User:Yorkie Owl

The York Society of Engineers

Formation of the Society

The Society was founded in 1947. The instigator was Albert Crocker the then York City Electrical Engineer. As a member of the IEE he found travelling to other cities in Yorkshire for professional meetings inconvenient and he therefore circulated prominent professional engineers in the City to seek their reaction to forming a local group of engineers from various disciplines.

Members of the Society

A founder member of the Society was Charles Minter QBE, the former York City Engineer. Other former members include Sir Charles Husband a Consultant Engineer who was noted for his association with Jodrell Bank and Dr Dennis Taylor a director of Plessey and Chief UNESCO scientific expert. A number of members have been awarded the OBE and MBE.

Objects of the Society

The Objects of the Society are to promote the sharing of information, on a wide range of engineering matters, and to facilitate dialogue between those in engineering, and allied professions. It is one of the few remaining engineering societies in the country. Membership is open to those in engineering and allied professions residing or practising in or around the City.

Society Events

Lectures During the winter months the Society arranges 5 lectures on engineering topics and also holds a Social Evening. The lectures are organised by the Committee. Lectures are usually held the first Thursday of the months of October through to March and are open to all. All lectures start at 7.30pm and are currently held at the Akham Bryan College, near York.

In April the Society holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at which the President makes an address to the Society and also members of the committee are elected. Guests are welcome to all meetings including the AGM.

The following is a selection of the topics that have been presented at lectures to the Society over recent years: • ‘River Hull Barrage Refurbishment’ • ‘Geospatial Surveying – Omnicom’ • ‘Angelic Bulldog’ – Two wheel land speed record attempt • Rebuilding of Acomb Landing Water Treatment Works • ‘George Hudson – Railway King’ • ‘Channel Runnel Rail Link’ • ‘Radio Microwave & Optical Circuits’

Visits During the summer months a series of visits are organised to places of engineering interest, and these are usually followed by a meal.

The visits provide members and their guests both an opportunity to see the latest engineering projects and a to socialise.

The following is a selection of the visits that the Society has been on in recent years: • Howsham Mill, North Yorkshire • FERA, Sand Hutton • East Campus Development, University of York • RAF Menwith Hill • Knostrop Sewage Works, Leeds • British Library (inc. new the document store), Thorp arch

Annual Dinner The Annual Dinner is the highlight of the Society's year and provides members and their guests with the perfect opportunity to socialise over a meal in convivial surroundings.

The Society has held its Annual Dinner in a number of locations around the city including a number of hotels, such as Churchills, the racecourse and the Merchant Adventurers. However, the Society has recently enjoyed the majority of the dinners at the Merchant Taylors on Aldwarke in York. The Merchant Taylors Hall provides a venue befitting the Society and the nature of the event.

The Society also allows corporate organisations to entertain their people and guest and at the dinner.

Finally, as part of the dinner the Society invites honorary guest to attend the dinner with a view to toasting the Society. In recent years the following guests have attended: • Allan MacDougall – Shepherd • Ruud Haket – Northen Rail • David Rooke MBE – Environment Agency • Rev. Canon G H Webster – Chancellor & Prolocuter of the Convocation of York • Sir Chris O’Donnell - Smith & Nephew Furthermore, when available the civic party has attended the dinner.

Other Social Events The Society has a number of other events during the year. In particularly a group of the members regularly attends shows at the York Theatre Royal and other members take part in the Societies annual Golf tournament (normally in August/ September).

As with other events guests are welcome but with these events it is usually at the invitation of members.

The Society has a York Society of Engineers webpage where all the latest information about the Society and its events are shown.

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