The President writes…

There have been quite a few Seminars and Conferences over the past couple of months. I’m very pleased to report that our Seminars at Harriot-Watt University Edinburgh on the re-painting of the Forth Road Bridge and at Conoco on Corrosion Under Insulation, were very successful. (See separate reports by David Deacon and Bob Akid). The Corrosion and Surface Finishing of Aluminium Alloys Seminar, organised by CSD at the University of Birmingham was also well supported with an impressive array of excellent speakers. I am most grateful to Anne Neville, Roger Hudson and Alison Davenport, the respective Chairmen for organising and running these events, which not only contributed to the Institute’s finances, but have done a brilliant PR job for the Institute.

The NACE International Conference was held in Denver in early April and despite my dislike of flying, I was pleased to attend. To make the journey bearable, I stopped off at Boston. A most interesting place, but where the gas company have to congratulated on pulling off an exceptional deal with the City Council. Most of the historical part (and this is most of the City Centre) is now lit by gas-light. A new street gas light pole has been especially designed and is being installed everywhere. But the deal doesn’t stop there. The Council have been convinced of the positive values of the warm glow that gas-lights impart to their surrounds and it has been agreed that all these gas street lights stay on 24 hours a day.

While in Boston, I had to try the Guinness at “The place where everybody knows your name”. The weather was equally idyllic, bright sunny skies during the daytime and snow after dark.

On to Denver, the Mile High City as marked on the steps of the State Capitol. My hotel was both unusual and memorable. It was built in the late 19^th Century in an atrium style, again with gas lights and boasted that all hotel water was supplied from its artesian well. Dr Anne Neville and some of her students stayed at a different high rise hotel, much closer to the Convention Centre. However, no-one warned them that the adjoining building was to be demolished by explosives early on Sunday morning. On being woken by the explosion, Anne was convinced that the end was nigh and recounts that her first thoughts were that Denver was not the place she wanted to die in.

It was a busy week with many meetings, working groups and presentations. Overall, it was highly productive and considerable progress was made in developing closer working relations with NACE and representatives from other bodies. These included Pan Xiaojie, the Vice Secretary of the China Anticorrosion Technology Association (CATA) who was a most interesting and determined young lady; Dr Lydia Frenzel of the Advisory Council on Water-jetting, who as well as bringing a bottle of champagne to dinner, also persuaded the restaurant manager to give us another free bottle of champagne. Lydia was aided and abetted in this by Mark Weston, President of the Australasian Corrosion Association with whom I hope ICorr will build on some of the solid foundations already in place. The Chairman of our Dublin Branch, Dr Tony Betts, who was the leading light in the ACA is still well remembered.

Considerable interest was shown in the activities of the ICorr, by individuals and companies alike. Through Trevor Osborne’s introduction, Dairyland Electrical Industries (DEI) have signed up as a Gold Sustaining Member. DEI of Wisconsin, USA is the leading manufacturer of surge diversion and dc blocking devices, while in the forefront of solid state product development with approvals from Underwriters Laboratories and the Canadian Standard Association. DEI intends to actively support the Institute and I hope many other US based companies will follow their example.

Visiting the International Exhibition gave me the opportunity to meet up with many past friends. These included the members on the Winn and Coales (Denso) stand where I was able to thank their Chairman, David Winn OBE, for their support in recently becoming a Sustaining Member and offering to sponsor the new Chain of Office for the Chairman of London Branch. Tony logan, their retired Quality Manager was the London Branch Chairman for many years. I am now looking forward to our own Conference in Cardiff where Martin Smith and Colin Bowley of Winn and Coales will also present a paper.

The funeral of the Queen Mother took place during the NACE Conference and our Hon Secretary, Dr J S Burnell-Gray passed on a message of condolence from the Institute to the Queen and members of the Royal family. A number of Life Members of the Institute have also died recently who had been strong active supporters. These include Dr Douglas Emery (88) who many will remember as our Hon Treasurer, Dr Thomas Banfield (also 88) and Roy Cottingham (72). I would like to pass on our sympathy to their families and acknowledge with thanks their past contributions to the Institute.

This sad announcement allows me the opportunity to draw attention to the positive need for legacies as a worthwhile consideration. I have been concerned that the Institute does not fully recognise the hard work and commitment of some of its members without whom the Institute would not function. I am pleased with the wide range of awards made through CSD for academic excellence, but would be very happy if we could complement these with equally impressive and desirable awards to show our appreciation to our stalwarts. Consequently, I would welcome any enquiries regarding legacies or trusts from individuals or companies to create a number of awards which would be named after the donor. I know this is a delicate subject, but please consider it as a positive way of remembering and honouring the benefactors and justly rewarding those who are so committed to the Institute.

It has been agreed by the Council, that where possible, Professional and Sustaining Member certificates will be presented at the local Branch Meetings. I was delighted to present Geoff White, a long time personal friend with his MICorr certificate at the London Branch March Meeting.

The Institute as a Learned Body publishes a number of technical Journals, monographs and books. One such monthly publication is Corrosion Science which is The Journal on Environmental Degradation of Materials and its Control, with a most impressive Editorial Board under the Editor-In-Chief, Dr G T Burnstein of Cambridge. This is published under the auspices of ICorr and CEBELOR. The annual subscription is £1000 or $2400, but is available on subscription to ICorr members at the incredibly reduced Annual rate of £126. Please contact Head Office for further details.

Many of you receive PCE monthly journal free of charge. Since the beginning of the year, this is only available on subscription. However, our members have been exempt until July 2002, by which time we have agreed to issue a notice to all our members explaining the situation and offering a good concession rate. This is being sent out with the subscription renewal letters.

You will notice that the subscription rates have been increased (except for student members), but by paying before the end of July the early bird discount of £5 effectively means that there is no increase. Could I strongly recommend that you take advantage of this offer and help the Institute with its cash flow management.

John T. O’Shea, President