremie portal there is louvred section 300 ft long, and a concrete lining. The supply of the steel- a concrete. Working from inside the completed designed to provide transition between work and its fabrication into twin tubes was let a gradual section of the tunnel, the space between the dam tunnel lighting and the light outside. by the consortium to Redpath Dorman Long plates was then drained and the plates cut away. Both the approaches to the tunnel and the (Contracting) Limited, a subsidiary company of Curved steel plates were welded in to make the ventilation buildings were constructed in the British Steel Corporation. Plain material re steel tubes continuous and any cavity behind the inforced concrete. On the Kowloon side, excava delivered from the UK was fabricated on the closing rings grouted. Finally, reinforcement was vation for the approach ramp was made within site, using local labour supervised by UK fixed across the gap and the internal concrete bored pile retaining walls by temporary personnel. Additionally, the company was res supported completed. steel and permanent concrete struts and beams. ponsible for fixing the reinforcing steel and wire With eacit tunnel unit in place, the space On the island side, the ramp and ventilation mesh in the tunnel unit for subsequent concreting between the unit wall and the sides of the trench building were constructed behind an earth and by the main contractor, and for breaking through was back-filled and the positioned unit covered rockfill bund. between the units after they had been joined with a coarse stone blanket, primarily to give ventilation building was together on the harbour bed. The units, fitted The northern con protection against scour and anchor dragging. structed as a steel and reinforced concrete caisson with temporary end dam plates, were fabricated The ceiling of the tunnel is generally formed of which was floated into position and sunk onto a and assembled on shore and launched sideways Ferry Boat precast concrete panels with a matt black sprayed prepared foundation of crushed stone. It was into the harbour. At this stage they had a dead Before each unit was moved into position, the finish. The walls are again spray finished in off- built in Taikoo Dockyard and part of its internal weight of about 6,000 tons and floated well bottom was dredged to allow a screed of crushed white and have a slightly rnatt texture to avoid structure was completed after launching but above the water with a high freeboard. They stone at least 2 ft thick to be laid. Preparation of specular reflection but ensure easy cleaning. prior to sinking. After it had been founded on were then taken to the fitting-out jetty where the the bottom and laying of the tunnel units were An administration building containing offices, the stone bed, the remainder of the substructure internal concrete was placed, after which the carried out from the purpose-built screed-and-lay control room, staff messing facilities, company was built, followed by the superstructure. units were only just buoyant and had a dead barge, a twin pontoon structure that could be vehicle garage, etc. has also been constructed The immersed tunnel was built in 15 units, weight of about 30,000 tons. They were then ready accurately set to level above the harbour bed; under the contract. The provision and installation between 325 ft and 371 ft long, and 73 ft wide. to be towed, one at a time, to the screed-and-lay alignment was maintained using a laser beam of all the tunnel services and control systems Each unit comprised two 34 ft diameter steel barge prior to placing in position on the harbour directed across the harbour. The barge, developed was combined in one nominated sub-contract. tubes welded from in. stiffened steel plate, bed. specifically for handling and placing the screed The successful tenderer was N. V. Philips’ and tunnel units, was designed and constructed Gloeilampenfabrieken of Eindhoven, who, in within a period of 14 months at a cost of approxi- turn, sub-contracted various parts of this work mately £500,000. to specialist firms, some within their own organi With the screed prepared, the units, with only a sation. These sub-contractors, with one excep small freeboard, were floated into position tion, were British and the British export content within the pontoon. Tremie concrete was placed of the sub-contract was about 84%. The power between the shoulders of the tubes to eliminate supply is shared between the two Hong Kong the buoyancy so that the units could be sunk power companies. The two supplies are totally onto the prepared bed. For much of the length independent, and interruption of one supply will of the tunnel the depth of water in the harbour still leave half the lighting and ventilation intact was in excess of 70 ft. Detailed checks on the for the few minutes necessary for full load to be relative density of the water and of the concrete switched onto the alternative supply. Should both in the tunnel units were made regularly. The supplies fail, an automatic 25 kw diesel generator screed-and-lay barge operated independently of system will provide power for essential services. the tide level which had a range of about 8 ft. The ventilation system was designed in the The actual sinking took one to two hours and light of model tests and full-scale tests on the was done at slack water. The units were laid in Maas Tunnel in Rotterdam. A semi-transverse sequence working from the mainland ventilation system was adopted in which fresh air is directed building to the island, into each vehicle duct and exhausted via the The method of connecting each new unit to portals. To supply the fresh air, 16 two-speed the previous one was simple, well-proven and fixed-bladed axial-flow fans of 78 in. diameter worked well. The projecting plates or hoods at have been installed. the end of the new unit were offered up to the Lighting through the tunnel is by fluorescent matching plates of the unit already in place and tubes placed longitudinally in fittings mounted attached by inserting tapered pins through in the ceiling end-to-end throughout the whole register plates on both units. The gap between length. The level of illumination throughout is the overlapping plates was caulked and curved automatically adjusted to the level of illumina closure plates driven to form a cofferdam around tion outside the tunnel. The plaza is lit from 65 ft Screed and lay barge ‘The Severn River’ 38 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHR.ISTMAS, 1972 39

40 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 41 high masts carrying special lanterns using high and other equipment have been provided both report in 1961 and the granting of the franchise to long telexes and even longer working days pressure sodium lamps. along the tunnel and on the patrol and recovery the Tunnel Company in 1965. it was a time of (nights!) The drainage system is designed to deal with vehicles. skirmishing when the basic parameters of the It was at this stage that the Hong Kong the very severe rainfall that can occur in Hong A radio-telephone system provides com cross-harbour link were hammered out. I started Partnership relinquished to London the position Kong. There are two main pump-houses, one at munication between the control room and the to read the files in August 1964 until in summer of ‘Engineer’ in order to assist the client to boost each portal of the tunnel each containing three patrol vehicles and portable sets inside or outside 1965 Joe left Hong Kong and the baby, to a great their financing arrangements in the UK. main pumps together with one dewatering pump the tunnel. Toil equipment of the most advanced extent, was mine. During 1965 the tunnel gelled In September 1969 HE The Governor and also a pump-house at the centre of the tunnel. type has been installed to ensure that traffic is not and the road connections began to take shape and symbolically turned the first soil and the con Traffic surveillance within the tunnel area is by delayed by the collection of money and that there in the late autumn of that year engineers from tractor swung into action on site. The Hong closed-circuit television with cameras at about is a maximum security surrounding the collection London and Montreal zeroed in on Hong Kong Kong office ,have been fortunate to be ‘on-the- 1,000 ft intervals along the faciiity—19 cameras and accounting of revenues. The toll registration (who also fielded one or two engineers of their job’ and see all the action at first hand. 1 clearly in all. Traffic control is effected by special high and recording equipment includes a small own!) After sixty years of talk this was the remember the abortive launch of Unit No. 1. intensity traffic lights, using halogen lamps, at general-purpose coniputer that cross-checks and beginning of the end for the tunnel. As it appeared to be running smoothly down the 700 ft intervals above each lane. records every toll movement. During the next eighteen months there was slipways 1 walked off to photograph the operation In the case of accidents, a heavy duty recovery Simultaneously with the construction of the unflagging effort towards letting a contract. from the fitting out jetty where, as I looked vehicle has been provided, as also have a number tunnel itself, the Hong Kong Government con Particularly outstanding was the way in which through my viewfinder, I saw it come to a halt. of Landrovers as patrol and light recovery structed extensive approach roads on both the Bill Lamb (now with Aeres in Niagara) produced Running back to the launching bay I entered into vehicles. Special precautions have been taken island and the mainland to give access to the design and documents for a casting basin in six weeks of frustration and achievement. The against fire, and alarms and emergency telephones tunnel. The designs for these approaches were next-to-no-time. Another event, outstanding in sight of 6,000 tons of unyielding tunnel unit was have been installed at close intervals along the prepared in our Hong Kong office by the Con other ways, was the week-long negotiation in frustrating in the extreme whereas the sense of tunnel and fire mains run the whole length of the sulting Engineers and the roads were built by Japan just before tenders were invited. Everyone achievement gained in retrieving the situation was tunnel with frequent hydrants. Fire extinguishers local Hong Kong contractors. worked exceedingly hard but I remember clearly acute. We all knew how Brunel must have felt seeing august engineers playing musical bumps when he finally shoved the Great Eastern into the after dinner in a geisha house! This was truly an Thames. Another ‘event’ was the sinking of innocuous evening out and apart from already- Unit No. 10 in typhoon ‘Rose’. I managed to mentioned ‘dancing’ included a serious dramatic miss this event by being on leave and only recitation by our host—partners please note! arriving back in time to see the unit break surface. During the same week there was a visit to a bath The previous fortnight had been particularly / house followed by a night club where someone difficult for Mike Guilford and John Bruce: swopped visiting cards with the hostesses. This article is personal to the Hong Kong Did his wife ever wonder who sent the Christmas Office but, of course, the brunt of the work at this Hong Kong Office and the Tunnel card from Tokyo? These were harmless diver time was borne by the contractors (Trans sions and I trust that wives and sweethearts were Harbour Constructors Ltd) whose efforts, for by KenPhillips kept fully informed! example, in the above two mishaps were Apart from this, work continued unabated herculean. Their efforts are best reflected by the and tenders were received in February 1967. fact that the tunnel was opened to traffic one However before a contract could be awarded the month ahead of schedule. riots of that year were upon us and frustrated our After an indescribable weekend sorting out last efforts. Everyone set about popping the tunnel in minute hitches the tunnel was certified complete paving given numerous talks with the first memory of a cross-harbour link was during the ‘fridge’ to await better times whilst in Hong in the early hours of lst—2nd August to the aid of two baked-bean tins, on the the visit to Hong Kong of Dr. Guthlac Wilson Kong we also sorted out the road connections accompaniment of champagne. On the 2nd ‘engineering’ of the tunnel the writer in February/March 1953 when someone (Ho into ‘tunnel-related’ and ‘non-tunnel-related’ August the tunnel was inaugurated by HE The will on this occasion leave the technicalities to Chung?) prepared sketches of a bridge between segments and continued with such ‘non-tunnel- Governor which included a very hot ceremony others. By the way, it is important to eat the Chatham Road and Morison Hill. I remember related’ items as Bowrington Canal Extension, in the centre of the tunnel and some more beans before tunnelling with the tins! when I was back in London in the fifties seeing Chatham Road Flyover and Canal Road Flyover. champagne to follow. Peter Wefring doing some work on the bridge. in I to apologise to the I will confine myself to those human touches By late 1968 interest was reawakening the Before concluding wish I am afraid that I did not experience the early possibility of investing in Hong Kong and before engineers of Freeman Fox & Partners for this that stick in the memory such as when 1 refrained days of the tunnel in Hong Kong from 1959 to tunnel I from submitting to PontiJict a photograph of an long the tunnel was underway again. By March personal account of SWKP and the but 1963 and my only memories are of Doug Thorp illustrious engineer from London basking seal- 1969 the tempo was once again frenetic and after am sure that they will understand as this is for battling at the London end. I can only take like on the sands of one of the beaches along superhuman efforts the contract was signed on consumption by Pontifact readers. For those everyone’s word for the fact that in Hong Kong the effort dismantling Freeman & Partners Castle Peak Road—” My God, it is hard out in 26th June. Whilst major of who do not know, Fox they were stirring times! the East!” But to our muttons— the almost-ready contract of 1967 and re have been associated with the Firm on the When I returned to Hong Kong in early 1963 assembling it as a 1969 contract fell on the project since 1959 and together we have People had chuntered on and off about a Joe Lindsay was holding the fort. This was the London Office, my memories are of the last few engineered this tunnel which certainly is a tunnel for half-a-century before we arrived. My time of the long pause between submission of the days before signing with last-minute redrafts, credit to both firms. C

Tunnel Site News1ette Up the Lee Garden Path. By Peter Kno,,’les or Don’t Cross your Harbour until you come to it

have nearly reached the end of the The amount of grime generated by this volume of story on the Hong Kong Cross- traffic in an enclosed space has been astonishing you remember the story of the stripes) and a second (two stripes). As the tour Harbour Tunnel, for in October, a and the Company have now instituted a nightly primitive tribe which had so few progressed our appreciation of the technicalities plane-load of distinguished visitors arrived washing-down programme which will allow the jokes that each was given a number? diminished in our concern for the safety of the from London for the Opening Ceremony and on whole of the tunnel to be washed once per A man only had to call out a particular number party, because it soon became obvious that three the 21st of that month Her Royal Highness, The fortnight. for all his companions to burst into laughter. stripes was something of a fanatic and was not Princess Alexandra duly unveiled the ceremonial Traffic behaviour during the early stages left We found the story of the Prof’s nocturnal going to spare us any of the physical hazards. plaque. much to be desired, but lane discipline has now encounter over Afghanistan on the charter flight Of course, most members of the patrol were not The last newsletter was written in November improved with the enforcement of the by-laws to Hong Kong so amusing that we agreed it bothered by this but we were rather anxious about 1971 when only twelve out of the fifteen and there have been few accidents although would only be necessary, when we got back to an old dear in her seventies. As it turned out we tunnel units had been placed. The closing unit, these unfortunately gave rise to one fatality. Winsley Street, to call one of our colleagues on need not have worried because it became in No. 14, was placed on 27th January 1972 There has been a rapid run-down of staff since the internal telephone and say the single word creasingly evident that, despite her appearance, and on 20th February the ‘holing through’ early opening and it has been sad to see the ‘Clore’ to produce instant relief from Monday this small woman had been cast in the same ceremony was performed by the Deputy Chair departure of so many familiar faces; Tom Stott morning blues. mould as Gladys Aylward and would have man of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Co. and was and Jim Parkin in July; Chris Wright, Gordon We had our first trip through the tunnel on thought nothing of crossing China on foot forty suitably celebrated by a champagne party in Tolson, Bob Neill, Reg Prince, Alec Thomson, the way from the airport to the hotel. The years ago. Unit No. 15. John McCabe and H. C. Ho in August. By the end courier on the coach kept up a running commen The target date for early opening was 1st July of October, the civil staff under James Luk had tary all the way. Having extolled the virtues of To return to our ordeal, we began with a brain but it was not until 2nd August that His been reduced to three, Leon Callaghan and two our hotel, he started on the tunnel, but soon washing session in the so-called control room. This Excellency the Governor formally opened the assistant inspectors, although most of John dismissed the engineering achievement to launch place looked exactly like the familiar set in which Tunnel, and the first traffic to pay tolls entered the Morisons F & M staff will be carrying on man into an attack on the toll system. He dwelt the plot for each episode of S!artrek is hatched, tunnel just before midnight on 3rd August. The fully until the end of the year. particularly on the fares we should have to pay with its battery of closed-circuit TV screens and first day’s count of vehicles exceeded 40,000, but, This will be the last newsletter on the Cross- if ever we dared take a taxi through the tunnel. panels with flashing lights, only it was much when the novelty wore off for the people of Harbour Tunnel and I should like to take this The courier quoted a string of rates at us in noisier, with every telephone being shouted into Hong Kong and Kowloon, the daily average opportunity of thanking all staff for their support American dollars, but judging from the other simultaneously and, just as we were there, the settled down to about 25,000 vehicles per day. and hard work during the last three years. I am residents we encountered at the hotel throughout practice fire alarm for that particular shift. After Remaining work on the tunnel and ramps, sure that we are all proud to have been associated the week he was, no doubt, equally versatile that there was a period of relative tranquillity principally finishings and services, had to be with such a massive project, which is already in yen. Spent going up and down the staircases to get us completed by nightshifts in one bore at a time. having a profound effect on the life of Hong Kong. Once installed at the Lee Gardens each of us into shape for the going down the hole. When the was confronted with a stack of fan mail— big moment came we set off in single file, three invitations to functions almost every night— stripes leading, along the narrow walkway with and a sort of treble chance coupon on which one traffic screaming past at arms length. A few indicated one’s preference for various excursions minutes later our leader suddenly jumped out organised by our hosts. Having marked eight into the middle of the highway and brought the draws before dinner, at last one could relax. traffic to a shuddering halt whilst we all hurried THE IMPOSSIBLE ACHIEVED The programme for the second afternoon over (that’s the truth—scout’s honour—cross my A representative from the gas board was gave the option of a visit to the job, or, more harbour!) We could not have been more surprised quite overawed by the bustle of activity in the specifically, an introduction to the administration than if we had seen the white rabbit looking at office of one engineers representative. Never and ventilation of the tunnel—the two bits that his watch—it was, in fact, the only time that the before had he seen, even in the close confines of stick up in the air at the north end, or Kowloon old lady had to take someone’s arm for support. the industrys own offices, such haste and side as the natives would say. For the purpose of The finale of the exercise was a rapid progression efficiency. was” he said, “faster than high the inspection the company was divided into through ventilation ducts (like doubled-up speed gas!” three patrols, each under a patrol leader (three human models in an aerodynamic experiment) 44 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 45 and plantrooms which resembled enormous unveiling of a plaque by Princess Alexandra to ships’ engine-rooms and were just as hot. commemorate the opening of Cross-Harbour On the Thursday, the majority took a day trip Tunnel, a handshake from Her Royal Highness Hong Kong Commemorative Stamp by hydrofoil to Macau, but the writer, not being at the official reception and, in the evening, a a gambler, decided to rest from high society and splendid Chinese dinner given by the Tunnel sample the peace of Plover Cove. The first-class Company at which each male guest was presented and First Day Cover return fare to Tai Po Market on the Kowloon with a Company tie. Canton Railway was four dollars, equivalent to It all amounted to a great and memorable by Derek Verran two luncheon vouchers. This was money well experience. So, here’s to the next time in Hong spent, because thence only a short Landrover Kong. Bottoms up! . . . and thereby hangs a day covers. It was considered ride away was what must be one of the most tail (as Shakespeare never said), but we had he medium of the post is used in many and issue offirst this project, two other matters were magnificent situations for a construction site better stop lest we reveal a clue to crossword countries to commemorate events of that, for in the world. puzzlers like our mentor on one particular night national importance. The Cross-Harbour worthy of recognition, namely the formal ceremony by the Governor, HE Sir The end of the week saw the climax, with the out in Kowloon. Tunnel Company suggested to the Hong Kong opening W.M.H. postal authorities that the opening of the Hong Murray Maclehose when the first toll paying Kong Tunnel, in uniting, for the first time by a traffic passed through, and recently the unveiling direct road crossing of the harbour, the two by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Alexandra halves of Hong Kong, would be just such an of a plaque on the Administration Building to event worthy of the issue of a commemorative commemorate the completion of the construc stamp. tion work. Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & The Post Office, having agreed in principle, Partners also produced, on behalf of the Tunnel asked the Tunnel Company to submit a design. Company, designs for such a cover. The design Our architectural advisors for the tunnel project, on the front of the envelope is a simplified Hong Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners Kong motif showing the new tunnel linking the were approached to develop a design. Several twin cities of Kowloon and Victoria. As many esquisses were produced and following discussions parties, including consulting engineers, architects, with us, three designs were submitted to the contractors, clients, etc. were to make use of this Tunnel Company. The finally selected design, cover, all reference to the sender was omitted an illustration of the northern entrance of the from the envelope and an insert designed in tunnel on a background of the harbour, was corporating photographs, a brief description and submitted to the Post Office for approval and the vital statistics of the facility and a list of the subsequent incorporation of textual matter. principal parties concerned in the construction. In the philatelic world the issue of such The stamp and first day cover, while com commemorative stamps, indeed the first day of memorating both the opening and unveiling, issue of any stamp, is recorded by the printing were issued to coincide with the latter ceremony.

MPST D\Y COVLP $ltHl* .1t9IION(IKON(j -it it

L?srs. 1’ i72 3tr ;. i1i_,1r: Engineers armorial proposal for shield or banner, to be carried by those involved in the ‘Container Berths Campaign’ b F-I?. Sr Mtrn cFfhc’ I 972 P[ique crnIefei ci ,1iF priei H RH Pri,c,ss Ock’ber 3m 1972 44 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 45 and plantrooms which resembled enormous unveiling of a plaque by Princess Alexandra to ships’ engine-rooms and were just as hot. commemorate the opening of Cross-Harbour On the Thursday, the majority took a day trip Tunnel, a handshake from Her Royal Highness Hong Kong Commemorative Stamp by hydrofoil to Macau, but the writer, not being at the official reception and, in the evening, a a gambler, decided to rest from high society and splendid Chinese dinner given by the Tunnel sample the peace of Plover Cove. The first-class Company at which each male guest was presented and First Day Cover return fare to Tai Po Market on the Kowloon with a Company tie. Canton Railway was four dollars, equivalent to It all amounted to a great and memorable by Derek Verran two luncheon vouchers. This was money well experience. So, here’s to the next time in Hong spent, because thence only a short Landrover Kong. Bottoms up! . . . and thereby hangs a day covers. It was considered ride away was what must be one of the most tail (as Shakespeare never said), but we had he medium of the post is used in many and issue offirst this project, two other matters were magnificent situations for a construction site better stop lest we reveal a clue to crossword countries to commemorate events of that, for in the world. puzzlers like our mentor on one particular night national importance. The Cross-Harbour worthy of recognition, namely the formal ceremony by the Governor, HE Sir The end of the week saw the climax, with the out in Kowloon. Tunnel Company suggested to the Hong Kong opening W.M.H. postal authorities that the opening of the Hong Murray Maclehose when the first toll paying Kong Tunnel, in uniting, for the first time by a traffic passed through, and recently the unveiling direct road crossing of the harbour, the two by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Alexandra halves of Hong Kong, would be just such an of a plaque on the Administration Building to event worthy of the issue of a commemorative commemorate the completion of the construc stamp. tion work. Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & The Post Office, having agreed in principle, Partners also produced, on behalf of the Tunnel asked the Tunnel Company to submit a design. Company, designs for such a cover. The design Our architectural advisors for the tunnel project, on the front of the envelope is a simplified Hong Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners Kong motif showing the new tunnel linking the were approached to develop a design. Several twin cities of Kowloon and Victoria. As many esquisses were produced and following discussions parties, including consulting engineers, architects, with us, three designs were submitted to the contractors, clients, etc. were to make use of this Tunnel Company. The finally selected design, cover, all reference to the sender was omitted an illustration of the northern entrance of the from the envelope and an insert designed in tunnel on a background of the harbour, was corporating photographs, a brief description and submitted to the Post Office for approval and the vital statistics of the facility and a list of the subsequent incorporation of textual matter. principal parties concerned in the construction. In the philatelic world the issue of such The stamp and first day cover, while com commemorative stamps, indeed the first day of memorating both the opening and unveiling, issue of any stamp, is recorded by the printing were issued to coincide with the latter ceremony.

MPST D\Y COVLP $ltHl* .1t9IION(IKON(j -it it

and obtaining office and soils laboratory equip principal city in north Thailand. These are the ment at rock bottom prices. two most difficult roads as both wind part of their We have also had to say good-bye to two of way through mountainous terrain necessitating our local staff. Ekarin, our office boy, was design grades of up to 12%. At the moment one Newsletter from Thailand called up for the army and has been replaced by of them is little more than a track for a third of Suntorn, our new office girl whose cups of tea its length crossing the same river more than by Beau Thai every day are most welcome. Also no longer twenty times and climbing over 700 m to a with us is our secretary Karuna, who left in July maximum height of 1,030 m. to get married. A sad loss this as Karuna had The third road is situated in the central plains been with us from the very start of the office and about 200 3kn north of Bangkok and the fourth over the months had become Bangkok’s answer is located on a sand spit on Thailand’s east coast to Maureen Preston. However we all wish near Songkhla, over 1,000 km south of Bangkok. Karuna and her husband Wichit, every happiness These are existing gravel roads, both in reason Jooking through the ‘Newsletters’ section engineer, chief soil inspector or soil engineer, up in their married life. able condition and both more or less flat. Neither of the previous edition of Ponl(fact, you to you sir.” Lucky that he left the choice up By this time you are probably all wondering poses the difficult problems encountered in the may have noticed a photograph of the to us as we didn’t have any vacancies for consult what we have been doing in the last nine months two northern roads and both are relatively staff of the newly formed Bangkok office and ing engineers. so I had better give a brief description of the straightforward. wondered where the accompanying newsletter At the present time it would be difficult to project. it consists of the review, design revision Drawings and tender documents had already was. Well somebody, somewhere, forgot to recognise the office as it was nine months ago. and supervision of construction of four feeder been prepared for the Highways Department by write one. But we have turned over a new The original staff of three now stands at twenty, roads totalling 386 km in length and located in another firm of consulting engineers. However, banana leaf and have at last put pen to paper all local with the exception of Barry Paget and various parts of Thailand. Two are situated near their designs were considered to be too costly to bring you the exclusive story of the first nine Terry Ottway. We have also managed somehow Chiangmai, 750 km north of Bangkok and the and SWKP were appointed to review the designs months of this, the newest addition to Hong to fit into the premises a soils laboratory fully Kong’s empire. equipped to carry out the classification, com The office was opened in January this year in a paction and CBR tests required for the investiga private house half way up a soi (small side road) tion of road construction materials and every day on the northern edge of Bangkok, after much the dull thud of the compaction hammer can be searching for premises by Mr. Elliott, Barry heard as it pounds into the soils samples. Paget and Bertie Lawrence (ex AlT site). it was However during these nine months there have then left to Barry, Terry Ottway and Karuna been a number of staff arrivals and departures. (Thai secretary) to convert the house into some To help us through the difficult initial review thing resembling an office. The downstairs dining stages of the project, reinforcements were sent area and lounge became the general drawing out from London and Kenya in the shape of office with the appearance of benches and draft Zach Matthews, Steve Hobden, Chris Wright ing tables and, appropriately, the bedrooms (all London), and Peter Erridge (Kenya). upstairs were transformed into offices for the Although life was very hectic for the first few engineers, by exchanging beds and dressing months, everybody appeared to enjoy working tables for desks and filing cabinets. in this, the friendliest of countries. The task of appointing local staff was found to Zach distinguished himself by giving a success be comparatively easy as there was no shortage ful talk to the Astrological Society of Thailand of applications for the various posts. This is and kept everybody interested (and amused) because Bangkok, like London, acts as a magnet by telling us all what we were really like according for people looking for employment, so that when to our astrological charts. In this connection, a new company sets up an office in this city the star prize must go to Steve Hobden for possess applications come flooding in. We have well ing, as Zach put it, a ‘saucy Venus’ and in over one hundred on our files at the present Bangkok that’s a very useful thing to have. moment and more are coming in each week. We would also like to thank Steve for taking the One such enthusiastic application started off, photograph of the staff which appeared in the “My name is C . . . S profession engineer, previous issue of Pontifact. registered no. 796, feel interest in your firm very Lastly we mustn’t forget Gob Bok Yen (now r -. — much. I’ll telling you, I’m thirsty to work under back in London office) who joined us on a — a 4_,a C — -“ so much. Tender see my qualifications as below temporary basis for a few months, during his please.” vacation. As well as making friends with every —a.- ... - =. ,&: ‘ The letter ended with following sentence, body in the office, he established himself as the “My position need with you should be consulting bartering king of Bangkok, arranging printing 48 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 49 with a view to effecting substantial savings in 33 m people and about the size of France, Spencer was also a very welcome visitor during On loan to us from Hong Kong for three costs and improving alignments where considered although nowhere near the same shape. Bordered June, as well as Mr. Buzuk, partner of Murray months to reinforce our inspector supervision desirable, and to carry out the necessary revision on two sides by Laos and Cambodia and a little Ward & Partners, and Mr. Daniel, partner of on the airport project is Van Aswegen. We are to the drawings and tender documents. more than 100 km from North Vietnam at one Preece Cardew & Rider. We were also pleased very pleased to welcome him and his wife to This has involved the detailed checking of over point, it might not seem the safest of places to be. to have a visit from Mr. Sterling during October. Brunei. We also welcome back Vic Lawley’s 700 drawings (not including 1,300 cross sections), But apart from the daily reports and articles on The occasion of Mr. Spencer’s visit gave rise wife Pat after three months at home in the amending four sets of contract documents and the war in the local press, nobody here seems to a cocktail party being held at one of the staff UK. travelling thousands of back-breaking kilometres particularly worried. In fact the atmosphere bungalows, at which the staff and wives of the Congratulations are due to Dharmarajah on in the field, studying and surveying potential throughout Thailand could be described generally airport consultants were able to meet the visiting his marriage in April. Nothing deterred he realignments and collecting soil samples. as relaxed. The people are friendly, happy and partners. Abouty sixty in all gathered for a very formed the rucleus of a very successful cricket The review and revision is now almost com easy to get along with. Certainly both of us enjoyable and informal evening. team which shocked the regular Brunei teams by plete and we are hoping that all four contracts enjoy working here and 1 am sure that all the We were all sorry to see the breaking up of our nearly winning the State’s annual six-a-side will be let in the near future. other members of SWKP who have worked here team in Brunei, as the works started to near cricket competition for the Haslam Trophy As for Thailand itself, it is a country of some share these sentiments. completion. The departing staff and families played in Seria during September. The first match include Elsie and ‘Mac’ Mackinlay, Harold against a Brunei Yacht Club ‘B’ team was won Insley, Bill and Mary Murray, David Abbott easily; in the quarter-final SWKP thrashed the hero of three years stay in Ang’s Hotel, Malaysians ‘B’ and in the semi-final convinc John and Brenda Nicholas, Cyril Rabel, Asokan, ingly beat the 1971 winners, Panaga ‘A’. (In the Mrs. Jardine and children leaving Lew here to Malaysians match, SWKP scored 102 in the five finish his tour on a bachelor basis, Robert Chan overs batting time; this is believed to be the only SWKP Brunei Newsletter Wai Man, Tsang Kar Ming and secretaries time in the history of the competition that 100 Veronica Yap and Rohini Kumara. has been scored). In the final SWKP played VicLaii4ey Of great loss was the sudden death of our well below form, but still lost by only seven runs senior inspector of works, Ray Taylor, during to the Yacht Club ‘A’ team, this year’s State September. Ray had been with the firm a large League Champions. SWKP team: A. Dhar number of years and had been associated with marajah (captain), M. Coomaraswamy, J. our CRE, John Eddison, previously on an Eddison, L. Jardine, S. Joseph and W. Leo. nce our last newsletter the Temburong in Kota Kinabalu, Vic Lawley who was returning airport project in British Honduras. He was Our town office has been kept busy by the Road Project has been completed and, on that day from a visit to Hong Kong office. truly one of the airport builders and his passing preparation of the contract documents for the with the exception of a few surveyors A boat from Labuan was the answer. Mr. Elliott’s away in Brunei peacefully during his sleep was a aircraft maintenance area contract but by the and inspectors who were transferred to the visit in October was completed by charter flight great shock to all of us. All of the Brunei staff time of the next newsletter, we shall be reduced to Airport Project, the rest of the staff have left and Mr. Sterling came direct by SIA from offer their sympathy to his wife and family. very few staff in Bruriei. Brunei. Harold Insley was the last of the Singapore. Temburong staff to leave in August and Brunei The rundown of SWKP staff and that of the does not seem the same now, as we all miss the contractors, Costain, has been replaced by the trips made by boat along the narrow rivers build-up of the staff for the electrical and hedged by tall nipa palm on the one and a half mechanical services. Contractors IAL for the hour journey to Bangar Town. navigational aids and GEC for the airfield Work has thus been concentrated on the lighting. completion of the airport project, where the We were also pleased to welcome to Brunei words ‘swamp’ and ‘wobbly hills’ have become Ron Gomersall of Murray Ward & Partners as synonymous with this project. No sooner was resident architect for the terminal buildings and one swamp or wobbly hill disposed of when Cohn Thompson of Preece Cardew & Rider as another was found. Despite all the problems, ARE (E&M) together with their wives. The we are pleased to report that 7,500 ft of the total structural work on the buildings is nearing 12,000 ft of runway were completed, together completion and we anticipate that they will be with the control tower, ready for flight operations ready for use by the middle of 1973. The control during November with the event of the first jet tower was completed at the end of October. plane touch-down in Brunei. Effort is now being Many important officials have visited the applied to complete the remainder of the runway. project now that it is nearing completion, The split of MSA into Singapore International including the Mentri Besar (Prime Minister) Airlines and Malaysian Airlines System on and the State Secretary. The British High 1st October brought problems to Brunei as Commissioner also made an informal visit to MAS serving the north Borneo towns stopped the site during September. We had visits from landing in Brunei, incidentally leaving stranded Mr. Elliott during June and October. Mr.

A 48 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 49 with a view to effecting substantial savings in 33 m people and about the size of France, Spencer was also a very welcome visitor during On loan to us from Hong Kong for three costs and improving alignments where considered although nowhere near the same shape. Bordered June, as well as Mr. Buzuk, partner of Murray months to reinforce our inspector supervision desirable, and to carry out the necessary revision on two sides by Laos and Cambodia and a little Ward & Partners, and Mr. Daniel, partner of on the airport project is Van Aswegen. We are to the drawings and tender documents. more than 100 km from North Vietnam at one Preece Cardew & Rider. We were also pleased very pleased to welcome him and his wife to This has involved the detailed checking of over point, it might not seem the safest of places to be. to have a visit from Mr. Sterling during October. Brunei. We also welcome back Vic Lawley’s 700 drawings (not including 1,300 cross sections), But apart from the daily reports and articles on The occasion of Mr. Spencer’s visit gave rise wife Pat after three months at home in the amending four sets of contract documents and the war in the local press, nobody here seems to a cocktail party being held at one of the staff UK. travelling thousands of back-breaking kilometres particularly worried. In fact the atmosphere bungalows, at which the staff and wives of the Congratulations are due to Dharmarajah on in the field, studying and surveying potential throughout Thailand could be described generally airport consultants were able to meet the visiting his marriage in April. Nothing deterred he realignments and collecting soil samples. as relaxed. The people are friendly, happy and partners. Abouty sixty in all gathered for a very formed the rucleus of a very successful cricket The review and revision is now almost com easy to get along with. Certainly both of us enjoyable and informal evening. team which shocked the regular Brunei teams by plete and we are hoping that all four contracts enjoy working here and 1 am sure that all the We were all sorry to see the breaking up of our nearly winning the State’s annual six-a-side will be let in the near future. other members of SWKP who have worked here team in Brunei, as the works started to near cricket competition for the Haslam Trophy As for Thailand itself, it is a country of some share these sentiments. completion. The departing staff and families played in Seria during September. The first match include Elsie and ‘Mac’ Mackinlay, Harold against a Brunei Yacht Club ‘B’ team was won Insley, Bill and Mary Murray, David Abbott easily; in the quarter-final SWKP thrashed the hero of three years stay in Ang’s Hotel, Malaysians ‘B’ and in the semi-final convinc John and Brenda Nicholas, Cyril Rabel, Asokan, ingly beat the 1971 winners, Panaga ‘A’. (In the Mrs. Jardine and children leaving Lew here to Malaysians match, SWKP scored 102 in the five finish his tour on a bachelor basis, Robert Chan overs batting time; this is believed to be the only SWKP Brunei Newsletter Wai Man, Tsang Kar Ming and secretaries time in the history of the competition that 100 Veronica Yap and Rohini Kumara. has been scored). In the final SWKP played VicLaii4ey Of great loss was the sudden death of our well below form, but still lost by only seven runs senior inspector of works, Ray Taylor, during to the Yacht Club ‘A’ team, this year’s State September. Ray had been with the firm a large League Champions. SWKP team: A. Dhar number of years and had been associated with marajah (captain), M. Coomaraswamy, J. our CRE, John Eddison, previously on an Eddison, L. Jardine, S. Joseph and W. Leo. nce our last newsletter the Temburong in Kota Kinabalu, Vic Lawley who was returning airport project in British Honduras. He was Our town office has been kept busy by the Road Project has been completed and, on that day from a visit to Hong Kong office. truly one of the airport builders and his passing preparation of the contract documents for the with the exception of a few surveyors A boat from Labuan was the answer. Mr. Elliott’s away in Brunei peacefully during his sleep was a aircraft maintenance area contract but by the and inspectors who were transferred to the visit in October was completed by charter flight great shock to all of us. All of the Brunei staff time of the next newsletter, we shall be reduced to Airport Project, the rest of the staff have left and Mr. Sterling came direct by SIA from offer their sympathy to his wife and family. very few staff in Bruriei. Brunei. Harold Insley was the last of the Singapore. Temburong staff to leave in August and Brunei The rundown of SWKP staff and that of the does not seem the same now, as we all miss the contractors, Costain, has been replaced by the trips made by boat along the narrow rivers build-up of the staff for the electrical and hedged by tall nipa palm on the one and a half mechanical services. Contractors IAL for the hour journey to Bangar Town. navigational aids and GEC for the airfield Work has thus been concentrated on the lighting. completion of the airport project, where the We were also pleased to welcome to Brunei words ‘swamp’ and ‘wobbly hills’ have become Ron Gomersall of Murray Ward & Partners as synonymous with this project. No sooner was resident architect for the terminal buildings and one swamp or wobbly hill disposed of when Cohn Thompson of Preece Cardew & Rider as another was found. Despite all the problems, ARE (E&M) together with their wives. The we are pleased to report that 7,500 ft of the total structural work on the buildings is nearing 12,000 ft of runway were completed, together completion and we anticipate that they will be with the control tower, ready for flight operations ready for use by the middle of 1973. The control during November with the event of the first jet tower was completed at the end of October. plane touch-down in Brunei. Effort is now being Many important officials have visited the applied to complete the remainder of the runway. project now that it is nearing completion, The split of MSA into Singapore International including the Mentri Besar (Prime Minister) Airlines and Malaysian Airlines System on and the State Secretary. The British High 1st October brought problems to Brunei as Commissioner also made an informal visit to MAS serving the north Borneo towns stopped the site during September. We had visits from landing in Brunei, incidentally leaving stranded Mr. Elliott during June and October. Mr.

A 50 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 51

F. W. Spencer F. W. SPENCER, BEng, FICE A. S. McDERMOTT, MA, FICE, MInstHE Bill Spencer began his professional career in After leaving school Alfred McDermott was 1936 when he joined the Civil Engineer-in- called up and joined the Royal Engineers. He Chief’s Department of HM Admiralty, London, saw commissioned service in the UK, india, and was mainly engaged in duties connected Ceylon and Singapore. with the design of underground and surface oil On release from the army he read for Parts I fuel installations. He was later with Sir Robert and II of the Mechanical Science Tripos at People in Profile McAlpine & Sons Ltd, as a site engineer on the Emmanual College, Cambridge. construction of Cosford RAF airfield. He joined Scott & Wilson as an AUA under From 1939 to 1950 he was employed, first as Dr. Guthlac Wilson in 1952, became a senior an assistant engineer and later as a civil engineer engineer in 1959 and an Associate in January, in the Air Ministry Works Directorate. During 1966. He was made a Partner of the firm in May this period he was associated with the construc of this year. tion of a number of RAF airfields both in the His professional interest is in bridges and he United Kingdom and in East Africa, Madagascar has been associated with the design and super and Egypt. vision of a number of urban motorway schemes and over 400 bridges and culverts with many In 1950 he transferred from the Air Ministry more at present in the ‘pipe line’. In his earlier to the Colonial Engineering Service and served in however, he worked on the the Public Works Department, Federation of days with the Firm, design of office blocks, water towers and a Malaya, where, in 1957, he was appointed He was resident engineer on the Assistant Director of Public Works (Roads and power station. New Liverpool Exchange. For seven Airfields). Corn months he worked in Nyasaland (now Malawi) He retired from the Colonial Engineering on the survey and design of a road and an airfield. Service in 1958 and early in 1959 joined Scott & Wilson, Kirkpatrick & Partners as a senior R. BOND, AACA, FCIS engineer in charge of the Airports Section. He Roland Bond was appointed Secretary of the A. S. McDermott was made an Associate of the firm in January Partnership and the Company on 9th October. 1963 and two of the many projects with which he He is new to civil engineering, previous appoint has been associated are Kota Kinabalu Airport ments having been in such diversified industries and a new international airport in Brunei, as road haulage, print and packaging, leather, which had its first passenger landing on 1st adhesives and plastics, and brewing. During the November, 1972. He was made a Partner of the war he served with the RAF in the UK and the firm in May of this year. Middle East. He is married with twin daughters He is married with two sons and two daughters aged eleven, is interested in dinghy sailing, fly- and lives at Sedgwick, near Horsham. He is a fishing, squash and ski-ing, and also enjoys a keen gardener and is interested in photography. game of bridge.

J+1r.anbJ+1r. L . anke’ would like to wish everyone

both home and overseas

R. H. Bond a 3tr’ appp Q4jrttma anb a ‘urcttut icn car 50 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 51

J+1r.anbJ+1r. L . anke’ would like to wish everyone

both home and overseas

R. H. Bond a 3tr’ appp Q4jrttma anb a ‘urcttut icn car 52 / PONTIFACT No. 30 C1-IRISTMAS, 1972 53

Structural Steel Design Awards 1972

are pleased to announce that the headroom These were provided in a classic new servicing hangar for British latticed girder design with the advantage that European Airways at Heathrow the 3,200 ton roof structure was assembled Airport has received an award in the Structural at ground level including cladding and services Steel Design Awards 1972. The awards are and then accurately raised by jacks to corner sponsored by the British Steel Corporation and columns some 70 ft high. This is a courageous the British Constructional Steelwork Association and effective engineering solution to this and administered by Constrado. The purpose of problem.” the awards is to recognise the high standards of The award takes the form of an engraving of design attainable in the use of structural steel the hangar on a stainless steel plaque (as illus and its potential in terms of efficiency, economy, trated) and a certificate. aesthetics and innovation. This is the second occasion on which we have The judges comments on the servicing hangar received an award, the first being a special award quoted in the awards brochure are: for the Commercial Union Building in 1970. ‘Servicing modern aircraft requires a very The servicing hangar was described and illus extensive clear floor area and considerable rated in the 28th issue of Pontifact.

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Structural Steel Design Award 1972

Photo by Co/in Smith

A 52 / PONTIFACT No. 30 C1-IRISTMAS, 1972 53

Structural Steel Design Awards 1972

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Structural Steel Design Award 1972

Photo by Co/in Smith

A 54 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 55

The man with overall responsibility for the the main towns are congested with private cars airport is the Regional Director of Civil Aviation and all the trappings of a consumer society whom, 1 add as a side note, is of Sinhalese (television sets, nightclubs and souvenirs). The The Financial Times Industrial origin. wealth has, in the past, come largely from hard This then is a truly multi-disciplinary, multi- wood timber exploitation and rubber but the firm, multi-racial team drawn together to create future may well hold greater bounties from oil, Architectural Award, 1972 a new gateway (or interface as architects insist on minerals and tourism. calling it) to a remarkable multi-cultural com We conclude by wishing you all a Happy munity. Future job circulars may include that Christmas, Han Raya, Chinese or Gregorian essential requirements are a good working New Year (dlete as applicable). knowledge of Oxford English, Bahasa Malay, PETER SMITH addition, the new Servicing Hangar handsome inside as it is from a distance. The Hakka Chinese and preferably a smattering of was one of six buildings which received roof form is itself elegant in spite of its Polish, Sinhalese, Indian, Japanese, Cockney Glasgow a Commendation in the Financial Times’ necessarily complicated engineering. Un and miscellaneous Chinese dialects. Industrial Architecture Award, 1972. Bearing in fortunately the detailing and the way in Various senior members of the design team Since we last wrote, Glasgow has now got mind that over 100 entries were submitted for the which the hangar is connected with the have visited Sabah officially during the first six one main pedestrian shopping stretch with Award, it is gratifying to have obtained this earlier buildings beside it, are not to the same months including Messrs. Spencer, Edwards, another to follow by Christmas. This is the honour. standard of design. The general effect Sterling and Powter (of SWKP), Feakes (of direct result of the motorway programme and a The Panel of Assessors reported on the hangar remains, however, magnificent”. RMJM Pouihi fame), Daniels, Choules and highly desirable by-product. We expect that as follows:— For one project to receive two such distinctions Morris (of PCR Brighton), Sehu (of YISB further streets will become traffic free in due “The concept of supporting so vast a roof in national competitions is remarkable and our Kuala Lumpur) and Suckling (of PJUB Singa course as the construction continues. Our on four immense corner columns has congratulations and thanks are due to all pore) and miscellaneous Brunei transits including influence has been extended to other towns of the succeeded splendidly, and the hangar is as members of the Staff who worked on it.—F.M.B. Elliot, Lawley and Earwaker have dropped in. Glasgow conurbation. In particular Rutherglen, Nobody is trying to suggest that the length of the with a main road diversion in progress, and above list is a function of the superb recreational Motherwell, where the construction of a ‘mini’ facilities in Kota Kinabalu. Of the residents ring road is about to start. Both these schemes Vodek has swung so vigorously into the golfing are associated with pedestrian shopping precincts. community that he has frequently been cautioned The Motherwell shopping centre, with which we for infringing the airport approach path. Sailing are involved, is to be covered and air conditioned in the local GPJ4 races in Aver Madit (Water and will be one of the first of its type in Scotland. Mistress), Peter only just failed to win the clay But enough of this shop talk. Newsletters spoon by being one before last in the wooden The annual golf outing to Troon in June was spoon race. Kim is thought to be weighing up this year an unqualified success thanks to the the power boat/water ski-ing situation. brilliant organisation of Willard Dougall. To The Kota Kinabalu offices are worthy of give everyone a fair chance, handicaps were Kinabalu & Rider from Brighton and Kuala Lumpur, special note being situated within one hundred allotted by handicap secretary, Willard Dougall, Kota Franklin & Andrews of London and Yusoff feet of the high water line of a long stretch of and thanks to the rapid results service provided A Beach Hut called Pontifacto Ibrahim Sehu Berakan, Jurubena Bertiga & tree-lined white sand beach. Out to sea are by the resourceful Willard Dougall, the news Pakatan Juru-Ukor Bahan the well known several small coral islands which daily frame was soon on its way to Fleet Street that the Since the end of May the town of Kota Malaysian engineers, architects and quantity spectacular tropical sunsets (seen all too often surprise winner of this all time classic was— Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia (turn right surveyors. from inside the offices). you’ve guessed it—Willard Dougall. The serious 1,000 miles past Singapore) has been experiencing Local staff on the project are seconded either Standing with back to the South China Sea on business of the day was transacted in the Links the birth and youth of another SWKP out from the associated Malaysian consultants listed a clear day the majestic peaks of Mount Kinabalu Hotel where everyone received a major prize post. above or from the Public Works Department and can be seen. This mountain, the highest in South ranging from golf balls to Delsey, and by popular Following a three year association with the these include Malays, Chinese Malays, Indo East Asia at 13,455 ft, is surrounded by 265 acclaim the excess green fees were transferred to development of Kota Kinabalu Tnternational nesians, an Indian and a Japanese Peace Corps square miles of national park lands which con the hospitality fund. Airport the present phase requires the taming of volunteer. tain an amazing variety of flora, fauna, scenery The other golfing occasion was the Nidger a swamp site (did I feel a shudder from a neigh The Public Works Department of Sabah is (and insects) due to the range of altitudes Trophy match at Pollok on 18th October bouring state) and the design of a new terminal concurrently carrying out a substantial pro encompassed and also rare features such as when the home anchor team of Hodgen-Breakey, complex. The germinal force from London gramme of work on the airport including run hot springs. by adding their 24 points to the previous total consists of Vodek Prylinski and Peter Smith, way extensions, taxiway construction and drain Indeed our early impressions of Sabah are of 72 amassed by the teams of Wood-Dougall joined in early November by Kim Hawkey (that age works designed under phase I of the project. those of close contrasts. Whilst much of Sabah and Cullen-Walker, snatched a strategic victory name sounds familiar) from Robert Matthew Very close collaboration is therefore required is still undeveloped, largely inaccessible and from the jaws of tactical defeat by allowing the Johnson-Marshall & Partners. The consultant with various Public Works Departments especi sparsely inhabited by native tribes seemingly City Engineer’s team to win with the measly team on the project also includes Preece Cardew ally their airport project team. little affected as yet by the technical cultures, total of 108 points.

F’ 54 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 55

F’ 56 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 57

It should not be supposed that our sporting mile of the centre line meant Niger ia that around three us bashing out designs and quantities for the achievements are limited to the 19 holes—far miles of new trace had to be cleared if our Apapa Truck Terminal. (Haven’t you heard? from it. There has been some quite remarkable By the time that these notes appear in Pont ifact, standards of curvature were to be maintained. Its all been changed. They want it inside out, football since we last reported to you. We with any luck the design of the Lagos/ibadan Until this trace was cut and levelled, we could with the entrance where the exit was!) Matthew fielded our ‘A’ XI in the first of two games on Expressway will be complete and the documents only estimate the gradients which the revised Sobanjo (ex-Kaduna) joined the Soils Section to Glasgow Green against Elliott Sime. Our team for Contract No. 1 put to bed. Yes, we all know alignment would involve. And then there was supervise the direct labour gangs and the site was full of spirit being only 2—1down at half that the work was programmed to be completed the delicate task of explaining just why, at this investigation contractors; and we have also had time and just out of the pub. Early in the second by June 1972, but, as so often happens on major late stage, we have to have another major bridge Peter Regan on loan from Kaduna, busily half one of the opposition had the misfortune civil engineering works, things kept cropping up designed, costed and approved. Why didn’t we locating sources of sub-base and shoulder to collide with our rugger full-back, Jim McLean, —and the most carefully drawn bar charts use air survey? We did: but in these parts the materials. Matthew is contemplating becoming a and minutes later was on his way to hospital cannot forecast what, in fact, does happen. forest cover is so dense that 10 ft streams are mature student at Lagos University, so as to with a broken arm. This drama so upset our side First of all, 1972 was well advanced before we invisible from the air, and, alas, tree-tops do not complete his interrupted course at Ahmadu that the final scoreline read 2—12against. Nothing got the final decision that the Expressway would accurately reflect the topography of the ground Bello University. We admire his pertinacity, daunted and with experience of one game have twin carriageways throughout its length. beneath. The name of the Olowoira Viaduct is and wish him the best of luck. We also enjoyed behind them, our team played Glasgow Corpora Then there were the additions of the ldi-Ayunre entirely appropriate, It means the ‘Village which the cheerful presence of Timothy Odubanjo, tion Highways Section to a tactful 1—I draw. Link and the Shagamu Link, which were not the Rich Man built in the Swamp’. who, before returning to Nigeria, was for eight Special mention and credit must be given to made any easier by having to do the surveys in However well designed the Expressway itself years at the Road Research Laboratory, Crow Dave Davidson and Willard Dougall for touch- the wet season. But, in designing a tropical may be, traffic has still to get to the points at thorne, He called on us by chance, on seeing line support, to Harry Mitchell for his imitation expressway, we now know that the most critical which it starts and terminates. At the southern large areas of the compound covered by soil sam of Hadrian’s Wall and to skipper Ronnie path is that which has to be hacked out of the end, the Expressway Chainage 0+00 is a point ples in plastic bags, and stayed to join us on a tem Henderson. forest by the surveyors, since without this on the existing road from Lagos to Ikorodu, porary basis. Stuart McNee left in September to There are those for whom the tranquil pleasure facility there can be no tentative finished surface situated eight miles from the centre of Lagos. take charge of the Renfrew By-pass, and Mervyn of wind and sail are paramount. Chris Ford and levels, no balanced cuts and fills, and no accurate The northern terminal point is four miles from Johnston has moved down from Kaduna to take Billy Holmes have, as usual, organised the good site investigation to establish what kind of muck the centre of Ibadan. We have now been com over from him. Robin Coiquhoun left to go on ship Wow—now sailed from Balmaha and will have to be shifted. missioned to design additional urban highway leave at the end of August. Ted Purver is now the Loch Lomond. It was just one of those things which added the improvements. At the Lagos end, the existing Project Engineer for the Ibadan By-pass. We sent our Managing Director on a sailing Olowoira Viaduct to our list of bridges. Three Ikorodu Road is to be dualled and extended into In the last news from Nigeria we wrote about course on the Isle of Arran so that he would be miles from the Lagos end of the Expressway our Lagos as far as the Yaba Bus Terminal. This the Ogun River crossing, and this site can still less likely to come to grief in rock strewn Loch proposed alignment crossed what, on the map, latter is to be re-sited, and designed so as to produce its farcical moments. Initially this was to Lomond. Rumour has it that he was not tested appeared to be a small stream, possibly 10 ft operate on two levels, in addition, there will be have been a single span bridge, but in March we to any great extent due to a total absence of wide. But cutting the trace showed that while the a direct connection from Ikeja Airport to the learned that there were to be three spans. This wind and has therefore decided to stay shore- stream was in the right place and of about the Ikorodu Road and hence to the Expressway. would necessitate additional boreholes in the bound until we can afford a more stable craft. right width, the approaches for about 400 yards The Ikorodu Road project involves another river bed, so we set about finding a contractor We note that Blood Hound is up for sale at on either side were a veritable slough of despond. major swamp crossing—this time 1,500 ft wide— who was suitably equipped, able and willing to present. Soundings with the Mackintosh probe were and we have been told that no settlement on this undertake this work. Personal visits to all the And now for something completely different. illuminating. The rods went down virtually section of the road will be acceptable. So it looks Lagos site investigation contractors showed that We welcome Betsy Sinclair as secretary to under their own weight through peaty, clayey as if we have to design another major viaduct over only Roy Hodgen and Denise Brown to the Highway silt to a depth of 57 ft without encountering any peat 50 ft thick. Design Group. John Cullen, founder member of firm stratum whatsoever. At that depth our At the Ibadan end we have been commis the Glasgow Office in 1960, has rejoined the stock of rods was exhausted, and, clearly, an sioned to design the Ibadan By-pass, to which company from Canada to lead the Highway alternative crossing site must be sought. The the Expressway will be joined. This project will Design Team. Hamish Grant, Gordon Grossett, area formed part of a steep-sided incised valley, be about 12 miles long and will include three Roy Irwin, Lawrence Gordon, Salim Salmo and which had been cut through pleistocene forma interchanges, seven road bridges and one road- John McDonald have also joined the company. tions and had subsequently become filled with over-rail bridge. While access in general will be Good-bye and good luck to Alex Dixon, silt and decaying vegetable matter. easier than on the Expressway, obtaining per Bill Bar, Steve Hunt, Neil Stevenson, Jim Casts were made up- and down-stream, and mission to enter upon sites adjacent to built Brown, Ian Hutchison and Chris Thom. It’s luck was with us. Half a mile up-stream from our areas is liable to involve protracted negotiations, not just money we’re turning over folks! abortive crossing point, the valley narrowed to particularly when boring and drilling are involved Anne Armstrong has become Anne Bridges, between 400 and 500 ft before again widening and our fingers are metaphorically crossed. Peter Mortimore, Hamish Leitch and Ronnie out. Between the two promontories thus formed, Since last we wrote there have been several Henderson have also got married. Ian Mackqnzie the maximum depth of the peat proved to be 50 ft. personnel movements. Mike Shalders (ex-London has added a new dimension to the company by Elsewhere on the new centre line it was consider and Jordan) arrived to take charge of the design becoming an MlStructE. On this happy note we ably less than this and, in addition, the promon of the Ikorodu Road and related projects, on say ‘Tarrarranoo’! tories would give us a firm anchorage for the which he is assisted by Bob Parsons. Ken CLYDESIDER abutments. However, a lateral shift of half a Caswill (ex-Malawi) spent a hectic 60 days with 56 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 57

obtained by the contractor, we sometimes The different things to different people dept: We are pleased to note the presence on pro wonder whether it was really necessary to carry We’ve been told of an occurrence which befell gramme committees for the Annual PTRC out an extensive experiment at full scale to prove an intrepid SWKP engineer who had ventured Meeting of both R. J. G. Edwards (Detailed that, after all, Archimedes was right. from London into the depths of Thailand. Road Design) and J. M. Stamper (Highway ROBINCOLQUHOUN Whilst driving a survey vehicle with ‘SWKP’ Planning). The conference has been divided into emblazond on the side he chanced to stop at a thirteen subject areas, each with its own pro village store. On entering the store he was gramme committee responsible for choosing the London approached by a ravishing Eastern maiden who, papers to be presented to the people attending The rumours surrounding the moving of the towering above him, pointed to the survey that subject. London office were settled with the announce vehicle and said: * * * ment on 15th August that the chosen place was “SWKP” to be Basingstoke, and planning is proceeding “Yes”, said our intrepid engineer, wondering The range of technical subjects on which advice on the basis of the move to the Eastrop Estate in how to begin to explain the SWKP empire is available in the firm has been extended by Basingstoke taking place in 18 months to two builders. means of a series of lunchtime seminars on years’ time. Amongst other assumptions, this “Ah”, the maiden smiled, “Sealed With a Kiss astrology given by Zach Matthews. Pontoon Unit on the River Ogun assumes that the new office building, at present Please?” * * * * * * being designed in Reg Ready’s section, will have to permit the withdrawal of the casings after We’ve been reminded of a strange event that been constructed and completed. As we write, the newly formed darts team are sampling each bore-hole. Yes, that was quite took place one July evening in nearby Regent’s Meantime it was the turn of the railwaymen to top or close in the Central London Darts League understood, and had been incorporated in the Park. No description has yet been found to create industrial chaos. Having disposed of the beating (almost) all-corners, the soccer team are design of the unit pontoons. encompass the range of skills and malpractices (now, annual) power-workers go-slow/strike, the unbeaten in four games, and the rugger team are Progress was slow, and it was not until the performed that night, but a blow by breath tube trains and British Rail independently unbeaten in none (but they’re trying). third week in June that the first pontoon unit threatened strikes at the same time. As it happened account is included in this issue. The event was completed. For reasons about which we only British Rail was affected, and then only a masqueraded under the title of ‘The Mixed * * * are still not clear, this pontoon was launched go-slow and not a strike (but the difference was Football Match’. Screenplay was by Disney nearly a mile downstream of the bridge site, hard to find). Studios, and dialogue and production (?) by Finally, there is the mystery left over from the and then moored to the bank. It was pointed out Despite/because of this, life continued much as J. Rank ARTHUR. I cannot add to the comment last issue who is Richer Navel? Keen scrutineers that if all the pontoons were assembled to make normal, and we are delighted to record the from a certain young man (anon) who was of the staff lists could find no trace of such a the drilling platform at this point, the resulting engagements of Chris Wright to Catherine submerged under a writhing mass of females. person and indeed keen scrutineers of his craft would be somewhat awkward to pole Oates, Mike Wood to Hannah-Mary Downing, When one young lady (also anon) shouted critical appraisal of the London office could find or tow against the wet-season current of the Ogun Norman Brent to Mary Holt, and John Nutt to “Get his shorts off” the referee gave a foul no trace of sense. We’re not going to spoil it River. Wouldn’t it be easier if the pontoons Clare Dryland. Rod Hockin and David Farthing (if you shout you must give a name—football now. It’s Christmas and we’ve got to go out site, rules) were first assembled upstream of the bridge were married on the same day, to (1 hasten to and the submerged lad was heard to say onto Oxford Street to do the shopping for and then floated down into position? And, by add) Shirley Simons and Janet Martin respec “No! I’m enjoying it! If this is football i’m presents. Remember, this newsletter was published the way, wasn’t that first pontoon sitting a bit tively, and Janet Cardozo was married to coming every week”. posthumously. * * * low in the water? The first suggestion was Maurice Poole (a photograph and congratulatory LONDONLIGHTS readily accepted, but the second was brushed letter are shown on another page). Congratula aside. A natural embayment upstream of the tions are due to—Malcolm and Patricia Bourner bridge site provided a ready-made fitting-out on the arrival of a daughter, Joanna; Ian and basin, and there all the pontoon units were Penny Wilkinson, a daughter Sarah; Maureen assembled to form the drilling platform. All went and Eddie Beadle, a son Paul. drilling rig. This was well until the arrival of the * * * skidded onto the platform on a timber cradle. As the manoeuvre proceeded, the river end of the We bid a temporary farewell to the following RURAL ENGLAND AT ITS BEST platform rose as the shoreward end submerged. who have disappeared to various parts of the in of MSc’s. Nick Finn (University But not too far. The pontoon unit immediately globe search The firm was complimented recently by a easy, a bore is the size of a shotgun and they (Imperial College, below the drilling rig was by now fully grounded, of Calgary), Peter Whatling farmer despite the planning of a motorway make bows out of yew.” He later related this London), William Kemp (University of Leeds), and any thoughts of floating gently out into mid which took one-third of his land and left the tale to his ancient assistant, a senior inspector of (University Salford). Our stream were abandoned. Further delays, while Harold Insley of remainder in two equal portions. He remarked works grown old in the firm’s service and was congratulations to the latter three who were two 3 ft diameter ‘Camels’ were fabricated and how unusual it was for the person bringing such treated to a roar of laughter. “Ee lad, you young scholarships by the firm, and also attached, and at last the loaded platform floated awarded news to have any idea of farming methods uns will show your ignorance. A bore is the Nick Finn who was awarded a freely. Drilling the mid-river boreholes could congratulations to “Usually” he said, “the Ministry send along effect of a tidal surge in a narrowing river channel by his university, and left the country then proceed, and the last bore-hole log was scholarship some bloke who doesn’t know t’difference and a ewe is like a ram, what they used to use in completed at the beginning of August. While in a hurry. between a boar and a ewe.” The ER aiming to my young days for pumping water up to t’squires much valuable experience was undoubtedly * * * impress came back immediately with, “Oh that’s house.”

I 58 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 59

I CHRISTMAS, 1972 60 PONTIFACT No. 30 61

Job Numbers Club Notes AllocatedbytileLondonPartnership

72081 M180 Motorway—Brigg-Riby Section 72084 Whitgift Centre—Unit 50 72086 31 Dover Street—Alterations 72087 Bristol/Southampton Feasibility Study Camera Club 17 Portraits by Kodak, slides and script Square House—Staircase Ground to First 22 Entries in for colour slide competition, 72090 Berkeley By now the 1972—73season is well under way subjects Christmas and Open 72092 Bradley & Foster, Ltd, New Weighbridge and we hope the lunchtime programme is pro 24 Ho/idaying in Austria by Miss De Bell 72093 Walthamstow & Leyton Marshes viding interesting entertainment to the London staff. 31 Summer in Spitzbergen by Alan Lamb 72094 Dashwood House—Foundation Instrumentation Our major competition, the annual ‘Bernard Existing A 72096 New Hospital at Fulham—Conversion of Block Ranger Trophy’ was judged in November. The February 72097 Delta Power Station—Arbitration competition which attracted 228 entries from 7 C’o/our Slide Competition, showing of 72100 Hirwaun Flats Investigation (continued) 25 entrants, comprised of 124 in the ‘Open entrants’ slides and judging Section’, 71 for ‘Churches’ and 33 for ‘Fun and 12 Entries for black and 72104 Malaysian Highway Specialist white print competition, Games’. The judge was Mr. M. Smithson from subjects Portraits and Open 72106 Camden Street—Alterations to existing Building the Bexleyheath Photographic Society. 14 Use of Available Light by Kodak, slides and 72107 Whitgift Centre—Block D Access Doors The full results of the ‘Bernard Ranger Trophy’ script are: 72108 Royal Festival Hall site—Flood Protection 21 Royal Photographic Society 1969 Exhibition, 72109 Margate—New Car Park slides with commentary Trophy winner Lee 0. 28 A Taste 72110 17 and 19 Dacre Street of Madeira by David King Open First D. Lee for Harris and Sutherland 72112 M23/M25 Motorway—Computing Second L. C. Hayler March 72114 21/23 Victoria Street—Basement Strengthening Third N. Clemson 5 Entries in for colour print competition, subject 72116 Pearls Airport—Grenada—Runway Strengthening Fun and Games First L. C. Hayler Open 72118 BEA Airtours Hangar—Gatwick—Roof Modifications Second G. Lobb 7 Close-ups by Tony Seppings, Orpington Photographic Society 72119 Department of Health and Social Security—Harness Cladding Third 0. Lyon 14 Black and White print results with judge’s 72120 Doncaster Royal Infirmary—Pathology Laboratory Extension Churches First F. Fernandez comments 72122 Singapore—Orchard Square Development Second D. King 21 The Versatile Miniature Camera by Kodak, 72124 Hunterston Project Third S. Hobden slides and script 72125 Brigg Enquiry 28 C’o/ourPrint results and judge’s comments You will have noticed we have been displaying 72129 Baring Brothers—New Offices black and white prints by members of the Club April 72130 Banque Beige—New Offices in the fourth and sixth floor reception areas 4 A Random Selection by George Lobb 72131 New Hospital at Fulham—Radiotherapy Workshop and Radium Store and we shall be having an exhibition of prints 11 Colour S/ide informal at the Dorchester reception on 18th December. entries, showing of 72132 Cosbod and Fisbod—Computing entrants’ slides and judging Our programme of lectures for the new year 72133 Constrado—Metric Angle Tables are: 18 Annual General Meeting 72134 New Hospital at Fulham—Clinics Block/Pilot Building Link We hope you will give your 72136 Porthcawl—Sandy Bay Sea Defence Works January support to our lecturers and thus help make this a successful 72137 Claridges Traffic Study 10 My Way of Photography by Jon Phillips, season for the Club. Bexleyheath Photographic 72138 Manchester-Sheffield (Longdendale) New Route Society LE5 HAYLER I CHRISTMAS, 1972 60 PONTIFACT No. 30 61

Job Numbers Club Notes AllocatedbytileLondonPartnership

the

good

cricket with

evening

over

Leopards.

turned

very

the

undoubtedly

early

season

taken

‘42 Wyatt

800 675 766 7’SO 5’75 400

people

was

11 1742 1850 1500 3433 2275 1066 2162 1050

2160

1790 1200 1020 1260 1980

1450 firm

3360 2320 2940

Chapman

Average

ably

although

Nyasaland

leadership R.

included

the

was

rewarding season

and

left

rivals

Boone

Out

whose

number

1 1

1 1 2 1 1 5 3 2 8 3 5 0 2 5 0 3 4 0 0 0

which

the

16 11 11

role

very

Lyon

old

Kennedy Times

No.

a Not

Match Wickets

his

large D.

M. under

wins

our

seasons

and six

over

enjoyed

9* 5 Eckert

Disney

highlight 29 79 50 29 62 94* 11* 19 45 12 15 43* 20* 25 24 29*

cloudy

163 132 147 186 168 197

President’s Bokil

out

Bokil Score

Runs

No. Highest

AVERAGES

Peter number summer total victory teams The the was

not

AVERAGES

BATTED

BOWLED

due of

for

3 5 2 3 91 2 4 0 0 60 15 32 80 32 23 54 42 ALso

ALSO 103 148 173 108 122

BOWLING Runs

Total

Costairi Clifton

*Indicates

No.

BATTING Clifton

Chapman

members

Maidens

disappoint

competition.

successful

skipper

cancelled

only

Richard

the

5 8

4 7 7 7 5 7 6 7 3 4 8 3 4

were

14 13

31 38 to 32 24 wicket 48 42

the

No.

Overs

Innings

overcome

been

when

Hackney

Whatling

and

games

single

was

had

proved

side,

who

1972

weather occurred,

season

Name

Hayman

Wood

Name

Finn Hitchings Weller Hight

Clarke Wood playing

Campbell Edwards Shorter Hight Weller Green

Eckert Fulcher Clarke Margesson Edwards Battley Campbell

Shorter

Fulcher

Margesson

Lyon

Battley

raise

N. M. P. D. A. P. D. P. D. M. C. B. R. P. P. G.Buck

P. D. M. A. C. D. B. R. P.

enjoyable,

1972

club

which

Chapman

inclement

the

The

Cricket

CHRISTMAS, to well ment of failed Ron

No.

Fernandez

PONTIFACT

Section,

Churches

place

First

Hayler

Lee

also

slide

Section,

winning

Games

Section,

and

Trophy

Open

Fun

Ranger

Office)

place

First

Bernard

first (Belfast

62 a

the

good

cricket with

evening

over

Leopards.

turned

very

the

undoubtedly

early

season

taken

‘42 Wyatt

800 675 766 7’SO 5’75 400

people

was

11 1742 1850 1500 3433 2275 1066 2162 1050

2160

1790 1200 1020 1260 1980

1450 firm

3360 2320 2940

Chapman

Average

ably

although

Nyasaland

leadership R.

included

the

was

rewarding season

and

left

rivals

Boone

Out

whose

number

1 1

1 1 2 1 1 5 3 2 8 3 5 0 2 5 0 3 4 0 0 0

which

the

16 11 11

role

very

Lyon

old

Kennedy Times

No.

a Not

Match Wickets

his

large D.

M. under

wins

our

seasons

and six

over

enjoyed

9* 5 Eckert

Disney

highlight 29 79 50 29 62 94* 11* 19 45 12 15 43* 20* 25 24 29*

cloudy

163 132 147 186 168 197

President’s Bokil

out

Bokil Score

Runs

No. Highest

AVERAGES

Peter number summer total victory teams The the was

not

AVERAGES

BATTED

BOWLED

due of

for

3 5 2 3 91 2 4 0 0 60 15 32 80 32 23 54 42 ALso

ALSO 103 148 173 108 122

BOWLING Runs

Total

Costairi Clifton

*Indicates

No.

BATTING Clifton

Chapman

members

Maidens

disappoint

competition.

successful

skipper

cancelled

only

Richard

the

5 8

4 7 7 7 5 7 6 7 3 4 8 3 4

were

14 13

31 38 to 32 24 wicket 48 42

the

No.

Overs

Innings

overcome

been

when

Hackney

Whatling

and

games

single

was

had

proved

side,

who

1972

weather occurred,

season

Name

Hayman

Wood

Name

Finn Hitchings Weller Hight

Clarke Wood playing

Campbell Edwards Shorter Hight Weller Green

Eckert Fulcher Clarke Margesson Edwards Battley Campbell

Shorter

Fulcher

Margesson

Lyon

Battley

raise

N. M. P. D. A. P. D. P. D. M. C. B. R. P. P. G.Buck

P. D. M. A. C. D. B. R. P.

enjoyable,

1972

club

which

Chapman

inclement

the

The

Cricket

CHRISTMAS, to well ment of failed Ron

No.

Fernandez

PONTIFACT

Section,

Churches

place

First

Hayler

Lee

also

slide

Section,

winning

Games

Section,

and

Trophy

Open

Fun

Ranger

Office)

place

First

Bernard

first (Belfast

62 64 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAs, 1972 65 to watch the cricket and attend the social evening. accurate bowling and it took a good innings by We batted first and with a number of batsmen We batted first in this match, and with the Certainly everyone appeared to enjoy themselves both P. Eckert and D. Hight to redeem the scoring double figures accumulated a reasonable score at 50 for 2 appeared to be coasting to a immensely, especially when the time arrived for situation. Tt was rather unfortunate for the total. Our bowlers also played well and although large total. Suddenly, however, we collapsed to the strawberry tarts to be distributed. The Younger Generation that when the time arrived the opposition were not dismissed their rate of 59 for 7 and it was left to P. Green and M. grateful thanks of all the staff go to Mr. and Mrs. for them to bat the evening became very dark due scoring was well contained. Hayman to help us obtain a reasonable score. Hawkey for coming all the way from Cornwall to low cloud. Even so it took a fine spell of When our opponents lost two wickets with only to act as hosts for this occasion, it’s a job at bowling by C. Campbell and D. Hight to secure Sir Alexander Gibb & 25 on the board we thought we had a good older men. which they excel and we hope they can see their a victory for the Pts 1’. SWKP chance but the two batsmen who came together way clear to attend in future years. Our grateful 66 for 8 71 for I never faltered and passed our total in the twenty- thanks also to Jackie Warner, Mavis Johnson Long Ditton V. SWKP P. Fulcher 2 for 12 A. Clarke 38 no. first over. and Miss Lishmund for helping with the buffet; 136 88 for 9 N. Finn 20 no. they did a grand job. D. Weller 4 for 30 A. Clarke 45 Our bowling and fielding were excellent on this Long Ditton V. SWKP A glance at the averages shows that congratula D. Hight 3 for 35 occasion and the opposition had to work hard 153 for 5 90 for 8 tions are due to Dave Weller and Dave Hight Long .Ditton batted first and thanks to an for their total. We lost a wicket early but A. Clark B. Shorter 30 D. for topping the batting and bowling tables accurate spell of bowling by D. Weller and and N. Finn with a 60 wicket partnership saw us P. Green 30 no. respectively, not a bad effort by either player Hight, coupled with some good fielding, we were safely home to victory. Long Ditton turned out in strength for this when one realises that Dave Weller is considered able to dismiss their batsmen before the twentieth match and hit 153 off the twenty overs allocated. an opening bowler rather than a batsman and over. The majority of our batsmen however were Our batsmen could not emulate this sort of Clarke Charing Cross Hospital v.SWKP Dave Hight has not been playing at all for the unable to strike form and it was left to A. 69for8 72for5 form and P. Green and B. Shorter did well to past few seasons. Before giving a brief summary to make our total look respectable by scoring a score two thirds of our total between them. M. Hayrnan 18 each match 1 should like to offer my personal chanceless 45. of A. Clarke 17 n.o. a of people, first, the partners thanks to number The Charing Cross side batted first and were Tennis with such excellent facilities, Nyasaland Leopards i’. SWKP for providing us well contained by all six of our bowlers who the Long Ditton Cricket 210 for 8 211 for 10 As the met. office records show, this has been second, the members of took at least one wicket each. Four of our bats- being helpful with the catering and D. Night 3 for 38 D. Weller 94 no. a summer of somewhat apathetic though dry Club for so men reached double figures but no one was able and last but not least the D. Weller 3 for 46 D. Hitchings 24 weather. The result was that despite the fitness ground arrangements to dominate the bowling and eighteen natured support. Mr. Grace captained the Nyasaland Leopards overs of courts for all matches and socials, there players for their good passed before we obtained the and elected to bat first. Despite a good opening requisite total. were few of the balmy summer evenings that MATCH SUMMARIES spell of bowling by C. Campbell and D. Weller entice people in great numbers to Roehampton who contained the runs admirably we had to Howard Humphries 1’. SWKP and Maida Vale. 99 for 4 109 for 7 Travers Morgan & Pts v. SWKP wait until the first bowling change before we The team was a varied of rather unsuccessful 145for4 ll8for2 were able to capture a wicket. With the score B. Shorter 50 one over the season. Nick Finn and Mike N. Finn 29 D. Hight 3 for 19 D. Hitchings 62 at 57 for 4 we thought we were well on the way Heddon provided a backbone and others came P. Green 43 n.o. to dismissing the opposition for a low score but N. Finn and B. Shorter were in good batting and went, some fitting a few lightning matches form and helped us to obtain a Travers Morgan & Pts batted first and on a a stand of 90 dashed our hopes completely. reasonable total. into their busy schedules notably Mike Slinn, Opening bowlers C. P. beautiful batting wicket scored 99 before losing Once this partnership was broken by R. Edwards Campbell and Margesson Tony Williams and Geoff French. The first of bowled extremely tightly and did well to a wicket. At that moment D. Flight came on to we came back into the game and D. Weller keep the these showed his pure joy for tennis itself above scoring rate low in early bowl and did very well to take three wickets. captured three wickets. Our innings started the overs. Although such mercenary incentives as Roehanipton the opposition hard for in When our opening batsman A. Clarke was disastrously with a wicket falling in the first over. pushed runs later the suppers, in rushing away after matches! Others match they had left it too bowled in the first over without a run being D. Hitchings and N. Finn stayed together until late and we won by notable for remembering their kit on Thursdays scored the position started to look desperate. fifty was on the board and then the wickets 10 runs. included Ken Weir, Rod Clifton and Tony D. Hitchings and P. Green however staged a started to fall regularly until with the score at Strongman. good recovery with a stand of 88. 102 for 7 we thought the game was lost, It was Binnie & Pts v.SWKP The two drawn matches were played at the at this point that Dave Weller came into bat 87for5 88for8 end of the season when darkness stopped play; Senior Citizens v.Younger Generation and was soon striking the ball all round the field. P. Eckert 24 next season we hope to introduce tennis balls 102 95 He was given able support by the tail end bats- Binnie & Pts opened the batting but good with coloured lights to avoid the necessity for D. Right 25 K. Hackney 20 man (fortunately we had one more player than bowling and fielding by our side kept their score draws. P. Eckert 24 M. Hayman 20 no. is normal) and we squeezed a victory in the last at a reasonable level. A good innings by skipper Three social evenings occurred and the Red M. Wood 3 for 13 C. Campbell 5 for 47 over of the match. P. Eckert help to bolster our score and we passed Lion, now under new management, soon D. Night 4 for 13 the opposition’s total in the fifteenth over. fathomed our tastes in cakes and ale. On these The Senior Citizens (aged 28 years and over) Gollins Melvin Ward & occasions, it must be admitted, our consistent were captained by Mr. Grace who won the toss Pts V. SWKP Robert Matthew stars were Maureen Preston, Lyn Moore and and elected to bat. The younger side soon drew 97 for 4 129 for 7 Johnson & Marshall r. SWKP Jane Williams who set an example to us all in blood by taking a wicket in the first over. They D. Hight 3 for 18 D. Hitchings 29 99for2 94 racquet conduct. continued to pile on the pressure with some P. Fulcher 29 no. A. Clarke 28 The Intersection Cup was well subscribed to, 64 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAs, 1972 65 to watch the cricket and attend the social evening. accurate bowling and it took a good innings by We batted first and with a number of batsmen We batted first in this match, and with the Certainly everyone appeared to enjoy themselves both P. Eckert and D. Hight to redeem the scoring double figures accumulated a reasonable score at 50 for 2 appeared to be coasting to a immensely, especially when the time arrived for situation. Tt was rather unfortunate for the total. Our bowlers also played well and although large total. Suddenly, however, we collapsed to the strawberry tarts to be distributed. The Younger Generation that when the time arrived the opposition were not dismissed their rate of 59 for 7 and it was left to P. Green and M. grateful thanks of all the staff go to Mr. and Mrs. for them to bat the evening became very dark due scoring was well contained. Hayman to help us obtain a reasonable score. Hawkey for coming all the way from Cornwall to low cloud. Even so it took a fine spell of When our opponents lost two wickets with only to act as hosts for this occasion, it’s a job at bowling by C. Campbell and D. Hight to secure Sir Alexander Gibb & 25 on the board we thought we had a good older men. which they excel and we hope they can see their a victory for the Pts 1’. SWKP chance but the two batsmen who came together way clear to attend in future years. Our grateful 66 for 8 71 for I never faltered and passed our total in the twenty- thanks also to Jackie Warner, Mavis Johnson Long Ditton V. SWKP P. Fulcher 2 for 12 A. Clarke 38 no. first over. and Miss Lishmund for helping with the buffet; 136 88 for 9 N. Finn 20 no. they did a grand job. D. Weller 4 for 30 A. Clarke 45 Our bowling and fielding were excellent on this Long Ditton V. SWKP A glance at the averages shows that congratula D. Hight 3 for 35 occasion and the opposition had to work hard 153 for 5 90 for 8 tions are due to Dave Weller and Dave Hight Long .Ditton batted first and thanks to an for their total. We lost a wicket early but A. Clark B. Shorter 30 D. for topping the batting and bowling tables accurate spell of bowling by D. Weller and and N. Finn with a 60 wicket partnership saw us P. Green 30 no. respectively, not a bad effort by either player Hight, coupled with some good fielding, we were safely home to victory. Long Ditton turned out in strength for this when one realises that Dave Weller is considered able to dismiss their batsmen before the twentieth match and hit 153 off the twenty overs allocated. an opening bowler rather than a batsman and over. The majority of our batsmen however were Our batsmen could not emulate this sort of Clarke Charing Cross Hospital v.SWKP Dave Hight has not been playing at all for the unable to strike form and it was left to A. 69for8 72for5 form and P. Green and B. Shorter did well to past few seasons. Before giving a brief summary to make our total look respectable by scoring a score two thirds of our total between them. M. Hayrnan 18 each match 1 should like to offer my personal chanceless 45. of A. Clarke 17 n.o. a of people, first, the partners thanks to number The Charing Cross side batted first and were Tennis with such excellent facilities, Nyasaland Leopards i’. SWKP for providing us well contained by all six of our bowlers who the Long Ditton Cricket 210 for 8 211 for 10 As the met. office records show, this has been second, the members of took at least one wicket each. Four of our bats- being helpful with the catering and D. Night 3 for 38 D. Weller 94 no. a summer of somewhat apathetic though dry Club for so men reached double figures but no one was able and last but not least the D. Weller 3 for 46 D. Hitchings 24 weather. The result was that despite the fitness ground arrangements to dominate the bowling and eighteen natured support. Mr. Grace captained the Nyasaland Leopards overs of courts for all matches and socials, there players for their good passed before we obtained the and elected to bat first. Despite a good opening requisite total. were few of the balmy summer evenings that MATCH SUMMARIES spell of bowling by C. Campbell and D. Weller entice people in great numbers to Roehampton who contained the runs admirably we had to Howard Humphries 1’. SWKP and Maida Vale. 99 for 4 109 for 7 Travers Morgan & Pts v. SWKP wait until the first bowling change before we The team was a varied of rather unsuccessful 145for4 ll8for2 were able to capture a wicket. With the score B. Shorter 50 one over the season. Nick Finn and Mike N. Finn 29 D. Hight 3 for 19 D. Hitchings 62 at 57 for 4 we thought we were well on the way Heddon provided a backbone and others came P. Green 43 n.o. to dismissing the opposition for a low score but N. Finn and B. Shorter were in good batting and went, some fitting a few lightning matches form and helped us to obtain a Travers Morgan & Pts batted first and on a a stand of 90 dashed our hopes completely. reasonable total. into their busy schedules notably Mike Slinn, Opening bowlers C. P. beautiful batting wicket scored 99 before losing Once this partnership was broken by R. Edwards Campbell and Margesson Tony Williams and Geoff French. The first of bowled extremely tightly and did well to a wicket. At that moment D. Flight came on to we came back into the game and D. Weller keep the these showed his pure joy for tennis itself above scoring rate low in early bowl and did very well to take three wickets. captured three wickets. Our innings started the overs. Although such mercenary incentives as Roehanipton the opposition hard for in When our opening batsman A. Clarke was disastrously with a wicket falling in the first over. pushed runs later the suppers, in rushing away after matches! Others match they had left it too bowled in the first over without a run being D. Hitchings and N. Finn stayed together until late and we won by notable for remembering their kit on Thursdays scored the position started to look desperate. fifty was on the board and then the wickets 10 runs. included Ken Weir, Rod Clifton and Tony D. Hitchings and P. Green however staged a started to fall regularly until with the score at Strongman. good recovery with a stand of 88. 102 for 7 we thought the game was lost, It was Binnie & Pts v.SWKP The two drawn matches were played at the at this point that Dave Weller came into bat 87for5 88for8 end of the season when darkness stopped play; Senior Citizens v.Younger Generation and was soon striking the ball all round the field. P. Eckert 24 next season we hope to introduce tennis balls 102 95 He was given able support by the tail end bats- Binnie & Pts opened the batting but good with coloured lights to avoid the necessity for D. Right 25 K. Hackney 20 man (fortunately we had one more player than bowling and fielding by our side kept their score draws. P. Eckert 24 M. Hayman 20 no. is normal) and we squeezed a victory in the last at a reasonable level. A good innings by skipper Three social evenings occurred and the Red M. Wood 3 for 13 C. Campbell 5 for 47 over of the match. P. Eckert help to bolster our score and we passed Lion, now under new management, soon D. Night 4 for 13 the opposition’s total in the fifteenth over. fathomed our tastes in cakes and ale. On these The Senior Citizens (aged 28 years and over) Gollins Melvin Ward & occasions, it must be admitted, our consistent were captained by Mr. Grace who won the toss Pts V. SWKP Robert Matthew stars were Maureen Preston, Lyn Moore and and elected to bat. The younger side soon drew 97 for 4 129 for 7 Johnson & Marshall r. SWKP Jane Williams who set an example to us all in blood by taking a wicket in the first over. They D. Hight 3 for 18 D. Hitchings 29 99for2 94 racquet conduct. continued to pile on the pressure with some P. Fulcher 29 no. A. Clarke 28 The Intersection Cup was well subscribed to, 66 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 67

TENNIS CLUB GOLF CLUB RESULTS

Versus Home Away RESULTS 1972

10—8 6—12 Sir William Halcrow & Partners Won Lost 9th May at Tyrells Wood G.C. v. Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners Drawn 2—2

Binnie & Partners Lost 4—14 Lost 7—11 16th May at Wilderness G.C. V. Higgs & Hill Lost 2—I Ove Amp & Partners Drawn — Lost 4—14 14th June at Betchworth Park G.C. v. Preece, Cardew & Rider Won 2—1 Sir Robert McAlpine Drawn — Won 12—6 13th July at Cuddington G.C. v. Binnie & Partners Lost 3—0 Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners Lost 6—12 Lost 5—13 27th July at Selsdon Park G.C. I’. Mott Hay & Anderson Lost 2—1 20th September at Tyrells Wood G.C. v. Richard Costairi Lost 3—1

FIXTURES 1973 to the extent of having six pairs from Planning. Golf Due to the absence on holiday of many players during the contest, certain leagues were a bit On paper we do not appear to have had a very 10th May at Seisdon Park G.C. v. Mott Hay & Anderson thin on the court. The final was precluded by the happy season when the result sheet reads played 29th May at Wilderness G.C. v. Higgs & Hill sudden departure of Nick Finn for Canada and 6, won I, drawn 1 and lost 4, but don’t let that 28th June at RAC Club The ‘Measor Mashie’ a draw declared between Nick Finn and Mike fool you for they are only results. What really Slinn of the Planning section and Brian Shorter matters is the answer to the question did we 19th July at Betchworth Park G.C. v. Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners and Alan Lamb of the Civil section. We trust enjoy getting thrashed four times out of six! 26th September at Kingswood G.C. v. Richard Costain that this success, though less than the outright Of course we did, for it is all good sport, but it stardom of last year’s cup will give Nick every just makes it all a little more enjoyable if you confidence in his life in Calgary. win once in a while, and that is just what we Our thanks go to the Partners for their con did, win once! Maybe we should cheat a little, John Pascoe and Don Dudeney. At this juncture Soccer Notes tinuing generosity and support in providing for a who knows, with a little organisation like lunch I would like to thank Don who over the last few successful tennis season and finally to Miss time seminars on ‘Bent Golf’ it could pay divi years has helped me check the cards in the 19th, 1 always wanted to be literary, you know, to Lishmund for showing such interest and patience. dends. However, we will be back in there pitching always a hectic task and his support is appreciated. write stories. I don’t Inean just any old stories, A. P. M. LAMB and putting again next season, but unfortunately The ladies prize went to, of course, Mrs. J. I mean classics. You can keep your children’s without the support of some of our hard-core Maidrnent and the booby prizes to M. Wood stories; ‘Muscles Bartlett meets Stan the Bat’ is recently, namely, Badminton players who have left the firm for the largest gross score and A. Barber for the all very well but so ephemeral. Actually I always John Holt, Nick Finn, Peter Clark, Clive Burton largest score at two nominated holes. wondered if I could ever make it as a philosopher. With the season being only some three weeks and last but by no means least, Cohn Holmes. There were only four entries for the ‘Pontifact Imagine the status— old at the time of writing there is very little club Far be it for me to bring politics into sport Putter’ competition this year so you overseas “What do you do then?” news to fill this column, but I am pleased to be but do you know that within a 15 mile radius golfers will have to pull your socks up. The “i’m a philosopher” able to report that a number of new faces have of Basingstoke, apart from there being an winner was R. G. R. Evans in Kenya with 40 “What’s that?” been appearing at our sessions so far this year and abundance of nothing, there are nine golf courses points followed by John Holt with 35 who played “It means i’m on the dole.” to express the hope that more do so in the and within a similar radius of the Welsh Chapel his round during a visit to Nigeria. in third spot It’s an inspirational thing; how about coming weeks. in Eastcastle Street there are nearly four times was Pat Vulliamy, a regular competitor and past ‘arrogance is ugly’, I mean, that’s a fair enough Perhaps therefore, this is an appropriate time that number. So—unless the population of the winner, also in Nigeria and fourth was M. Le start for an amateur. And that’s as far as I’m to remind established members of the firm and aforementioned town explodes to one-quarter Gouais in Kenya. allowed to get. What am I landed with instead? introduce newer members to the activities of the that of the Welsh Chapel the firm’s golfers are Above are summaries of the matches played The soccer notes. Oh well. Here goes. Club. We meet regularly every Monday evening on a winner! this year and the fixtures already arranged for I thought of taking revenge on life by doing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Swiss Cottage Baths The ‘Measor Mashie’ competition was a great next season. some sycophantic pen-pictures of the SWKP from the end of October right through to the end success again this year attracting a field of 21 The matches with Preece Cardew & Rider football team. T also thought of doing some of March. The facilities offered at Swiss Cottage including, for the first time for many a year, a and Binnie & Partners have still to be arranged. insulting pen-pictures. Then I thought about are excellent and the Club possesses a couple of female competitor in the shape of Mrs. J. Finally, a reminder for our overseas golfers, some truthful ones. Then I decided to forget it. raquets so that it is not essential to have your Maidment who together with any other golfing do not forget the ‘Pontifact Putter’ competition. If it’s my lot in life to demonstrate my England own. Three courts are available for the first hour wives will be welcomed again next year. Cards for a round played from 1st January, 1973 manager potential i’ll have to live with the and two for the second so that there is plenty of However, the winner who amassed the greatest onwards should be sent to me, at the London inscrut-ability. exercise for everyone during the course of the number of Stableford points over the RAC Office, to arrive not later than 25th June, 1973. evening (overweight engineers please note). Country Club course at Epsom was Nick Finn A copy of the rules will be forwarded on request. v. Sir William Halcrow Drawn 3—3 (HT 2—2) DAVE WELLER with 41 followed by two players with 37, namely GRAHAM WALKER Battle was struck once more with an old foe

L 66 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 67

TENNIS CLUB GOLF CLUB RESULTS

Versus Home Away RESULTS 1972

10—8 6—12 Sir William Halcrow & Partners Won Lost 9th May at Tyrells Wood G.C. v. Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners Drawn 2—2

L 68 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 69

(please note the literary tone that this report has centre forward. Although SWKP were 2—0down nowhere with a rosette reading ‘Up the Girls’ already taken). With the noble captain donning after 15 minutes, the turning point of the match pinned to her voluptuous contours. These the keeper’s jersey and the one and only Abbott, came when referee Disney allowed a contro voluptuous contours were later discovered as R. keeping the left touchline company, goals versial goal by Brian Southwood, with the being the artificial protuberances of Arthur were scored by Brian Shorter (wearing his red opposition claiming offside. The equaliser came Melton in drag! and black stripes horizontally), Torn Davern in the second half from a fine run and shot by A lady player retrieving a loose ball from the and Chris Beers. Unfortunately the noble Mike Kennedy, and some athletic goalkeeping back line was hotly pursued by a large black dog captain playing in goal, was left fumbling for his by John Surridge kept the scores level. wishing to participate in this serious activity. monocle and kid gloves on three occasions. Triumphantly the ladies scored their first goal; Right. That’s it. I’m off to sign on at the Labour a cheer from the crowd as the girls administered v. Sir William Halcrow Won 4—1 (HT 1—0) Exchange as a philosopher. To be. congratulatory slaps on the back of the goal After the reintroduction of old bruises, SWKP P.S.D. scorer who collapsed to the ground and remained gave one of their best footballing exhibitions in inactive. living memory. In Pete Eckert’s case this is As eleven lady players descended onto one approximately, Oooh at least 30 seconds, but he THE MIXED FOOTBALL MATCH poor man, they were unable to gain possession LADIES (in team order) of the ball, and play did score the only goal of the first half and continued with a threat 1 Sue Mason (captain) another in the second half along with Brian Venue: REGENT’S PARK Date: 24TH JULY, 1972 from the men who were now fighting for an 2 Janet Newman Crutterden and Brian Southwood. The game was equaliser. 3 Wendy Louis well refereed by Dave Weller (Sir). It was a fine evening—a little damp perhaps— John Stamper, an infamous player of great 4 Pat Ferguson (lovely legs) when ten girls of varying shapes and sizes were strength, grabbed Janet (Peter Osgood) Newman 5 Pat Mason by the v. Activated Sludge Limited Won 5—0 (HT struggling into outlandish sports attire. Red elbows and kept her in an elevated 6 Bella Stein 2—0) socks predominated the scene. What were these position to miss a neat cross ball from Lyn 7 Jane Etherington A fine Saturday morning enticed such veteran girls doing? (Bobby) Moore. Pedalling the air Janet was 8 Isabell McDowell notables as Jeff Tetlow, Chris Wright, Mike A man sat under a nearby tree reading a book. unperturbed and went on to play a magnificent 9 Rose Tylka Slinn, and Keith Hackney (No! No! stand back He glanced towards the girls, now in various game. 10 Lyn Moore please!) to come forth for their seasonal debut. stages of undress, and continued to read his book. Isabell McDowall, one of the casualties, 11 Maureen Edwards The first half produced some sparkling football A dog barked as eleven men smoothly changed hobbled around courageously after a rough and goals from Mike Kennedy and the noble from the typically immaculate civil engineering tackle as a high ball was aimed straight for the captain—his first for the firm. The second half pin stripes to even more outrageous sports wear. delicate parts of Pat Mason’s anatomy which was notable only in the octopus impersonation A Scott Wilson man, hardly recognisable, but required immediate first aid attention. Many by the opposing goalkeeper and the completion bearing a strange uncanny resemblance to a lost male volunteers gathered round the injured of a hat-trick by the noble captain, his third ‘diddy man’ from Thames House, rather than a player who nobly declined all offers and went on goal coming from a penalty awarded to Mike representation of the formidable Pete, wandered to score yet another goal for the ladies—a Kennedy by referee John Surridge (we made onto the pitch. What were these men doing? penalty shot taken whilst Mike Kennedy the him an offer he COULDN’T refuse). Pete Eckert Was it a mixed football match? No one will goalie lay prostrate on the cool Regent’s Park sod. tried very hard, and eventually scored. Well done ever know! The only thing missing to complete Bella Stein, a star player, was nearly sent off for Pete. I must say, it was nice to see Keith Hackney the picture was a few bars from the signature concussing Jimmy Martin, the serious centre in football gear again. It’s always nice to know tune of Match oft/ic Day. forward, but Trish (of lovely leg fame) executed a what the well dressed footballer of 1955 is Warm-up time, and so the men tripped onto quiet kiss of life on the referee who instantly wearing, and on this occasion the crowd were the pitch manipulating their lithe, muscular allowed Bella to remain in the game. also treated to a delicious display of drama bodies in contortive rippling movements, whilst The men of Scott Wilson had met their tic petulant hypochondria. An unsurpassable the ball was being dribbled expertly by the girls Waterloo in this agile team of keen opponents. exhibition. who stormed onto the pitch, chewing gum, The camera lens of Anthony Armstrong Jones GENTLEMEN? team competently determined to put these men through (alias Jane Etherington’s boyfriend) zoomed in on (in order) some thrilling action as Rose Tylka, an I Mike 1’. Tower Hamlets—Child Care Department their paces. American Kennedy (captain) 2 Drawn 2—2 (HT 1—2) It was nearing kick-off time and unfortunately secretary, lost her shoe as she made a fierce Charles Campbell Played on a cold wet afternoon, several late the girls were one ,izan short! As a number of attack on the ball. 3 Jimmy Martin tactical substitutions were made in the SWKP lecherous spectators assembled on the side lines, The ladies victoriously won the match 5—3 4 Roger Abbott team when players failed to arrive. John Surridge Paul Disney blew the whistle, risking life and with a little help from one or two men players, 5 Brian Shorter went in goal. Nic Clemson went to left back, limb to referee—the game? i.e. the goalkeeper, Arthur the referee who put 6 Jim Davis Stewart Mawer to centre half, and Mike Slinn’s A commotion arose as a dapper woman, a few balls at the feet of the ladies, and one 7 John Stamper brother-in-law learnt a few more words of wise complete with varicose veins and handbag player who shall remain nameless (because I’ve 8 Brian Cruttenden English advice on the left wing. David Dent took containing cryptic messages, ran onto the pitch forgotten) ‘ho played half his game for the 9 Simon Hollington Sawyer on the opposing team from inside forward, and rendering several short sharp blasts on a whistle. ladies, and alas, half his game for the men! 10 Paul Disney John Stamper used his weight effectively at The real referee had arrived miraculously from SUE MASON 11 John Surridge I 68 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 69

Laings)

Totals

615

633 514

312

532

431 422

PIWL

John

Notes

from

Office

Staff

GIasgoIl’

secondment

(on

(rejoined)

Stein

Brown

Stafford

Perryman

Gordon

Company,

Shephard

Office

Simms

Parsons

Irwin

Grosset

Smith

Grant

Honca

Southwood

White

Turner

Cullen

Robson

Office

Salmo

N. Wilson

Weller

isli S.

Peters

W. C.

Romei

J. P.

R. Leitch

Sliper

Stenning G.

McDonald

D. R.

R. Miss

R. R. Miss

Mrs.

I. Scott

J. L. H.

J. H.

H. R.

J. Kendal

Mrs.

Brigg

RESULTS

NOTES

(rejoined)

1972

Gregory

Gosling

played

McPherson

SECTION

Moore

Orton

Dowson Green

Dent

Gray

Lok

Jones

Office C.

C. L.

Gidwani

Barnett Brigly

Campbell

Bond Melnyk

Goddard

Kneebone

Hoyes

Ferguson Fowids Jardine Jordan

Iriman

Elliott

Mansfield

J. P.

Appointments

C. L.

Maranian

Nutt

Farthing

Barnett

French

Brown Clifton

Wright

Hockin A.

Fernandez

P. K.

Hunter

0. F.

Wilson R. R.

E. Hunt

Murphy

Result

SQUASH

Positioned

CHRISTMAS, G.

D. I. C.

New London R.

Miss

D. 0.

J. A.

J. Miss Miss

B. P. Miss

T. C.

G. R. Miss

D. P.

Miss

of of

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the

last

the has

not

has

this

The

also

that

with

only

keep

Chris

would

which

are

No.

a!.

left

do played

year.

the

specific

time

top pool

i.e.

Section.

CLIFTON

mention

entrants

“where’s

position.

For

with

repeat

not

will wrest

and,

arrival at

which Fleeing

season,

series,

COMMITTEE

League

through has

season,

last

who

all

will

and

spirit

air

ROD

sections.

one

Brown,

and

six,

socials

intend

the

court

will

and

446,

this

this not

unfit”,

into

Finn.

all

purpose

Cup

than court,

hitherto, those

that

within

people.

1972

Hockin

DARTS

entrants

getting thin

PONTIFACT

No.

they

happy held

Dick

enter

the

1973,

the

will

minutes

from

out

team

should

was

results

number

1973.

endeavour

lunch-break

matches

Rod

as of

mighty

off

Wilson,

the

zoned

ensure

for

Lady

Farthing,

will holders—Bridges

been

remaining

anyhow?),

apply

Room

competition.

collapsing

the

this the

also

there

Ian

game.

entries

invited

chance being

club’s

will

wildly

socials

you

the

Cementation

will

Fifi

Shield

have

1973. realise

least,

March,

matches

February,

stronger

service

inasmuch draw. but

French,

David

present

players

the

this

“five

and

staggered

floor

before

the

allocated

equal

that

not

13th

will 13th

rules

win

the the

three

the

three

didn’t

consideration

play

in socials

series

have

Notes

absence

who

darts

Geoff

(who

mark

rounds

inter-section

hallmark of

saying

dates

thrashing

and

(“1

been

‘Hawkey’

full

fourth

that

hope

basic

Barnett

attendance

Committee

from

organised,

the

won

the

entries

feature

continuing

return

have

the

man

bar”)

final

the

Tuesday,

The Tuesday,

Two

The

follows:

perspiration!

social, have

the racket,

total being

the remaining

Squash

the probably

Keith Wright,

Canada However the

been without have

Shield

habitually on friendly enjoy

‘known’ kindly

the section

will

hoped Darts receive

was hundred pairs

rivalry

are

‘Ye

and two

who

1973

into

This

cosy

team other

many

estab

Assur

SWKP

indica

Board.

League

season.

current

Central

friendly

manner

primary

success.

arrange

the

this

Building

team

for

the

Company,

the newcomers

from

established

are

Those

the our

the

The

increasingly

Automobile

for

SWKP

that

Coal host’

acknowledge

Corporation,

already

Oil

initial

Steel,

recall

matches.

General

less,

SWKP

membership

what

support,

been

Competition

there The

1972.

teams

room

Street,

learn

and

will

SWKP

League,

games,

with

have

2 ‘mine

National

the

as Steel

the

defeated

this

Board

has

quick

Castrol

Cup

National

wide

becoming

operation

and

‘home’

met

banner

predict

private

visiting

Poland

trophy

Darts

the

Coal

League

SWKP

Medical a

Medical been SHIELD

the

however,

The

that

the

firm

Abbey

pleased

National

SWKP

affecting

British

play

amongst

League

fine

consider

Burmah

friendships

trophy---British

cannot

the

and

courtesy

have

time,

competition

use

Association Knock-out

DARTS

say

this

The

normal

organisations

and

entertain

Clerical

London

firm

Clerical

Arms’,

will

National view

results Abbey

round

this

the

shortly

arrangements

who

opposition

carrying

the

Castro

SWKP

can

will

one.

the

from

The

reception.

has us

years

particular

present

first

will

Petroleum,

League

some

Company,

represents

that

have course,

King’s

Petroleum

notable

far

HAWKEY

ance

enjoyable

Central

general

ten

the

the the

their

Mention

follows:

Esso Through

Apart

SWKP

SWKP Burmah

So Automobile

Proudly

This

participated

the ments

position THE contest.

lished importance.

What to

Olde the

team

companies

League holders enables

in games

establishment

Society,

ance Esso as

such British

Darts which Association,

tions

the At for

tough. 70

Laings)

Totals

615

633 514

312

532

431 422

PIWL

John

Notes

from

Office

Staff

GIasgoIl’

secondment

(on

(rejoined)

Stein

Brown

Stafford

Perryman

Gordon

Company,

Shephard

Office

Simms

Parsons

Irwin

Grosset

Smith

Grant

Honca

Southwood

White

Turner

Cullen

Robson

Office

Salmo

N. Wilson

Weller

isli S.

Peters

W. C.

Romei

J. P.

R. Leitch

Sliper

Stenning G.

McDonald

D. R.

R. Miss

R. R. Miss

Mrs.

I. Scott

J. L. H.

J. H.

H. R.

J. Kendal

Mrs.

Brigg

RESULTS

NOTES

(rejoined)

1972

Gregory

Gosling

played

McPherson

SECTION

Moore

Orton

Dowson Green

Dent

Gray

Lok

Jones

Office C.

C. L.

Gidwani

Barnett Brigly

Campbell

Bond Melnyk

Goddard

Kneebone

Hoyes

Ferguson Fowids Jardine Jordan

Iriman

Elliott

Mansfield

J. P.

Appointments

C. L.

Maranian

Nutt

Farthing

Barnett

French

Brown Clifton

Wright

Hockin A.

Fernandez

P. K.

Hunter

0. F.

Wilson R. R.

E. Hunt

Murphy

Result

SQUASH

Positioned

CHRISTMAS, G.

D. I. C.

New London R.

Miss

D. 0.

J. A.

J. Miss Miss

B. P. Miss

T. C.

G. R. Miss

D. P.

Miss

of of

his

the

last

the has

not

has

this

The

also

that

with

only

keep

Chris

would

which

are

No.

a!.

left

do played

year.

the

specific

time

top pool

i.e.

Section.

CLIFTON

mention

entrants

“where’s

position.

For

with

repeat

not

will wrest

and,

arrival at

which Fleeing

season,

series,

COMMITTEE

League

through has

season,

last

who

all

will

and

spirit

air

ROD

sections.

one

Brown,

and

six,

socials

intend

the

court

will

and

446,

this

this not

unfit”,

into

Finn.

all

purpose

Cup

than court,

hitherto, those

that

within

people.

1972

Hockin

DARTS

entrants

getting thin

PONTIFACT

No.

they

happy held

Dick

enter

the

1973,

the

will

minutes

from

out

team

should

was

results

number

1973.

endeavour

lunch-break

matches

Rod

as of

mighty

off

Wilson,

the

zoned

ensure

for

Lady

Farthing,

will holders—Bridges

been

remaining

anyhow?),

apply

Room

competition.

collapsing

the

this the

also

there

Ian

game.

entries

invited

chance being

club’s

will

wildly

socials

you

the

Cementation

will

Fifi

Shield

have

1973. realise

least,

March,

matches

February,

stronger

service

inasmuch draw. but

French,

David

present

players

the

this

“five

and

staggered

floor

before

the

allocated

equal

that

not

13th

will 13th

rules

win

the the

three

the

three

didn’t

consideration

play

in socials

series

have

Notes

absence

who

darts

Geoff

(who

mark

rounds

inter-section

hallmark of

saying

dates

thrashing

and

(“1

been

‘Hawkey’

full

fourth

that

hope

basic

Barnett

attendance

Committee

from

organised,

the

won

the

entries

feature

continuing

return

have

the

man

bar”)

final

the

Tuesday,

The Tuesday,

Two

The

follows:

perspiration!

social, have

the racket,

total being

the remaining

Squash

the probably

Keith Wright,

Canada However the

been without have

Shield

habitually on friendly enjoy

‘known’ kindly

the section

will

hoped Darts receive

was hundred pairs

rivalry

are

‘Ye

and two

who

1973

into

This

cosy

team other

many

estab

Assur

SWKP

indica

Board.

League

season.

current

Central

friendly

manner

primary

success.

arrange

the

this

Building

team

for

the

Company,

the newcomers

from

established

are

Those

the our

the

The

increasingly

Automobile

for

SWKP

that

Coal host’

acknowledge

Corporation,

already

Oil

initial

Steel,

recall

matches.

General

less,

SWKP

membership

what

support,

been

Competition

there The

1972.

teams

room

Street,

learn

and

will

SWKP

League,

games,

with

have

2 ‘mine

National

the

as Steel

the

defeated

this

Board

has

quick

Castrol

Cup

National

wide

becoming

operation

and

‘home’

met

banner

predict

private

visiting

Poland

trophy

Darts

the

Coal

League

SWKP

Medical a

Medical been SHIELD

the

however,

The

that

the

firm

Abbey

pleased

National

SWKP

affecting

British

play

amongst

League

fine

consider

Burmah

friendships

trophy---British

cannot

the

and

courtesy

have

time,

competition

use

Association Knock-out

DARTS

say

this

The

normal

organisations

and

entertain

Clerical

London

firm

Clerical

Arms’,

will

National view

results Abbey

round

this

the

shortly

arrangements

who

opposition

carrying

the

Castro

SWKP

can

will

one.

the

from

The

reception.

has us

years

particular

present

first

will

Petroleum,

League

some

Company,

represents

that

have course,

King’s

Petroleum

notable

far

HAWKEY

ance

enjoyable

Central

general

ten

the

the the

their

Mention

follows:

Esso Through

Apart

SWKP

SWKP Burmah

So Automobile

Proudly

This

participated

the ments

position THE contest.

lished importance.

What to

Olde the

team

companies

League holders enables

in games

establishment

Society,

ance Esso as

such British

Darts which Association,

tions

the At for

tough. 70 72 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 73

Site Ivlovements Within the UK J. C. Kershaw—TOW Renfrew Outfall Sewer From To Mrs. M. Lockhart—Clerk-TYPiSt (part-time) Renfrew Outfall Sewer J. Corr Antrim Office M2 site J. P. D. Cotton G. Sim—rejoined—RE Dashwood House site M6site ... Kendal Office J. 0. M. Craig Antrim Office M2 site W. Farthing 0 i’erseas D. Post-graduate course at Salford University London Office D. F. Boon—rejoined the Hong Kong Firm as SARE on Container Terminal site R. M. Hockin Secondment to Costains London Office J. R. Ewer—ARE Kenya Tea Roads. M. J. Leathers M6site ... Kendal Office B. Gudka—ARE Kenya Tea Roads W. H. D. Lee Antrim Office M2 site H. J. Merchant—Soils Engineer, Nairobi Office, Kenya M. E. L. Lloyd Prestatyn Drainage site Gwent County Hall site J. J. J. Mushet—IOW Lilongwe New Capital site, Malawi (rejoined) R. F. T. McDowell Antrim Office M2 site J. V. Parkin—seconded to Govt. as Engineers Rep. Kai Tak Airport Tunnel Road D. J. Mime London Office Secondment to Costains A. C. Payne—RE Sultan’s Armed Forces HQ at Risail, Oman M. G. H. Stevens BEA Engineering Base site London Office R. Sheasby—ARE Kenya Tea Roads C. Sim—RE Kai Tak Airport Tunnel Road Since the last issue of Pontifact the following have been elected to Membership status of the P. G. Storry—Geologist, Hong Kong Office Institution of Civil Engineers: Kai Tak Airport Tunnel Road T. M. Stott—IOW C. P. Davis (London Office) Thomson—lOW Kwai Chung Container Terminal site A. J. G. D. Gosling (London Office) G. I. Mackenzie (Glasgow Office) UK front Overseas Staff Returning to G. D. Taylor (Brigg Office) D. R. Abbott—AE London Office (ex Brunei Airport) G. E. Tedbury (London Office) C. D. Barclay—AUA Glasgow Office (ex Sultans Armed Forces HQ, Risail, Oman) J. H. Tetlow (London Office) G. D. Gosling—AE (C) London Office (ex Hong Kong Office) M. E. Trigg (London Office) C. P. Harding—AE (C) London Office (ex Nigeria) H. T. M. insley—post-graduate course at Salford University (ex Brunei Roads) The following have been elected to Membership status of the Institution of Structural Engineers: P. D. Knowles—SE London Office (ex Hong Kong Cross Harbour Tunnel) D. F. Lyon (London Office) J. S. McNee—RE Renfrew Outfall Sewer (ex Nigeria) G. I. Mackenzie (Glasgow Office) G. E. Trigg—AE London Office (ex Hong Kong) M. E. Trigg (London Office) K. W. Wigmore—SE London Office (ex India Study of Substitution of Labour for Equipment) R. D. Burley (London Office) has been awarded the Higher Technicians Certificate and G. N. Pendse Movements of Staff Overseas (London Office) has been awarded the Technicians Certificate of the Scheme for the Training of Civil Engineering Technicians. C. D. Barclay—ARE Sultan’s Armed Forces HQ, Risail, Oman (ex Glasgow Office) Oman (cx Cyprus) and subsequently to Bangla P. G. Berry—RE Sultan’s Armed Forces HQ, Risail, K. J. Self (London Office) has been awarded the institution Structural Engineering Technicians desh as General Engineer on the Transport Study Certificate. K. E. Caswell—3 mths. in Lagos Office on structural design (ex Lilongwe Office) and subsequently to Malawi again as RE on the New Capital site Post-graduate Fe/b mt’s/ups Office, Kenya (ex Lilongwe Office) T. P. Conway—AE (C) Nairobi The following fellowships have been awarded for the academic year 1972—73: Nairobi Office) R. A. Cooper—Highways Engineer Malawi Roads Feasibility Study (cx H. T. M. Insley—to study Highway Engineering at Salford University N. Finn—post-graduate course in Canada (ex London Office) W. R. Kemp—to study Transportation Engineering at Leeds University Study (ex Nigeria) J. M. Henley—Deputy Project Director Bangladesh Transport P. F. Whatling—to study Concrete Structures and Technology at Imperial College. C. W. Holmes—ARE Makullah Naval Base (now a member of SWKP staff instead of on secondment from Mowlems) (cx London Office) M. S. Kopp—IOW Sultan’s Armed Forces HQ, Risail, Oman (ex Gwent site) Locke—Superintendent of Works Nanyuki Airport (ex Malawi) K. B. EXTRACT FROM ONE OF THE LETTERS D. H. Newell—SE Kaduna Office, Nigeria (ex Lilongwe Office, Malawi) FROM OUR CONSULTANTS and thus a very H. North—Transportation Engineer Malawi Roads Feasibility Study (ex London Office) small amount will arrive at the R. aerials for subsequent reradiation W. Prylinski—Project Manager, Final Design Kota Kinabalu Airport, Sabah (ex London Office) “Our view is that the existing aerial farm will and also such reradiation will probably be of a N. D. Robinson—Soils Technician Malawi Roads Feasibility Study (ex Nairobi Office) not affect the integrity of the ILS azimuth spectral nature and it will occur, if at all, upwind W. Scott—Sen. Highways Engineer Malawi Roads Feasibility Study (ex Nairobi Office) guidance signal at any significant point along of the displaced threshold. One can therefore pose the question P. D. Smith—Airport Engineer, Final Design Kota Kinabalu Airport, Sabah (cx London Office) the approach path to the runway. This situation is it necessary to relocate aerials?” G. E. Trigg—AE Hong Kong Office (ex English Language Centre, Bangkok) at the airport viz-a-viz the presence of many the 0. J. Van Aswegen—lOW Brunei Airport for about 3 mths. (ex Kai Tak Airport) extraneous objects will probably require a wide Being a structural engineer I was wondering R. J. K. Viapree—Project Manager Malawi Roads Feasibility Study (ex Lagos) aperture localiser array which will contain most if my answer should be yes or no, but finally I 100 G. Wilson—RE Nanyuki Airport, Kenya (ex Brunei Airport) of the energy say either side of the runway have answered simply “indubiously.” I 72 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 73

Davies and mice so big that tile cats lie/It around the best yet . . . the finest I ever growed in pairs. Fact was that the local ‘nloggies’ nere so there’ll be nuffink to touch yer up the Civic scared of ‘em that the on/v ‘Tabs’ they nas on Centre Show on Sat’day ... nuffink! . . . they were 5 grin. Libriuni ‘‘. can poke their ‘Bronze Supremes’, ‘Ambassadors’ But now, 25 years and 10 gallons of assorted and their ‘Connie Mahews’, there’ll be nuffink ‘Dulux’ later, phis a load of honest toil and Lil’s to compete wiv you, me little ‘Golden Glory’.” constant scrubbing brush, ‘Handy Andy’, ‘Zamno’ Bert’s mind backpedalled with almost parental and dusters of ‘Johnson’s Wax’, No. 17 certain/v nostalgia to that day in the early spring when this is a neat little thuin. Neat lean . . . but ‘ere little golden beauty, a mere snippet then, had i,onielj’. arrived from Surrey nursery, moss an’ all. Tile sanie goes •for the gardemi All the old Then had come all the ol’ paraphernalia, the bricks, twisted rabbit iletting, used car tvres and John Innes compost, the bonemeal, ‘oaf and rusted renmants of an A,idemson shelter have long ‘orn compounds and the nicotine spray to since been dumped at the Council tip. prepare. Bert did a mental chuckle. Talk abart

Everything in tile garde/I is lovely. Fresh/v hoed larf . . . told Lii of the nicotine spray and wot

borders, coloured crazy-pa red paths and a trini did she do? . . . saved up all me ol’ shag fag ends Iveedfree Iairn plucked straight out of Wimbledon ‘s and mixed up a brew which would ‘av blistered Centre Court. the barnacles orf a barge bottom . . . gawd Doivn the bottom on the left is the tongued and luv ‘er. And wot abart the time we ‘ad that late grooved tool shed, affectionately known to Ld as frawst and in the morning I fahnd four winders ‘Bert’s sulk ‘ole’ and opposite is the small green of me greenhouse caved in, all the ‘eat gorn an’ house which is the venue foi’ the start of. this me little ‘Golden Glory’ looking sick to death.

Illoiltil’s episode of. Nearly lorst ‘er I did . . . they was rough ol’ days they was. Nursed you frew it though, The Exhibitor didn’t I? You little golden beauty. ‘Course I Mr. Bert Badger, his corduroy seat drooping knows ‘oo dun me winders doan’ l—’Bugsy’

well over the edges of an upturned orange crate, Cackett’s grotty nosed kid up at No. 29 . . . a gazed intently ahead. right little tearaway called Stevie. Got all the All that could be heard in the tiny greenhouse makings to finish up a fully fledged bovver boy. was the wheezy rhythm ofhis autumnal bronchitis. ‘Air frizzed up all over ‘is ‘head like a perishin’ A pallid sun dodged the clouds like an excited Robertson’s jam gollywog, cod fish eyes—jus’ kid and with occulting irregularity its fitful beam like his ol’ man—a mean beaky ‘ooter an’ a loose danced a staccato polka on the forehead of wet mouf, always arf open wiv his bottom lip Mr. Badger. ‘anging dahn like a letter box wiv a busted flap. The gaze of the greenhouse inmate did not Despite the best efforts of the teachers at Bog waver. Lane Secondary Modern, Stevie was due to be 2AZ An autumn breeze stole gently across the launched into the shirking world educationally smooth carpet of lawn and paused to test the equipped with the ability to sign his name with pile before breathing upwards to evict the a cross. remaining withered leaves from the nearby pear Bert had seen ‘Bugsy’ Cackett in the Public tree. For a moment they clung in a last despairing up at the ‘Baker’s Arms’ and told him about embrace before their final fluttering journey to Stevie throwing bricks and busting the greenhouse the earth which first gave them life and now, in windows. death, reclaimed them. “Leave orf Bert”, said Bugsy, “he only did it be dead in stook at Ainber 17 Scragg Street, E.2, is a neat open hearted nioisha, I shall Tn the greenhouse Bert gazed on. Transfixed fer a giggle”. “A wot?” snarled Bert. “Well, wasn’t so. As a such pikes” did nothing to alleviate tile shock little drum. It always ... would be a better description and yet the object you know wot T mean—he did it fer kicks”. fact when Mr. Bert Badger which awaited IVIr.and Mrs. Bert Badger. Perhaps ,iiatter of of his fixation was barely two feet away. Sentinel “Oh . . . kicks is it”, said Bert “Well if that’s all described in the words of Bert and Lii, his ii’ifr—vou know, Lily Stephens as the scene is best stemmed the firm leaves were complementary ‘e wants I’ll give ‘im a coupla good uns right up We opens the front door and not was, had returned from their weekend honeymoon himself to the golden lustred head of a fine 8 in. the centre of those rotten tatty Lee Coopers ‘e we see?—fi 11/1 p1/i.e umiaduIterated Jilff! at Southend eli, nearer Westell/i really— did chrysanthemum bloom. wears and he wont be able to sit on ‘is bottle fer gypos ‘ad the posh end, they’d collected the keys off Estate You’d ‘av fort a load of Mongolian A tiny microphone placed close to the chin a week—tell ‘im that from me Bugsy!” and Bert Agent I-Rune Greenberg and had gone round to 1/loved alit I tell yer ... free inches of dirt on the cleft might have amplified the faint soliloquy of had slamnied out the public bar. 14”of?never view No. 17. Despite Hyinie’s inevitable whiniiig floor, scunimy ceilings and vermin— admiration which slipped so softly through the Anyway it hadn’t happened again and Bert ockroaches like miniature routine ...‘‘l’in giving au’aVsuch a lovely property see’d the like of it quivering lips of Mr. Badger. jerked back to the present continuing to gaze 1 or somntin’ , such an Chieftain tanks, fleas wot could out -jump Lyn my life. must be ilIad “You darlin’ . . . you little smasher . . . you’re and mutter endearments to his chrysanth. Lil

IA No. 30 74 PONTIFACT CHRISTMAS, l972 75

Everything in tile garde/I is lovely. Fresh/v hoed larf . . . told Lii of the nicotine spray and wot

IA 76 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 77

caught sight of her ol’ nian when in the gathering Gents . . . Hunaccustomed has I ham in public I’ll but the rest of his outburst was swallowed As the shattering force of utter disappoint- twilight she took him a cup of tea. Of course speechyfying an’ ‘at” ... It was just then he in a blubber of bitter frustration. ment erupted in his brain, his chin sank lower she didn’t laugh. But as she told Mrs. Harris saw the judge appear in the aisleway, accompanied After all, he couldnt help the tear which onto his chest and with his eyelids shut tight, he next door, “1 could have died, Maisie, seeing by the Mayor. zipped off the end of his nose and splashed choked back a sob and gulped Well, cor him sitting on that old orange box, he looked Bert tingled with excitement as he recognised onto the toe cap of his Cherry Blossomed shoe bli”. like a Toby jug with legs”. the judge. It was Mr. Brotherton who’d come and but he managed to cuff the second one. Arturo Rotunda Come the Saturday, it was all hustle and bustle giv’ a lecture in the summer to the Ackney for the Town Show up at the Civic Centre. Bert Wick an Beffnel Green Gardens an’ Erlottments had popped his beloved ‘Golden Glory’ in a Association dahn at the Buffaloes Lodge. special carrying box, thoroughly protected against Smashing bloke—clever too, ‘e spoke all Latin any possible damage. He wouldn’t chance the names for plants like centuria candidissima for bus but walked all the way carrying his bloom silver leaf an’ ichynops ryto an’ all that. He was like it was packed in a canister of nitro glycerine. also a mate of that there BBC bloke, Professor Inside the hail he found the area allocated Alan Gemmel, y’know—hini as conies over Wedding ‘Chrysanths (Late)’, carefully set down his every Sunday from that German University at charge and began to unwrap. He tried his Kiel just ter be in Gardeners Question Time, so Wedding of Janet Cardozo and Maurice Poole on whistle on “She’s my Lovely” but it’s doubtful ‘e was a smashing bloke too. 16th September, 1972 whether Jerome Kern would have recognised Yes, everything seemed perfectly alright in his melody. Mr. Badger’s world as lie peeped through the Mr. Badger caught his breath as he slipped the sheltering leaves of his hide. Rallier than an eye witness report we thought that plastic bag off the head of his bloom and his The judge had already given a couple of keen a letter to the ‘Lovebirds’ was more appropriate. work-worn index finger stroked a petal into glances at ‘Golden Glory’ from twenty yards place with the tenderness of a mother caressing away and gawd knows that sent Bert’s pulse 29th September, 1972 the cheek of her first born, in reality his heart rate up. Dear Lovebirds, was pounding fit to burst. Now the judge had paused within six feet. He We were delighted that you could find the A coarse laugh nearby made Bert flush with placed an arresting hand on the forearm of the time to write; and such a nice letter too. We anger. It was that ‘Know-all’ Nobby—him and Mayor and nodding with approval they stood in knew that that card from Poole (the place) was a his corny wisecracks “I’ I’ me ol’ Bert ... wot admiration of ‘Golden Glory’. blind; we knew that you had retired to your love d’yer think you’re goin’ ter do up ‘ere, eh?” Bert felt a thrill of pride race through him. nest straight away, and we don’t blame you. Then, flicking a derisive finger perilously close to “I’ve done it ye done it at last. I think I’ll Bella says that the wedding was lovely, and ‘Golden Glory’, he added “I see yor still going put the cup on top of me new tellee—look nice why shouldn’t it be? You deserve the best! The in for Dwarf blooms . , . wot is it?—a ‘Tom there” photograph of you two standing alone, cooing ‘e to each other is delightful it will Thumb’ . . . get it mate? Tom Thumb—dwarf— Berts ecstasy was cut short as saw Glory and of course rnidget—eh? Get my meaning? That’s rich aint give a tiny shake of her golden head and a single take its due place in Pontifact when we have written it? Dead funny, eh? Very comical that . . . very petal detach itself from underneath and flutter the twenty page article to go with it. comical. Makes yer laugh, doan it”, then he gently to the floor. He felt as if a giant hand had The group photo is quite nice too but you are sloped off busting his sides at his own joke. suddenly squeezed his heart. The judge stared, so much smaller and the photographer looks as if Bert was at boiling point. “Laugh the ‘uvver the judge frowned and stepping forward he bent he was drunk (which would surprise us knowing side of yer clock when I gets the cup—won’t and peered upwards at the underside of the Madam’s views on the subject) or is it that the yer Nobby” he growled. Then he caught sight bIooni. ground is sloping. Anyway it looks nice and of his bloom and in a twinkling his wrath As yet another petal fluttered down, Mr. exciting and we even got a glimpse of Bella’s evaporated You beaut. . Brotherton straightened and gently parting the latest (what we could see of him under the hair). Of course, he should have been clear of the area crown of the bloom with the tip of his silver We are alarmed that Janet is not exercising her before the judging began but somehow he couldn’t propelling pencil he peered in. Then he turned proper control. Fancy Maurice rattling the cans bring himself to leave. “Wot?”, he thought, to the Mayor, gave a sympathetic smile and said (or was it pans?) Doesn’t he know how to use a “leave me ‘Golden Glory’ after all the months of “Well, what do you know? Forjiculidae Derinap tin opener? You’ve got to start early and be firm

. . with lib bringing ‘er up?. . . like me own flesh an’ blood tera... some people call them earwigs. pity— this woman’s business, or he will degen Once again we return to the wedding. Tt’s a she is” and with that Bert shot quickly behind nice bloom.., would have been best in the Show”. erate into a lazy, slovenly, all demanding, pity we couldn’t all have been there. Janet the shelter of a large clump of potted palms Shaking his head the judge moved on. chauvinist pig like the rest of us. And you know looked so pretty and Maurice so handsome! where, hidden from view, he could watch the From the palm leaves Mr. Badger watched in how difficult they are to live with, don’t you Janet! We hope you will have a very happy life together. proceedings. Well, it was more of a mere form stupefied horror as the petals of his beloved Well we must finish now and give Bella some You appear to have had a lovely wedding which ality really, the cup was as good as his. Mr. bloom cascaded down until that golden crown more work to do, for a moment then we thought pleases us. Well, as they say “All’s well that Badger could almost feel the smooth silver looked as ragged as a canteen sweeper’s mop. she was going to find time to breathe; we’ve got starts well.” to get filing handles of the trophy in his hands . . . could “I . . . I Il give ‘em fornicating dermatitis all this done before you-know-who Lots of love, hear hin-iself saying “Fank you Ladies an’ earwigs or whatever that latin name was. I returns. TilE FAMILY PLANNERS I 76 PONTIFACT No. 30 CHRISTMAS, 1972 77

In remote parts of the world and in fact some tattie howkers came he played all day iii the parts of Europe itself, there still prevails the field, a picture of wide eyed innocence constantly practice of making a doll as the representative fussed over by the crowd of girls. But whilst of some person disliked and transfixing with playing he kept his eyes open, and about the pins, melting or burning it, in the belief that the field and behind the hedgerows he spotted many person concerned will suffer the torments of his things going on—and coming otT in those days effigy. of the permissive agricultural society—and HARE RAISING One ER in the depths of the English country especially that some of the women would empty side carries a gun with him which we are assured potatoes out of their knickers when they went Tim and Pat have been working together on is for offence only against the small fauna and behind a bush. a boring rig for so long that speech is no more avia of the district, a concession granted by the At the end of the day the girls gathered to necessary between them than between your local landlords and tenants and, he says, reflects collect their pay of a few shillings, a turnip and right and left hand. The work just gets done. the regard in which the locals hold the engineer’s a few pounds of potatoes and the little lad was One day the ER arrived on his rounds and found representative. Could it be that in retaliation for there to nudge grandma at the appropriate two large hares hanging by the rig. This caused threatened spoilation of their amenities, they times when she would say to the picker “Here’s enquiry and Pat told the ER “Well, sorr, its hope the engineer’s representative will shoot his your money and your turnip, you’ve had your bike this. [ sees the haare coming along his ron bloody self. tatties—unless we can get there before you.” across the field and I knows the haare bikes The little innocent was never twigged and his apple. So I cuts him a piece and leaves it by the Back in the 1920’s a young lad lived with his training in observation, noting and reporting ron, then when he smells it he stops to sniff it grandmother on a farm in the North Riding of stand him in good stead in his present career as and then I grab and kill him, then eat me bit of Yorkshire, and in the late autumn when the Inspector of Works. apple.” “Ah” said the ER, “but have you tried pepper?” “No! And how would you be using that sorr?” “Use three bricks to make a doorway of two uprights and a lintel over his run, then put down a pinch of pepper. When he comes along the pepper makes him sneeze and he bangs his head on the top brick and bashes his brains out”. Tim split his sides laughing at the brilliant Editorial riposte which showed that consulting engineers can have the last word.

The drilling crews would use the setting out pegs for packing the rig legs (or something) but anyway after the rig had gone and the ER had this issue we have attempted in so many. Without them, of course, there would complained about the state of the site and the conjunction with the Hong Kong be no magazine. Thankyou all very much. office clearing up party had made a few attempts to to bring together many contri We welcome the arrival of the younger tidy the area to the desired condition, there was butions with this special edition commemorating brother of Po,i!i/act which has just been twentieth no longer any indication of where the hole was. the anniversary of SWKP in Hong published. We understand that it will be Kong. We think it is the Finally it was pointed out to ‘Mr. Agent’ that most ambitious Ponrifici produced more frequently (without a ‘Panorama’ the contract required him to protect and preserve yet produced and, we hope, presents an exciting to contend with!) and should therefore present panorama of all pegs. the Hong Kong scene and the more up-to-date information than Pontifact. “Yes” said the Agent “do you prefer Cuprinol effect that SWKP have had on the development of We hope that not too many of our stories will be or Creosote.” the area over the past twenty years. ‘scooped’ or that any of our regular contributors A great deal of the material used has come defect! direct from Hong Kong. A special The score is now tied. The match continues, thankyou to It only remains for us to wish everyone a probably on the next contract. Jim Blake for all the hard work he has done in very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New gathering together so many contributions in Year, and we look forward to receiving your such a short time. A lot of hard work has also contributions early in 1973 in time for a bumper been done in the London office with Mavis Spring edition. Johnson co-ordinating the production this end. it is impossible to thank all contributors, Paul Disney Mavis Johnson newsgatherers, proof readers, correctors, typists, Geoffrey Moore Stephen Oliver messengers, etc. individually by name—there are Roland Pilcher

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