CHAIRS’ CORNER | BTS & BTSYM


CHAIRS’ CORNER Updates from the Chairs of the British Tunnelling Society and BTS Young Members (BTSYM)


Society (BTS) Committee with John Corcoran retiring as chair but staying involved, helping to push for the restart of the MSc in tunnelling and, of course, preparing for the Annual Dinner in 2027. The BTS is working hard to resurrect the MSc course, and John will be reaching out to get support from clients, contractors and consultants. I would encourage our corporate members to commit to supporting the MSc. I think I can speak for the whole committee and


express our thanks to John for all the hard work he has done and continues to do for the BTS. Other retirees from service to the committee are Bethan Haig, John Kinnear, Ken Kwok and Russel Mason, each of whom I would like to thank for all their efforts over the past three years. Richard Sutherden takes the seat as vice- chair and treasurer. Joining the committee are Christoph Eberle (back for a second term), Jag Chima, Mark Kirkbride and Alex Vaughan. It is great to have them join and I look forward to their contribution. May also saw another great BTS Dinner, the 36th.


BTS CHAIR: ALASTAIR SMITH Welcome to my first Chair’s Corner. After returning from the World Tunnel Congress (WTC), in Montreal, a bit jet- lagged, it was straight into the evening meeting on 21 May – the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) Project Update showcasing some of the ‘extra work’ associated with a megaproject long before any TBM arrives and starts tunnelling. As a tunneller, I can’t wait for the biggest TBM planned for use in the UK to arrive, but that is likely to be at the end of my term as chair. In the meantime, we can all learn a great deal from


this project as it evolves through the different stages and trail-blazes important aspects such as decarbonisation and the application of Carbon Management in Buildings and Infrastructure - PAS 2080. Thanks so much to the LTC Team – Adam Evenden,


Antoine Schwob, David Rouse, John Clarke-Hughes, John Scannell, Jess Wagstaff and Keith Bowers – for sharing their insights into the scheme, the Development Consent Order process and the unbelievable number of pages required; the Archaeology team’s work in advance of site works; and trial successes in innovations in ground treatment and zero emissions plants. I look forward to further updates and insights from the team over the coming years. May is the time for changes on the British Tunnelling


It is always a great opportunity to catch up with tunnellers, friends and colleagues and enjoy some fine food and drink. This year’s event had more than 650 attendees and was a great success. Thanks must go to the organising team – John Corcoran, Sarah Langley, Divik Bandopadhyaya, and others. The speaker, Sir Tony Robinson, entertained us with stories from his days on TV shows Blackadder and Time Team. Booking is open for this year’s BTS Conference on 6–7


October in London. It is always a great opportunity to network and hear from leading speakers in the industry. Keynote speakers include Alan Morris, construction delivery director, HS2, and Joshua Thomas, head of built environment and urbanism technical, i3P. I have the privilege of giving the Dave Wallis Lecture; I knew David as a colleague at Sir William Halcrow & Partners. For more details, go to the BTS website. Book your places and help to make the conference a great success. The Sprayed Concrete Linings in Soft Ground guide is


available to buy in hard copy from the ICE bookshop, and also as a free download from the BTS website. Talking about the WTC, it was great to attend this


year’s gathering in Canada, and to be with such a strong UK contingent. It showed the strength of the UK tunnelling sector, with representation from our designers, contractors, suppliers and the BTS, and our young members.


July 2026 | 37


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