CGCA Annual Dinner

Annual dinner for CGCA Association members

CGCA’s 2009 Annual Dinner was held on Thursday 19 February, in the ancient livery hall of the Stationers’ Company in Ave Maria Lane, London EC4. 

The 150 members and guests present stood for the procession to the top table, as CGCA President Professor Dame Julia Higgins led her party of honoured guests, including the principal speaker Mr John Armitt, FCGI (Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Committee), and the respondent for the toast to the guests, the Baroness Garden of Frognal, Master of the Worshipful Company of World Traders - known to many members of CGCA through her long and distinguished work for the City & Guilds of London Institute. 

Also present were Professor Stephen Richardson, FREng, FIChemE, FCGI, Principal of the Faculty of Engineering, and CGCA member Mrs Jean Venables, OBE, FREng, FICE, FCGI, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers for 2008-2009. 

Before rising for the toasts and to hear speeches by John Armitt and Baroness Garden, the diners had enjoyed a sumptuous meal, accompanied by wine and port from the Association’s own cellars. 

The official College Union mascots, Spanner and Bolt, were present, and were held aloft for the calling of a traditional ‘Boomalaka’, whilst Boanerges, the 1902 James and Brown motor car mascot of the Union, which had carried the President and John Armitt to the Hall before proceedings began, remained outside so that members could pay their respects on leaving.