11. Worshipful Company of Engineers

On the hottest day of the year, with temperatures of 35C in London, I attended The Worshipful Company of Engineers Annual Awards Ceremony and Dinner – this was a black tie event held at the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons (see photograph) in Lincoln’s Inn Field and I nearly melted!

This was an impressive event with awards (ranging from £500 to £50,000) made to 17 young engineers and one company. Recipients ranged from serving officers in the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force to students developing new robotic prosthetic limbs – all very inspiring and designed to encourage new sponsors and engineering innovation in young professional engineers.

A champagne reception followed, where we had the opportunity to meet the winners. One of the most impressive was Jonathan Parkins (see photograph) who was awarded a total of £18,000 (spread over 3 years) to complete his PhD in improving production rates of 3-D printed hip implant components at Cambridge University’s Institute for Manufacturing.

The excellent dinner, which attracted over 170 participants, was followed by the Loving Cup Ceremony. The welcome to the guests speech was given by the Master, Professor Isobel Pollock-Hulf OBE, who spoke extensively about the work of the company in promoting engineering for young people. The response and toast to the company was given by Major General Alastair Dickinson CBE (Colonel Commandant Royal Engineers).

An excellent evening with good opportunity to meet other recently installed Master’s.