In addition to the regular programme of meetings and seminars, an extensive programme of events and special initiatives was planned by the North Eastern Branch to commemorate its Golden Jubilee in 2002; these included:
Golden Jubilee PaintingAs part of the 2002 Branch Golden Jubilee, the Committee commissioned an artwork (above) depicting the work of the Branch. Painted by Tom MacDonald the subjects shown are (clockwise from the top left):
A number of prints were produced with several presented to organisations such as Institution Headquarters and Newcastle University, the remainder were sold to the Branch Membership.
As part of the jubilee celebrations the Branch produced a booklet outlining the History of the branch from 1952 to 2002. The 60 page booklet included; messages from Honorary Institution Member and Past President His Royal Highness The Duke Of Edinburgh, the then Institution President Ronnie Porter, and Branch Chairman Jim Davidson; details of the branches activities over the first 50 years of its existence; and details of major road and transportation infrastructure projects in the region over the same period. Such as:
The booklet was distributed free to all Branch members.
To commemorate the occasion, the Branch looked to undertake a transportation project in the Region through the generous contribution of industrial sponsors. The chosen project was the reconstruction of some 500 metres of the perimeter roadway at the Beamish Open Air Museum in County Durham.
The project provided a unique opportunity for sponsors to make a significant contribution to the further development of the Museum whilst, at the same time, celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Branch. The sponsors readily assisted in the formulation of an appropriate specification for the work.
A compacted thickness of 100mm of Foam Master incorporating secondary aggregates was laid to provide a bound road base. Some 500 tonnes of the material was mixed on site in a mobile mixing plant using imported and screened recycled materials; 70% road planings and 30% processed incinerator bottom ash (IBA), together with cement and foamed bitumen. The surface was then sealed with a double application of FibreDec using 10mm and 6mm chippings together with a polymer modified emulsion and reinforced with added chopped glass fibres.
The project was completed in a period of five days before the start of the tourist season.
A plaque was erected on the site to commemorate the Golden Jubilee and the generous contribution made by the sponsors without whom the project could not have been undertaken. The project was formally opened by the Branch Chairman at the Annual General Meeting held at the Museum on 30th May 2002.
List of Sponsors
The members of the North Eastern Branch of the Institution of Highways and transportation are extremely grateful to the sponsors for their assistance and support with the Beamish Project. Without their generous and enthusiastic participation the Project could not have been completed.
