The May lunch was attended by 33 members, by two guests of members, and by our Speaker, Dr. Alastair Biggart, who spent five years on the Channel Tunnel project as Operations Director for the contractor on the U.K. side and who, since retirement from full time work, has given advice on nineteen international tunnelling projects. Retirement???

Alastair detailed the history of the project from the first proposal in 1802, to 1880 when the first tunnelling began until stopped 2km. offshore because of the fear of a possible French invasion, to the 1986 Treaty of Canterbury when the concession to build was granted, and then on to December 1990 when the first connection to France was made. Supported by a slide show.

Alastair presented a technically informative description of the project. The chosen scheme comprised of two 7.6m internal diameter railrunning tunnels and a 4.8m internal diameter central service tunnel. Advanced surveying techniques and guidance systems ensured that the six undersea tunnels did actually meet under the sea within 350mm. An impressive fact was that that this expensive project was completed with zero financial support from governments

Please be reminded that members are encouraged to invite their wives/partners to join them at our June lunch. Unlike at our Christmas lunch, seating will be on an “open” basis. The speaker will be Hampton Creer who will be talking about Queen Victoria’s two visits to the isle of Man.