Durham Cathedral Exterior Lighting

As I mentioned in my last blog,  I was going up to Durham for the official switch on of the cathedral floodlighting. I am so glad I was able to attend. Firstly I was able to spend some time talking to two of the designers - Steve Edwards and Dave Williams, both work for Anthony Stainton (who sadly could not be there)  Steve went through some of the design processes and the different types of LED "floodlights" that were used. How they did test runs trying out different floodlight combinations. Something like this, is the meld of knowledge, experience, software modelling and art. They even had infill floodlights to lesson the shadow effects. A lot of care, skill and expertise has gone into this project.  Dave  explained that the scheme uses 70% less energy than the old scheme. So I am delighted that the ILP was involved in the original competition brief and that ILP lighting Professionals were involved in this stunning, winning design.

I learnt that the Cathedral and Castle form a World Heritage Site, and that the co-ordinator of the site used to look after the pyramids.

After the speeches was the switch on. I had the privilege of being in the company of Richard Frost and Roger Elphick. Roger is immensly proud of this scheme and rightly so.
 The first picture was taken by the ILP Chief Executive of me with the cathedral and castle framed behind. The second picture I took of the cathedral just after the official switch on.

This week, I will be meeting the Vice Presidents and having a full day, going through their Key performance Indicators and reviewing how they think things are going. Lots to discuss!

Have a good week. Pete

Travel and Railway Stations

Today (Sunday 17th February) has been a a glorious early spring day (at least where I live). Clear sky, sunshine, light winds and it feels warm!  Nothing like a bit of sunshine to lift the spirit. I know that those who are endure  Seasonal Affective Disorder will really appreciate such a day. It is also good for me to get Vitimam E via the sunlight.

Trix and I travelled up to Scotland on Friday by train. Long trip, but I had plenty to read. Although I do feel a bit sorry for the Chief Executive, his train broke down and as we happened to be the following train, a rescue mission was mounted at Berwick on Tweed and  he and his good lady joined us on our train. We finally got to Airth Castle and had a great evening with the Scottish Region. Chairman Bobby Borland had organised an excellent spring dinner and ball and I think everbody enjoyed the food, music and especially the good company. It was great to see Past President Rory Cameron in good form. It had been a good day for him, as he had become a gGrandfather (again).

On the way home, we had a bit of time between trains at Edinburgh, so was able to have a walk around that beautiful city and take in the sights. They have been doing a lot of work at Edinburgh Waverly station. It should look really good when finished. We also spent half an hour at York Railway Station. I do find the engineering at railway stations fascinating. York station is a long curve and has some stuuning cast pillars that support the main canopy. As I am on about railway stations, Kings Cross is the one I see most. I have got used to the revised layout and can enjoy looking at the roof and lighting, rather than trying to figure out where I am within the station. We take travel for granted, expect within 24 hours to be on the opposite side of the globe. A bit like lighting. Everybody expects it and takes it for granted until it does not work or is switched off.

Having talked about trains, I have taken a picture of a watercolour I did of a steam locomotive pulling freight , working hard up a gradient in winter.

I am keeping busy with day job and the ILP. Things are coming together nicely for the Charles Marques Memorial Lecture and I hope the ILP  can soon confirm who the speaker is. I am quite excited about the CMML, but must be patient and wait until all in place -  watch this space and the website for an announcement. I am also looking forward to going to Durham this week to see the official switch on of the cathedral's new exterior lighting scheme. Well done to those members of the ILP who have been involved in the cathedral lighting. More about that next week. I will be taking my camera, so I hope to get a few night time shots, one of which I hope will be good enough to be in my blog.

Have agood week  - Pete

Getting on with it!

Last week was interesting. I succumbed to a cold and am just about over it. Weather continues to be variable, from freezing rain, to snow and back again. I have been pushing hard to get trimming of trees done in the garden before they start to leaf. When Trix and I moved last March we inherited an overgrown garden, with a number of unpruned plum trees, stinging nettles and brambles. It is great to have a little more daylight.
I have a chain saw, which I have learnt to keep oiled, adjust the chain, sharpen the cutting blades and mix two stroke petrol. Exciting stuff, although the newly pruned trees have left a lot of material, that I can use for logs, recycle or burn. So gardening at the right time of year is critical.

Yesterday evening I drove to Peterborough to attend our evening chuch meeting, and the journay takes me   past a parish church in nearby Great Gidding. I always enjoy driving by it at night, as it is floodlit, and has a six sided tower, with narrow beam floodlights uplighting alternate faces of the tower. The church stood there as a beacon of light, with the swirling snow picked out by the spill light. It was eerie and beautiful. I was not able to take a picture, but a great memory.

Photograph for this week is not one of mine, but provided by Allan Howard during a visit to The Light Show at the Hayward Gallery London. Worth a visit, as the lighting is stunning.

Last week was Regional Officers at Rugby and it was good to meet with the Honorable Secretaries and Vice Chairs of the Regions. Lots of issues were talked through and hopefully some clarification on a number of practical issues, which will be fed back via the Secretaries

I will be thanking the Regions for all the good work that they do at their AGM's, but wanted to take the opportunity now to thank those Vice Chairs, who are busy preparing for their years, working with the committees, planning events, working out budget against venue and all the hard work that has to be done. I wish all the Regional Vice Chairs the very best, during their preparation and in coming year as Regional Chairs.

Trix and I are looking forward to going up to Scotland this Friday to the Scottish Spring Dinner Dance at Airth Castle. I hope you all have a good week, safe journeys and get to see some great lighting. Pete

Changing seasons

The nights have begun to draw out. It is nice to have a little more light in the early evenings. We might live in a 24 seven society, but some things are still done by the seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. This is the time of year for the cutting back hedges and getting an overgrown ditch next to our  garden, dug out and cleared of brambles, nettles  and ivy. The ditch looks good, but I am paying the price - sore back.

I have been staggered by the number of creatures that are looking for food. I posted a photograph of birds feeding on the fallen crabapples. Well, now the snow has gone there is still a carpet of crab apples, and we have a small deer (muntjac) coming into the garden to eat the apples - amazing.

This March Trix and I  will have lived in our cottage for a year and will have gone through our first year of seasons in the country side. I am looking forward to early sunrises and late sunsets. So I am glad the winter is coming to an end and spring is ready to come in. When I get the time, I like to fish, so in anticpation of early mornings at a lake, here is a picture of the last fish (carp) I caught a couple of summers ago. I think this may be the last fish I caught. Been busy!!



 

Last week was Executive Board, and we continue to deal with the challenges of limited budget.

 

One of the things that has also come out of recent discussions with members is how to show inclusiveness to all our members. I would like to make it clear that being an Associate Member, Member or Fellow does not require an applicant necessarily going for Engineering Council registration at EngTech, I Eng or CEng. Engineering Council Registration will require compliance with either the technical qualifications or a technical report, which has to meet EC criteria and be assessed accordingly. Some of you may want to upgrade from Affiliate to Associate Member or Member without EC registration - this is an option, but will require an upgrade application, an assessment of knowledge/experience, but this can be work based as well as through qualifications. So if you want to upgrade and don't necessarily want EC Regisration, then give the ILP a ring.

 

This week is Regional Officers, so I look forward to meeting Regional Secretaries and Vice Chairs - should be interesting. This meeting happens to be on the same day as the CIBSE Awards in the  evening. So I intend to be at the awards representing the ILP.  Have a good week . Pete