RCEA NEWSLETTER August 2026

President's Message

Hello again everyone, and a warm welcome to the August 2026 Newsletter.

I hope you have all had a lovely summer enjoying the ‘hot’ temperatures and are all ready to go for another session of interesting meetings.

Last season saw another interesting programme of talks, and a big ‘thanks’ must go to Mike, our programme manager for making all this happen.

I must also thank all my other fellow committee members for all their hard work to keep the show on the road, everyone having played their part.

Last year saw another Christmas Lunch and on December 11^th 24 members and guests turned up at the Findon Manor Hotel and enjoyed the food presented to them. Arrangements are in hand for this year’s lunch and details will be out when available, but for your diaries, the date will be Thursday 10^th December 2026.

Visits have been a little scarce this year as it is getting more difficult to find somewhere to go that is financially practical and local, but we are always on the lookout and welcome any suggestions.

Last year I set up a WhatsApp group for the membership to communicate quickly to folk regarding meeting changes, urgent notifications etc, and all seems to be working well. If you are NOT yet in the group and would like to be, please contact me and I will add you.

Also we are in the process of setting up a brand new website as the old one became faulty and not very user friendly. I am sure you will all be happy with the new one, which hopefully be up and running some time in August.

Talking of the AGM (on September 15th), the present committee are all prepared to stand again, and I am pleased to welcome Keith Mills who has agreed to join the committee.

All these posts are of course subject to ratification at the meeting.

As I said earlier, I would like to thank the entire committee for their work and going forward we will do it all again to bring you a range of talks to enjoy in the coming months, all of which are listed in this newsletter.

Keep an eye on your emails as our Membership Officer, Mike, will be sending out details of things you need to know as they crop up.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing you all at our AGM followed by the first talk of the season which is at 2.30 on 15^th September usual place.

George Woollard
President

Programme of Events, from August 2026

20 Aug 26 10:00

Coffee Morning (members) The Spotted Cow, Angmering

27 Aug 26 10:00

Coffee Morning (with partners) The Swallows Return, Worthing

15 Sep 26 14:30

AGM followed by a talk by Roy Allen entitled 'Asking Questions' Field Place, Worthing
Read more…

17 Sep 26 10:00

Coffee Morning (members) The Spotted Cow, Angmering

24 Sep 26 10:00

Coffee Morning (with partners) The Swallows Return, Worthing

View All Events

The list above shows the next five events. You can look further ahead by selecting the 'VIEW ALL EVENTS' button.

All Talks and Meetings will commence at 2.30 pm and be held in the Pavilion, Field Place, Worthing, unless another venue or time is indicated. Timings for visits and outings will be as printed in the detailed description of the activity.

Coﬀee mornings commence at 10.30 am.

We do sometimes have to cancel/rearrange talks and visits, in which case we will inform our members of changes to our programme by email. Members can always look on our website for up-to-date details of events.

Website of the RCEA

You will have noticed that our website and this newsletter have changed. The content remains the same, but the appearance has changed. Rather than downloading a pdf file for a newsletter, they are now web pages. Also, each report with a newsletter is also a web page, with just a link from the newsletter. Previous newsletters, which are still in there pdf form, can also be viewed from the Newsletter menu drop-down.

Also, you can now search for words or phrases, not only in the web pages, but also in the text of the old newsletters.

Our website, www.rceasussex.org.uk carries the very latest information on all our events.

New Members and Speakers for Talks

The RCEA needs new members and speakers to ensure that we can continue as a thriving organisation. Please think of appropriate people you know and encourage them to come along to our talks and hopefully join the RCEA.

We also need more speakers to give talks to us at our monthly meetings on Tuesday afternoons from September to April.

We are aware that many members have the knowledge from their working careers to provide interesting talks. If you are willing to give a talk, please let us know.

New Members

There were no new members of the RCEA since our Spring Newsletter. As stated above, please encourage appropriate friends and former colleagues to come along to our talks and think of joining.

RCEA Insurance

Members need to be aware that the insurance policy that the Association holds is solely for the protection for the assets and liabilities for the Association as an entity. The policy does not provide cover for personal injury or loss to individual members. Members attend the Association's events at their own risk although under some circumstances there may be some cover from the insurance arrangements of the venue owner.

Member's Articles

Our newsletters are also a vehicle for our members to publish short articles on engineering related topics. Articles can be of any type, technical, review or opinion aimed to stimulate discussion. So if you’ve always wanted to put pen to paper (or today’s equivalent) then please send your article to our editor, David James (dr.david.james@gmail.com).

Brief Details – Talks, Visits and other activities - from September 2026

Below we have brief details of the events that you have to look forward to. We hope to see you at as many of these events as you can attend.

AGM & Talk - Tuesday 15th September 2026

Asking Questions

Roy Allen - Member

Many of you will remember Roy’s interesting talk on the BP Magnus platform. Hence the Committee were keen to ask him to speak to us again – even if the synopsis below isn’t quite along conventional lines!

Roy Allen qualified as an Electrical Engineer in 1969. He worked in the oil industry from 1975 until 1991. He then trained to become a science teacher. Throughout his engineering and teaching careers he asked many questions, some of which he will answer: How can high voltage switchgear be located in a zone 1 hazardous area? Is the Ninian platform operator receiving the correct allocation of oil? Is the largest UK check correct? Is the (original) Ula Project feasible? Will the Magnus modules fit on the jacket? Why are BP platform flare towers vertical? Why did Piper Alpha catch fire? If the ground reaction force equals the weight of an object placed on the ground, how does the ground know how hard to push? Why can't a boardwalk be built on East Preston beach? What is the difference between HDPE and oak? Do you need to insure a boardwalk for public liability? Roy has not undertaken paid electrical work since 1978.

Talk - Tuesday 13th October 2026

Tram Train Innovations

Tim Kendell

Tim will describe the early days of Tram Trains in Karlsruhe and the benefits they brought to the city, and then will review a variety of Tram Train systems that had been opened subsequently around North West Europe.

Tim will then explore the origins and the development of the Tram Train Pilot in Sheffield with descriptions of the various types of operations and what makes the vehicles special. He will look at the political, technical and safety hurdles required to introduce light weight vehicles onto the heavy rail network without increasing risks to passengers and staff.

Finally he will show what was achieved in South Yorkshire and how it was received by the passengers, staff and the light rail industry and will look forward to the introduction of further Tram Train services elsewhere in GB.

Tim is a chartered civil engineer with over 50 years’ experience in the Railway Industry having worked for British Rail, Atkins Rail, Strategic Rail Authority, UK Government Department for Transport and is now Technical Director of the Light Rail Transit Association.

Talk - Tuesday 10th November 2026

Engine noise control – career choices, chances and changes

Professor Bernard Challen

An informal review of an engineering career spanning nearly 60 years, looking at the initial decision factors and how these changed over time.

The content covers initial mechanical engineering undergraduate formation in the 1960’s, postgraduate Noise and Vibration degree, working initially in Germany and then consulting work involving test, design and development work of internal combustion engines of various sizes and types. Experience with clients around the world and how technology company development changes over time.

The ups and downs of independent consulting work as well as involvement in professional organisations both in the UK and internationally contribute to ‘life’s rich pageant’.

Some examples of noise measurement and testing of various kinds will be included, together with the basic physics and engineering applications. Engine and vehicle control systems will also be touched on, including mathematical modelling, together with various forms of legislation, including On Board Diagnostics.

Observations on the importance of personal and professional relationships will be included, especially on how these determine career development.

Talk - Tuesday 8th December 2026

IOM3 - Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining

David Arthur

Synopsis not currently available.

Talk - Tuesday 12th January 2027

Thorium Nuclear Reactors

David James

We are familiar with the use of Uranium as a fuel for nuclear reactors, but there is an alternative; Thorium. This talk explores the different reactor ‘fuel cycles’, looks at some of the history of nuclear power so as to put Thorium reactor development into perspective and provides an update on the current developments of Thorium-based nuclear power reactors.

Talk - Tuesday 9th February 2027

The Air Ambulance Service

Simon Norris-Jones

Synopsis not currently available.

Reports

There has only been one event since our Spring Newsletter. Click on the title to view the report.

Visit to the the British Engineerium, followed by a talk on the History of Brighton’s Water Supply

End of August 2026 Newsletter

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