ACCOLADES AND AWARDS BTS salutes experience and the young
Nov 2013
TunnelTalk reporting
- Honouring the contribution of senior members of the UK tunnelling industry at the BTS James Clark Medal Recipients Luncheon and a change of Chair to lead the BTS Young Members group kept the BTS busy during November. These events spanned experience in the UK industry from the youngest in the business to the most senior.
- BTS James Clark Medal Recipients Luncheon
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BTS James Clark Medal recipients at the 2013 luncheon (from left): Alan Dyke, Roger Remmington, John Bartlett OBE, Alastair Biggart OBE, Rodney Craig (front), Ged Pakes (back), Gordon Ince, Maurice Gooderham, Oliver Bevan (back),
Hugh Doherty, Dave Court (back row), Colin Mackenzie, Denis Lawrenson (front), Donald Lamont MBE (back), Martin Knights, and Myles O'Reilly - The room was brimming with outstanding industry experience at a luncheon to honour winners of the BTS James Clark Medal. The award is made each year by the British Tunnelling Society (BTS) to recognize an individual's distinguished career in tunnelling or an outstanding contribution to a particular tunnelling project. Hosted by the BTS Committee at the Institution of Civil Engineers, the regular event gathered together 16 recipients of the accolade that was introduced to honour in its own right the career in tunnelling of James Clark who worked for Charles Brand & Sons and helped establish the BTS in the early 1970s. Visit the BTS website to see full list of all recipients of the James Clark Medal since the first in 1981.
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Group discussions after the James Clark Medal recipients' lunch
- After a lunch that was enjoyed by all, host Damian McGirr, BTS Chairman, presented an opportunity for recipients and guests to relate anecdotes and share experiences. Discussion centred on the changing technology that tunnelling has witnessed through the years, the changing nature of projects and programmes being progressed and planned for the UK, and the way in which the BTS has grown in influence.
- The gathering continued to enjoy discussions when Committee members adjourned to convene the day's BTS Committee meeting that discusses the order of business for continuing development of the Society. The day concluded in the evening with the BTS meeting lecture, this month delivered by Steve Skelhorne. Skelhorne completed the early years of his tunnelling career working for the UK construction company that was managed by James Clark Medal recipient Colin Mackenzie, before moving to Canada. For the meeting he presented details of his current challenging Port Mann under-river tunnel for a water supply pipeline in Vancouver.
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BTSYM Chair passes from Petr Salak to Joanne Sui
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BTS Young Members AGM
At their Annual General Meeting, the Young Members of the BTS welcomed in their new Chair and new management committee. After his one year in post, Petr Salak passed the Chair to Joanne Sui. In his outgoing message Salak said that the group had grown in number to 40 members during his term, and that several specific programmes had been initiated. These include, in particular, a Teachers' Pack, which is designed to provide material for teachers in secondary schools to introduce knowledge and early learning of the tunnelling industry and as a possible career choice. Other activity during Salak's term has included promotion of a Young Members Group for the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA). Salak also acknowledged engineering firm Dr Sauer & Partners, his employer, for its support during his time as chair. - In taking over the Chair, Sui said that the strategy for her tenure would be to continue the work of the group and specific items of development initiated by previous Chairs and outgoing Chair Salak. In particular, the agenda for 2014 includes rollout of the Teachers' Pack, expansion of Young Members groups into regions of the UK, a repeat in 2014 of the first and highly successful Young Members conference, and continuing support and promotion of an international Young Members Group via the member nations of the ITA. In accepting the challenge Sui said, "I am honoured to become the fifth BTSYM chair and will continue the excellent work of the committee, supporting young tunnellers throughout their careers." Sui graduated in civil engineer from University College London in 2007 and has since been working in the tunnelling industry, and will enjoy the support as Chair, of current employer LBA, London Bridge Associates, of the UK.
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Chair Joanne with BTMYM sub-group Chairs Matt, Secretary; Eoin - Media; Emyr - Professional Development; Peter - Schools and Universities
- With Chair Sui, there are also four new sub-group chairs. Each one manages four specific areas of activity - Mathew Lane, Secretary; Eoin O'Murchu, Media; Emyr James, Professional Development; and Peter Coppenhall, Schools and Universities.
- After closing the AGM, the lecture of the BTSYM meeting was presented by Gerald Skalla and Brian Lyons of Dr Sauer & Partners who discussed the design details and construction case studies of sprayed concrete lined (SCL) tunnels and presented information about specific issues including the use of fibres in shotcrete, the detail of construction joints, excavation of complex junctions, and key constructability issues. A report of this lecture and of the BTS meeting about the Port Mann project will be published by the BTS in due course.
- The Young Members Group celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2013 and appears to be in good hands for growing in strength from year to year.
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BTS celebrates James Clark's legacy - TunnelTalk, September 2011
40 years of BTS and going strong - TunnelTalk, October 2011
WTC Geneva marks milestones for the ITA - TunnelTalk, June 2013
BTS Young Members celebrate five years - TunnelTalk, October 2013
VIDEO - BTS tunnelling activity in focus - TunnelCast, October 2013
VIDEO - Urban Tunnelling discussion - TunnelCast, September 2013
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