Fifty years old! Not me, you realise, but the Institute. (I’m 51, as it happens, although someone asked me the other day when I would be getting my bus pass, and meant it). Those who were able to make it down to the Thames Barrier on the 21st May will know we had an excellent time, courtesy of the Environment Agency and all the others who were kind enough to sponsor the event as listed in the Commemorative Programme. I must also thank David Deacon and the organising committee for making it all happen.

For those who weren’t able to attend, you can get a feel for my keynote presentation by pinning this photo on a distant wall and squinting at it while listening to an AM radio tuned to static. Just like the real thing. Thankfully, I was a relatively minor player in the event and the real stars were our guests from the Forth Road Bridge and Thames Barrier plus our ‘Pipeline Star Council’, fronted by MC Brian Wyatt. Together they demonstrated the incredible contribution ICorr members have made to the development of corrosion control in the UK and beyond.

When you unpin the photo from the wall, you may notice the back cover to the magazine I am clutching. This is the Whit Edition of Science in Parliament, the Journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, and the cover celebrates the ICorr’s 50th. Within the magazine there is an article, penned jointly by myself and our Technical Secretary Douglas Mills, which gives a potted history of the Institute and explains its current and future role in preventing corrosion, maintaining safety and extending service lives. We know we are wonderful – but I wanted to make sure the ‘movers and shakers’ were also aware of this fact. I won’t deny that most of our MP friends have had one or two more pressing matters to concern them lately, but the information is there for them to access once normal service has been resumed.

Looking into our history has highlighted that nothing stays the same forever. Indeed, gradual and considered change is essential for organisations such as ours to stay vital and relevant. We’ve already changed name and location a number of times in the past five decades and it is inevitable that it will happen again in the future. Nothing will happen without the agreement of the Membership and it is important that everyone’s views are heard. So as changes and challenges plus hopefully opportunities appear on the horizon, I would ask that you maintain contact with myself and the other Officers of the Institute and voice both your concerns and support. Whether you write personally or post your comments on the website via the Forum, your views are important.

Back to the more immediate future. I’m delighted to be able to announce that we have found a worthy (and willing) candidate as the next Vice President in David Worsley of Swansea University. Dave has extensive R&D experience, not least in coatings and recycling. He also claims a special interest in pre-BMW Minis, which would explain his thorough knowledge of corrosion processes.

So here’s to another fifty years. See you at the Centenary!

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