Grants awarded during 2019 included £5000 to transport engineer Sekai Mei Zengeza towards the making of a documentary on the rebuilding of the ‘Iron Snake’ railway linking Kenya and Uganda. A further grant of £4400 was also made this year to Arkwright Engineering Scholarships to fund a pair of 16 to 18 year olds starting their studies in September.

Attendees to this year’s Luncheon heard from CIHT President Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive Sue Percy and adventurer Debra Searle.

The President spoke of the important role professionals in the sector can make to tackle the climate challenge and the need to prioritise investment in infrastructure and services on the basis of cost, both in terms of money and natural resources.

He also called for more of a focus on delivering proposals that take full account of their implications for the wider transport system.

Sue Percy told guests that next year CIHT will be celebrating 10 years since receiving its Royal Charter and reported that over the decade the Institution’s role, influence and reputation have all grown.

Over the coming months, she added, CIHT will make a series of key asks of the new Government and continue its conversations with devolved administrations. She called for governments to ensure that the highways and transportation profession is well supported to address climate change and said that a UK integrated transport strategy needs to be introduced.

Guests also heard from adventurer Debra Searle who completed a trans Atlantic row in a boat alone, after her husband and fellow rower had to be rescued when falling ill. She spoke of how she “shifted her comfort zone” in order to complete the voyage and how anything is possible to those who decide to push themselves beyond what they normally do.

(Photograph: Scott Ramsey Photography)