I appreciate the support and help that Harry Hatley has given me, since he was an original founder member of the British Association of Corrosion Engineers (BACE) and was present at the inaugural meeting, held on the 21st May 1959.

The prime mover for the formation of an Association of Corrosion Engineers, was the brainchild of Dr John Tiratsoo, who was the owner and driving force under a magazine called, ‘Corrosion Prevention and Control.’ He initially included in this magazine a section entitled the ‘Corrosion Engineer,’ which was first issued in April 1959 and he then convened the inaugural meeting on the 21st May at their offices at 97 Old Brompton Road, London. The Association was therefore formed on that date, and an announcement was made on the 29th May to the national press at a social event at the Rembrandt Hotel on the 29th May 1959.

The main theme of the announcement in 1959, which was made by Mr. H M Powell, chief Electrical Engineer of the Constructors John Brown Organization, stated,

“The objects of the Association will be generally to promote the dissemination of technical information about corrosion matters and to develop by means of social activities, the free interchange of information among members.

In due course, the Association, which is of course essentially non-profit making, will progress towards the establishment and acceptance of suitable qualifications for corrosion engineers, and a promotion of standardization in the terminology and techniques of corrosion control.

When the Association is in full operation it is intended to hold full scale meetings with papers, films and discussions, which should be of great benefit to the corrosion engineering profession as a whole and which will promote and foster its growth and develop as well as being a general service to industry.”

It is clear, that the objectives have been put into practice by the generations of corrosion engineers, who have developed that initial theme over the past 50 years.

The Institute has decided to mark the date of the 50th anniversary with a national meeting, which will be held at the Thames Barrier Conference Centre, London, and, all members of the Institute will be invited to attend by our President, Prof. Paul Lambert.

The March/April issue of Corrosion Management, will be a special edition, which will feature full details of the programme to be held on the 21st May, and it is hoped that as many members as possible will be able to attend that significant event.

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