BTS & BTSYM | CHAIRS’ CORNER


the ‘50 years of British Tunnelling’ book. Mike McConnell has been doing great work visiting many universities and schools, presenting copies of the book. The intent is to both forge links between colleges and industry, and to encourage young people into our tunnelling industry. This is exactly the vision Ken Spiby had when he first decided to write the book. It is a legacy to our industry and the people who work in it. Another of the sub-committees is Education. Well


done to Bethan Haig, Nick Lock and Benoit Jones for arranging the all-day event at Nottingham University on 26 June. Many speakers from the industry gave presentations, together with lecturers from Cambridge, Birmingham, Cork, Warwick, St George London, UCL and Imperial College. I was very impressed with the facilities universities


can offer for research projects. The overall message I heard is that universities are very keen to carry out research, particularly for PhD work. What they need from our industry are topics that need studying, and data. For example, Dr Henry Pairaudeau from Warwick University is currently conducting concrete trials to determine the best mix design for an extruded concrete tunnel lining. Richard Sutherden, the Chair of the BTS Net Zero


subcommittee, gave a presentation on the progress the group has made to date. The group is made up from clients, consultants, and contractors, and meets on a regular basis. Action Groups, each have a lead person, are: Information transfer; Carbon calculation and measurement; Design; Materials; Mapping PAS2080 to tunnelling; Geothermal energy from Tunnels; Overall step by step guidance (a route map for clients). The BTS Design & Construction course has just been


Top: Outreach and sharing with the ‘BTS at 50’ book, with Sarah Langley meeting the ITA executive director (left) at the World Tunnel Congress 2025, in Stockholm Centre: Celebrations all round at the BTS Annual Dinner, in London


Bottom: Dr Keith Bowers receives the James Clark Medal, 2025, from BTS Chair John Corcoran


learned Society and keen to spread learning


throughout our industry. We have recently been in negotiations with the


Institution of Civil Engineers, the use of whose facilities we pay for. We have decided, despite the cost, to retain the use of the Telford Theatre for our evening lectures. I’d like to thank all the sponsors of these evening presentations, providing free drink and food after the lecture, and all of which go towards making our evening presentations extremely enjoyable events. A big thank you also to the ‘BTS at 50’ subcommittee, now chaired by Sarah Langley. They continue to promote


38 | July 2025


held at Warwick University. This is five-day course was expertly arranged by Mike King. Again, many experts from our industry presented to the delegates. Attending last year, I was impressed by the feedback. I remember several people said the course was a rite of passage for colleagues in their organisation. Social events also feature in the evenings. There are social events planned for every evening,


including sports events. On Wednesday, there is the evening dinner, and I am delighted that Helen Nattrass will be giving a speech. Helen is always highly entertaining. The industry guest will be Katherine McAlpine, who is director of the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe. This hidden gem of a museum celebrates The Thames Tunnel, the world’s oldest underwater tunnel, opened in 1843. It is well worth a visit. The next BTS course is H&S, at the ICE, over 24-25 Nov. I wish you all a good summer holiday, and as the


BTS Annual Dinner’s Industry Guest, Mick Loughran, said during the Grace, “look after yourselves.” Our next evening presentation is on 18 September, which will be a combined evening presentation with the BTSYM, the topic being exploratory works at the Coire Glas hydro project. I look forward to seeing you there.


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