The South Eastern Branch was the 10th to be formed of the 18 Branches and was born on 20 April 1958 at an inaugural meeting held in the Council Chamber of Tunbridge Wells Town Hall. The National President of the day, Major Aldington, opened the proceedings and invited those present to elect a
Chair. Mr C Leney (County Surveyor of East Sussex) was elected unanimously “amid acclamation”, with Mr H Bowdler (County Surveyor of Kent) as Vice Chair and Mr J Palmer (Assistant County Surveyor of East Sussex) as Hon. Secretary. A Committee was also elected and at once arranged the Branch’s first technical meeting – a visit to the new works of the Ready Mixed Concrete Company at Shoreham by Sea on 28 June 1958.

Henry Bowdler continued as Vice Chair for five years, before becoming Branch Chair in 1963 and proceeding to the Presidency of the Institution in 1966. Henry was followed into the Presidency by Ian Dussek in 1992 and most recently by Allan Mowatt in 2000.

The first annual expenditure in 1959 is shown as £14 4s 4d (£14.22) compared with over £3,400 for 2001. Since 1959 the Branch has arranged over 250 meetings involving technical papers and site visits. Over the years the minutes of Branch meetings show how the roles of the Institution and the Branch have changed. In the early days, business was confined to ‘domestic issues’, such as arrangements for meetings. Recently, consideration of local contribution to Britannia Walk on national issues forms an important part of the Branch’s work.

The minutes also bring to life well remembered names (and some half forgotten) who gave great service. These include Ken Cox (Hon. Sec. 1964-1977), Stan Bedford (Hon. Treasurer 1981-1992), Mike Sumpter (most posts from 1980 to 2010) and Trevor Blann (Hon Treasurer from 1992). They have all received the Institution’s Certificate of Merit.