Our next branch event will be our AGM mid year (date and details to follow), which will include a technical talk.

Our members are also invited to attend the following events hosted by other NZ Community Groups:

• Kiwis in Property (KIP) have an 'In Person' event on 21 April which is a social event with a talk from Andrew Woodward CMEngNZ, structural engineer with WSP.

• The NZ Society are holding an ANZAC Day evening event in the Penthouse of NZ House on 25 April.

Details of upcoming events are in the Events Calendar.

We were very grateful for the opportunity provided by Jim Mackey, the Project Manager for M^cGEE, to have another look at the Claridge's Basement Project.

Besides levels B1 & B2, in the photos, we were shown the new, and very impressive, staff welfare facilities on B3, the mechanical and electrical plant on B4 & B5, and the wine cellar on B6 (not yet stocked!).

We were also shown the Claridge's Artspace gallery area which has been created by excavating a basement under the original Victorian wing of the hotel. This had been built since our last visit in 2019.

It was great to be able to celebrate the festive season with guests from Engineering New Zealand and Engineers Australia 'In Person' once again at our soiree in the penthouse suite at New Zealand House in central London.

Thanks to Stuart Marsh for organising the event.

Thanks to Ross, top right, for an excellent quiz, and some remarkable photos.

Boat 1: Brighton Diver III passing the offshore electricity substation platform.

Heading back to shore.

Many thanks to Michael Davies for organising a great site visit to the Rampion Windfarm off the south coast of England, and also to David Shilston, a senior engineering geologist at Atkins, for his briefing about some key aspects of its construction from his work on the project.

Only Ian, the overall winner, managed to correctly answer Question 6. Just goes to show that age wins out over beauty on most occasions! - Just kidding - We really do appreciate you Ian.

We have put together some information that may be helpful to members during the this period on our COVID‑19 Pandemic Help Sheet page.

Committee Social Get Together on Zoom

Louai, Andrew, Ian
Ross, Russell & Michelle, Jennifer & Jonathan
Michael, Liam, Dave

Branch Chairman, Andrew Delugar, presenting retiring committee member Jonathan Gammon (right) with a Certificate of Appreciation for his many years of service to the branch which included two terms as Branch Chairman.

The annual Christmas Soirée was a great evening enjoyed by all who attended.

A group of us met on a gloriously sunny dry day in autumn for a very enjoyable walk along the Severn coast from Portishead to Clevedon, lead by local member, Liam Edwards.

Lunch at a pub in Clevedon at the end of the walk was greatly anticipated and didn't disappoint.

After lunch, each made their own way, some venturing to view the Clevedon Pier.

The summer social this year took the form of a pub lunch at The Dove beside the Thames near Hammersmith. It was a glorious summer's day, maybe one of the last for this year. The lunch was attended by 12 members and family, plus baby Emily, almost one year old (who prevented her father from attending last year!).

With many thanks to Jim Mackey, Project Director for McGee (far right of the photo), a group of us had the privilege of visiting the Claridge's Basement project in London, including an insightful presentation on the project by Jim who then took us on a guided walk through the new basement levels under the hotel.

Committee members post meeting outside the Victoria Embankment Foreshore site office of the Thames Tideway project with thanks to them and Russell for making the space available for our meeting.

With many thanks to Mark Thompson, Tunnelling Manager Northern Line Extension, a group of us had the privilege of visiting the Northern Line Extension project in London, including a guided walk through the tunnels from Kennington to Battersea Station, passing through Nine Elms station on the way there and again on the way back.

Outgoing Chairman of the ENZ UK Branch 2017 ‑ 2019, Selwyn Aickin (Left), hands over the chair responsibilities to the newly elected Chairman, Andrew Delugar, at the Branch AGM on 30 January 2019.

ENZ attendees at the annual joint Christmas Soirée hosted by Engineers Australia at Australia House. A special event for the Aussies as it was also a celebration of 40 years since the founding of their UK Chapter.

Huge congratulations to Fritha Bevin‑McCrimmon, branch committee member, on being awarded the 2018 WISE Rising Star Award.

The award is for a young woman aged 25-35 at the early stages of a STEM career who is already identified as a potential star in her chosen profession. Judges wanted to hear from the next generation of future Chief Executives how they will bring change to their sector from within.

In awarding this prize to Fritha, the judges said "The winner of the Rising Star award has a community perspective and doesn't just focus on engineering. She has a strong objective approach with a mix of education and corporate responsibility for children."