THE INSTITUTE OF GAS ENGINEERS (I.G.E.)

 

I.G.E. is one of the oldest Professional Engineering Institutions, founded in 1863, and ranking with the Mechanical Engineers, the Civil Engineers, and the Electrical Engineers, but has always had a much smaller membership, being specialised for the Gas Industry only. Members are now mainly from British Gas, but there are a few hundred others from equipment manufacturers, consultants and contractors. There are many members from other countries, particularly U.S.A., Canada, France, Japan and Germany.

It is a 'learned body' with responsibility for education, exchange of technical information, and establishment of Codes of Practice and Engineering Standards. Her Majesty the Queen is our Patron, and the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles are both Members. I.G.E. is a Founder Member of the Engineering Council of Great Britain.

I am one of the very few people to have the Institution's Diploma as a result of which I have been a Fellow for over thirty years. This is the highest Corporate Degree of Membership and I got it by examination, not by any other method.

Although I have retired I am still a Chartered Engineer of The Engineering Council and can still style myself as C.Eng., F.I.Gas E. The other letters - F.Inst.,E. have been dropped because I have retired from the Institute of Energy. If I were a German you would have to call me 'Herr Engineer Saggers' since in most countries in Europe it is equivalent to being a Doctor or a Professor, we don't have this practice in England.

I.G.E. is divided up into nine geographical sections, Scotland and Wales each being entire sections, and I was a Council Member of the Eastern Section for several years, finishing as its Chairman for 1973 - 74. As such I was on the National Committee of the entire Institution, i.e. the International Body.

A Section Chairman has to arrange a programme for his year of office to include educational visits, lectures and technical papers to suit all tastes. His year finishes in early June with a two or three day A.G.M. to include technical papers, golf and bowls competitions, and visits to stately homes and their like for the Members' wives - or husbands in the case of Lady Members.

My choice of venue was Great Yarmouth (the one in Norfolk, not that in the Isle of wight). The day before we went I slipped a disc working at the Cricket Club and drove all the way to Norfolk in some pain, which Marjorie didn't know about until we pulled up at the Carlton Hotel. I couldn't get out of the car.

The Hotel sent for a Doctor (who turned out to be a Chinese) and he gave me painkillers etc., (no acupuncture!) I chaired all the business meetings and the final Dinner Dance sitting down over the whole three days. Marjorie had a couple of dances with the Mayor and the Board Chairman, but was too distraught to manage any more, so we went to bed early instead of joining in the traditional sing-song which usually went on until about 2 a.m.

Next morning after the official lunch Marjorie drove the car as far as Bury St Edmunds - about forty miles - but gave up in despair. After about an hour in a lay-by I drove the rest of the way back to Dunstable, and went to bed for over two weeks.

Looking back, I think this may have been the start of Marjorie's heart problem, or at least the first indication.

After the final Dinner I was given a Past Chairman's Medal and a leaving gift - the Pewter Wine Flask, which I chose at a London Jewellers.

There are also what are now called 'County Gas Associations', bodies which used to be called 'Junior Gas Associations' a rather strange title because many of the members were middle-aged, although junior in rank or job. It was quite funny to go on a visit to a factory to find that our hosts were geared up for a party of students and apprentices.

I served as a Committee Member for the Eastern Counties for several years, finishing as its Vice-president. One of the technical papers which I presented earned me the Silver Medal of the Society of British Gas industries.

My Membership of both the I.G.E. and the Association has been retained, and I can go to Meetings and Dinners and enjoy talking to old friends.

[  Previous Chapter  ] [  Contents  ] [  Next Chapter  ]