Constraints on Innovation in Structural Engineering

Engineers’ remuneration and status Alan Hepburn, from Birdham in Chichester; refers to his previous point (Verulam, 19 September 1995): Many thanks for publishing my letter regarding remuneration and status. However, I would like to take issue with you regarding your suggestion with respect to Fellows. This classification, exclusive or otherwise, means nothing to the general public. It is the overall status of a structural engineer which needs to be improved. Verulam

The redevelopment of Twickenham, which commenced on site in May in 1989 and will be completed in November this year; has totally transformed the ground into a major sporting venue with an all-seated capacity in excess of 75 000 spectators. A new three-tier stand with a 39m cantilever roof has been constructed in three phases around the north, east and west sides of the ground. The paper describes the design features and construction techniques adopted and the background to the development, including several peripheral issues that need to be addressed in stadia design. J.L. Simpson and D.A. Webster

Last year, in the first of these lectures to bear his name, James himself returned to the subject of the relevance of history which Sir Alfred Pugsley and he and I introduced here in 1975. I shall not follow his example, partly because I have already presented my own further views elsewhere. R.J. Mainstone