Shani Wallis, Editor

Fun was had by all when the British Tunneling Society held its annual black-tie dinner last Friday evening (May 8). More than 570, dressed in their finest, gathered at The Brewery near the Barbican in London to share good company and meet the wives and partners of the tunnelling professionals.

This is perhaps the 20th time the event has been staged at its regular venue. The dinner was first suggested and organized by the BTS management committee in the mid-1980s as a social event at which the wives and partners of this male dominated profession could meet their husband's colleagues and their partners and for all to enjoy a good night out. Over the years, the event has become more of a corporate event at which businessmen invite business colleagues on a networking event, but the intention is still for the date to be an elegant evening for the ladies, starting with a Champagne welcome party.

This year, after a very good meal of smoked salmon, roast lamb and desert, the gathering was entertained by after dinner speaker, Britt Ekland. Dressed in an elegant black gown, Ms Ekland spoke of her life and times as one of the original Bond Girls, as one of the Beautiful People in London in the 1960s, and of her life as Mrs Peter Sellers.

After coffee and petit fours, the visiting to other tables began - as did the networking. In a room of tunnellers it is hard not to talk tunnels! Contacts were sought out and introductions were made, with some preferring to take to the dance floor.

John Scholey, Master of Ceremonies

For the past several years, the evening has been managed to great success, for the BTS by John Scholey, Senior Consultant with Jacobs Engineering in Leatherhead. As Master of Ceremonies on the night, John always sets the mood with a very fine dress and while we have no photos of John in his golden-thread embossed black long-coat of this year, we have a photo of last year's event when he was dressed in a traditional town-crier's red breeches, white stocking-socks, frilled shirt and embroidered waistcoat.

There was no professional photographer on duty at the event on Friday, which was a pity, but we did manage to gather the following photos from those who had their cameras in action. Some of the personalities we know and can identify, but for others, if you know their names or you see yourself please let us know so we can complete the captions; and if you have other photos to add to the collection do please send them in to TunnelTalk@TunnelTalk.com for loading to the site. For next year TunnelTalk will sponsor a photographer to record the evening. It was a very good night and we look forward to the next in May 2010.

A call to dine. Can you spot yourself in the crowd?