Fun times enjoyed at the BTS gala dinner 17 May 2018

Top table of guests hosted by BTS Chair Mark Leggett (first right), BTS Vice Chair Ivor Thomas (third right) and Master of Ceremonies John Scholey (fourth left) and including guest speaker of the evening Henry Blofeld

British tunnelling industry hosts gathered colleagues and guests for the annual BTS Dinner for 2018 at The Brewery in central London. Hosted by BTS Chair Mark Leggett, the evening was a gay affair with after dinner entertainment provided by guest speaker Henry Blofeld, the famous cricket commentator.

Construction activity in the UK industry was represented and led this year by the Thames Tideway project with tables hosted by senior project managers and by managers of the joint ventures currently progressing the three main tunnel construction contracts – BMB JV
 of BAM Nuttall/Morgan Sindall/Balfour Beatty ; FLO JV
 of Ferrovial Agroman/Laing O’Rourke; and CVB JV of 
Costain/Vinci/Bachy Soletanche. Other tables were hosted by contractors, manufacturers and consulting engineers engaged in the UK tunnelling industry, including prime event sponsor Jacobs.

TunnelTalk hosted a table of company and project marketing and media relations guests

TunnelTalk once again sponsored the official photographer for the evening and more than 200 photos taken by photographer Peter Holland capture the joyful mood of the event and are available to view in the gallery of photos. TunnelTalk has sponsored the official photographer for the event for the past nine years and galleries of photos taken by the official photographer from 2010 onwards are available for viewing and purchase for your own private albums.

Also, for the first time this year, TunnelTalk hosted its own table of invited guests and colleagues from the media and marketing relations departments of partner companies and major projects. Public and media relations, and the supply of specialist equipment and materials, are equally as important to the success of major projects as engineering and construction, and TunnelTalk was pleased to host representatives from these important company and project departments.

Guest speaker Henry Bolfeld also signed copies of his book

The 2018 dinner was the 30th in the series of the annual black tie BTS Gala Dinner. The first was held in the Great Room at the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1989 when David Donaldson was the BTS Chair host. For the past 24 years the event has been held at The Brewery dining hall in London and for the last 22 annual events, organisation has been in the very capable hands of Master of Ceremonies John Scholey, a record of effort and dedication that was recognised with a special thanks on the evening from BTS Chair Leggett. A list of all previous BTS Dinner events, their venue, BTS Chair hosts and guest speakers is recorded on the BTS website.

Tickets now on sale for the BTS Summer Soiree event

Ahead of next year’s formal black-tie dinner, members of the BTS have an opportunity to meet and socialise with colleagues and guests at the annual BTS Summer Soiree on Friday 28 September at the Kensington Hilton Hotel in London. Tickets are now on sale at the BTS website and all are invited to join for a more relaxed evening of networking during a buffet style dinner with live music and magic providing the entertainment.