The text of the address given by the President, Professor Patrick Dowling, FEng, at the
Institution's Annual Dinner at Guildhall, City of London, on 12 May 1995, in response to the toast to the Institution proposed by Lord Williams of Elvel.
My Lords, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I hesitate to start my speech this evening on a sombre note but at 7 o’clock this morning my wife, Grace, whom many of you know is a doctor, after much agonizing, diagnosed me as suffering from a highly contagious disease and one which is rare in her experience. She attributes this disease directly to my seven months’ service as President and I have to tell you she holds the Institution of Structural Engineers responsible for if. It is, in fact, foot
and mouth disease.