drain TRADER
Chris Rees receives UKSTT Lifetime Achievement Award
First of all, congratulations on being presented with the UKSTT Lifetime Achievement Award. Some questions for you relating to your time in the trenchless industry.
1. What does it feel like to be recognised for what, for those of us that know you, has been a significant part of your working life?
I’ma very fortunate old geezer and was visiting family in Grenada when I picked up a text fromJulian (Britton –WessexWater) asking me to ring
him.Memories of old times and sewer collapses came to mind and my reaction when I learnt of the awardwas initially one of astonishment and disbelief. I am very privileged to haveworked in belowground engineering and construction for close on sixty years. It has always been a most enjoyable and fulfilling part ofmy life, meeting challenges and (quite often) coming up with some sort of reasonable solution is reward in itself and the great bonus over these years has been to meet andwork with many fine characters. Our industry is by nature one demanding high levels of skill, ingenuity and determination. It was, and is, quite an extraordinary feeling to learn that the like- minded and forward looking individuals
who form this unique industry should choose me as a recipient of this special award. It is an honour that is deeplymoving to me and very much appreciated.
2. What does the Award mean to you personally (and/or to your family)?
For me personally – immensely proud and will raise a glass to all the good mates I’ve known through the years. Formy family – formywife Jane,my late wife Biddy, six children and eleven grandchildren – hopefully, recognition of, and apology for, all those years ofweek long absences, and very early morning departures and late home-comings. Formy latemumand dad – theywould have been very proud.
3. What was your background/ experience originally and what brought you into the trenchless industry?
My grandfather ran a road construction company that he set up following the 1928
depression.My father was a civil engineering contractor whose career was affected by the war, beingwounded on D Day in the first wave on Juno beach. He held aMajor’s commission andworked in theWar Office before retiring to run a shop in rural Kent. My parentswere always supportive ofmy ambition to be awarded a degree in civil engineering. This I achieved in 1960 at Imperial College.
16 drain TRADER | September 2020 |
www.draintraderltd.com
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