On 14 March 2025 our Hub Annual Dinner was held at one of the reception suites of the Derby County Football Stadium. Unfortunately, but not uncommonly, information about the stadium names the architect but not the structural engineer. However, this did not dent our enjoyment. The suite was excellent and looked out over the pitch and the flood lighting was on. The meal and the service were excellent. About 80 members, spouses and friends attended.
After the meal our Chair, Darren Sahota, gave an excellent short address and this was followed by a presentation by Dave Bryon who formerly was CEO of BMI Baby. Dave was kind enough to follow our request not to use any bad language. He took us through the events from booking in at an airport to, hopefully, arriving at your destination but included many of the mishaps that most of us have experienced. There was a lot of happy laughter.
Our CEO Yasmin gave a very good inspirational address. Each year we present awards to the best first year student in structures at our four local Universities namely Nottingham, Nottingham Trent, Loughborough and Derby. Yasmin presented the Awards to the students as well as awards for the best structures of the year which were Best Heritage or Renovation Project by GCA Consulting, Best Small Project also by GCA and Best New Project by HSP Consulting.
We left the venue about 23.00. Derby’s roads are not easy and junctions come up quicker than my sat nav could handle. This resulted in us being stopped by the Police for the first time in my life. The young policeman said that they had seen us going around the roundabout twice and concluded that either I was bladdered (drunk for southerners) or we were lost. I never drink and drive so the Policeman, who lives in the same town as us, kindly directed us to the correct road. A heart-stopping moment for Margaret and me.
East Midlands hub past Chair Jo Renold-Smith, current Chair Darren Sahota, and CEO Yasmin Becker