Branch Awards
Institute Awards
The Institute presents the following Branch awards:
The Tony Lager Award
About the award: The Tony Lager Award was introduced in 1996 in honour of the late Tony Lager, who served the Institute for many years on head office and Branch committees, including Council. Tony passed away in July 1996. The award is for meritorious service to an Institute Branch by an individual.
Purpose: For meritorious service to an Institute Branch by an individual.
Details of the award: A framed certificate, £200 cash and an invitation to the NDT Annual Conference Dinner with one night's accommodation.
Eligibility: Any individual Institute member.
Nomination arrangements: Branches to nominate. Contributions to the Branch and other Institute activities should be described.
Committee: MQ&E.
The Tony Lager Award for 2023 is awarded to Raymond J R Wilson.
Ray serves as the Managing Director of Array Training Ltd. He has a career spanning over 35 years in non-destructive testing (NDT), initially working as a radiographer, leading into all other NDT methods, weld inspection onshore and then into offshore, taking care of major North Sea projects covering both topside and subsea operations, including rope access and underwater inspection in lieu of dry-docking (UWILD)/special periodic surveys (SPS).
Since 1996, Ray has dedicated the past 28 years to developing and establishing various NDT Training Centres in the North East of Scotland as a British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) Approved Training Organisation (ATO)/Authorised Examination Centre (AEC) and Authorised Qualifying Body (AQB)/NDT facility, lecturing in all conventional methods (MT, PT, UT, RT, RI, ET, VT, ACFM and ISI-UT) and many other bespoke courses developed, covering Intro to NDT, Radiation Safety, Source Recovery, RPS, Hardness Testing, Ship Hull Gauging and Offshore Structures.
During his time in the oil & gas, power and renewable industries, Ray has also administered NDT training courses and examinations in over 27 countries, dealing with both client bespoke requirements and development of nationalisation training programmes intra-state with the cooperation of major inspection companies and in conjunction with prime industry suppliers. The most recent chapter in this continuing ambition to provide industry with the modern inspection services required in a changing world has been piloting the advancement of the Inspection Engineering discipline, leading to approval as an AQB/ENG providing inspection engineering examinations since 2022.
Ray’s commitment and dedication extends far beyond his professional responsibilities and he has a huge passion for the industry and for many inspiring students and candidates around the world. As an NDT Level 3 in various PCN/ASNT subjects, he supports many of the NDT inspection companies with NDT consultancy and Level 3 services, as well as mentoring many of the NDT technicians through their personal continuous professional development in the onshore/offshore industry, both nationally and internationally.
Ray has been an active member of the North East Scotland Branch of BINDT and has fulfilled the position of Chair, for a second time, for the last five years. The Branch has been very active during that period and, in particular, during the pandemic, to ensure that progress and developments in NDT continued through BINDT webinar presentations, leading to the hybrid meetings commonly used today.
Ray continues to support the Branch as Past Chair and the new Programme Secretary, taking care of the social activities and supporting the new Chair and office bearers with Branch events.
The Tony Lager award was originally established as a prize for the Institute Branch achieving the highest number of new members in the year. This criterion was altered after 2000; until then the winners of the award were:
1995 North West
1996 Solent
1997 London and Home Counties
1998 West of England/West Midlands
1999 South Wales/West of England
2000 South Wales
Since then, the Award has been for meritorious service to an Institute Branch by an individual. The past winners are:
2002 Mr A Raine
2003 Mr P Stephens
2004 Mr J Pouncy
2012 Mr D Breeze and Mr B Webb
2013 Mr B Murray, Mr D Betts and Mr M R Dawson
2014 Mr B Shannon
2015 Mr A Hunscott
2019 Mr B Naylor
2020 Dr Mike Farley BSc PhD FInstNDT FInstEnergy
2021 Pete Burrows MInstNDT
2022 Fraser Hardie
The T H Cole Award
About the award: Much of the collective strength of the Institute derives from Branch activity and Branches can be quite influential in demonstrating the value of Institute membership. In recognition of this, for some years the T H Cole Award has been presented annually to the Institute Branch with the best percentage increase in membership during the preceding year.
Purpose: For the Institute Branch with the best percentage increase in membership during the preceding year.
Details of award: Gavel and engraved block held for one year. Also a framed certificate, £200 cash and an invitation to the NDT Annual Conference Dinner with one night's accommodation.
Eligibility: All Institute Branches automatically qualify.
Nomination arrangements: Automatic.
Committee: MQ&E.
2023 winner: East Midlands Branch
The winner of the T H Cole Award for 2023 is the East Midlands Branch.
Recent holders of the T H Cole Award are:
1981 East Anglia
1982 Yorkshire
1983 Yorkshire
1984 South Wales
1985 East Anglia
1986 East Anglia
1987 West of England
1988 East Midlands
1989 Scottish
1990 North East
1991 South Wales
1992 Plymouth
1993 North West
1994 Yorkshire
1995 Plymouth
1996 North East Scotland
1997 West of England
1998 Plymouth
1999 South Wales
2000 No Award
2001 North West
2002 North West
2003 Overseas
2004 East Midlands
2005 Scottish
2006 East Midlands
2007 East Anglia
2008 South Wales
2009 North East
2010 Yorkshire
2011 West of England
2012 North America
2013 South Wales
2014 North America
2015 North America
2016 West Midlands Branch
2017 No award
2018 North East Scottish
2019 North American Branch
2020 East Midlands Branch
2021 North American Branch
2022 Early Careers Branch
The Tony Lager Award
Award information
About the award: The Tony Lager Award was introduced in 1996 in honour of the late Tony Lager, who served the Institute for many years on head office and Branch committees, including Council. Tony passed away in July 1996. The award is for meritorious service to an Institute Branch by an individual.Award information
Purpose: For meritorious service to an Institute Branch by an individual.
Details of the award: A framed certificate, £200 cash and an invitation to the NDT Annual Conference Dinner with one night's accommodation.
Eligibility: Any individual Institute member.
Nomination arrangements: Branches to nominate. Contributions to the Branch and other Institute activities should be described.
Committee: MQ&E.
Winners
2023 winner: Raymond J R WilsonThe Tony Lager Award for 2023 is awarded to Raymond J R Wilson.
Ray serves as the Managing Director of Array Training Ltd. He has a career spanning over 35 years in non-destructive testing (NDT), initially working as a radiographer, leading into all other NDT methods, weld inspection onshore and then into offshore, taking care of major North Sea projects covering both topside and subsea operations, including rope access and underwater inspection in lieu of dry-docking (UWILD)/special periodic surveys (SPS).Since 1996, Ray has dedicated the past 28 years to developing and establishing various NDT Training Centres in the North East of Scotland as a British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) Approved Training Organisation (ATO)/Authorised Examination Centre (AEC) and Authorised Qualifying Body (AQB)/NDT facility, lecturing in all conventional methods (MT, PT, UT, RT, RI, ET, VT, ACFM and ISI-UT) and many other bespoke courses developed, covering Intro to NDT, Radiation Safety, Source Recovery, RPS, Hardness Testing, Ship Hull Gauging and Offshore Structures.
During his time in the oil & gas, power and renewable industries, Ray has also administered NDT training courses and examinations in over 27 countries, dealing with both client bespoke requirements and development of nationalisation training programmes intra-state with the cooperation of major inspection companies and in conjunction with prime industry suppliers. The most recent chapter in this continuing ambition to provide industry with the modern inspection services required in a changing world has been piloting the advancement of the Inspection Engineering discipline, leading to approval as an AQB/ENG providing inspection engineering examinations since 2022.
Ray’s commitment and dedication extends far beyond his professional responsibilities and he has a huge passion for the industry and for many inspiring students and candidates around the world. As an NDT Level 3 in various PCN/ASNT subjects, he supports many of the NDT inspection companies with NDT consultancy and Level 3 services, as well as mentoring many of the NDT technicians through their personal continuous professional development in the onshore/offshore industry, both nationally and internationally.
Ray has been an active member of the North East Scotland Branch of BINDT and has fulfilled the position of Chair, for a second time, for the last five years. The Branch has been very active during that period and, in particular, during the pandemic, to ensure that progress and developments in NDT continued through BINDT webinar presentations, leading to the hybrid meetings commonly used today.
Ray continues to support the Branch as Past Chair and the new Programme Secretary, taking care of the social activities and supporting the new Chair and office bearers with Branch events.
The Tony Lager award was originally established as a prize for the Institute Branch achieving the highest number of new members in the year. This criterion was altered after 2000; until then the winners of the award were:
1995 North West
1996 Solent
1997 London and Home Counties
1998 West of England/West Midlands
1999 South Wales/West of England
2000 South Wales
Since then, the Award has been for meritorious service to an Institute Branch by an individual. The past winners are:
2002 Mr A Raine
2003 Mr P Stephens
2004 Mr J Pouncy
2012 Mr D Breeze and Mr B Webb
2013 Mr B Murray, Mr D Betts and Mr M R Dawson
2014 Mr B Shannon
2015 Mr A Hunscott
2019 Mr B Naylor
2020 Dr Mike Farley BSc PhD FInstNDT FInstEnergy
2021 Pete Burrows MInstNDT
2022 Fraser Hardie
A nomination form can be downloaded here.
The T H Cole Award
Award information
About the award: Much of the collective strength of the Institute derives from Branch activity and Branches can be quite influential in demonstrating the value of Institute membership. In recognition of this, for some years the T H Cole Award has been presented annually to the Institute Branch with the best percentage increase in membership during the preceding year.Purpose: For the Institute Branch with the best percentage increase in membership during the preceding year.
Details of award: Gavel and engraved block held for one year. Also a framed certificate, £200 cash and an invitation to the NDT Annual Conference Dinner with one night's accommodation.
Eligibility: All Institute Branches automatically qualify.
Nomination arrangements: Automatic.
Committee: MQ&E.
Winners
2023 winner: East Midlands BranchWinners
The winner of the T H Cole Award for 2023 is the East Midlands Branch.
Recent holders of the T H Cole Award are:
1980 South Wales
1981 East Anglia
1982 Yorkshire
1983 Yorkshire
1984 South Wales
1985 East Anglia
1986 East Anglia
1987 West of England
1988 East Midlands
1989 Scottish
1990 North East
1991 South Wales
1992 Plymouth
1993 North West
1994 Yorkshire
1995 Plymouth
1996 North East Scotland
1997 West of England
1998 Plymouth
1999 South Wales
2000 No Award
2001 North West
2002 North West
2003 Overseas
2004 East Midlands
2005 Scottish
2006 East Midlands
2007 East Anglia
2008 South Wales
2009 North East
2010 Yorkshire
2011 West of England
2012 North America
2013 South Wales
2014 North America
2015 North America
2016 West Midlands Branch
2017 No award
2018 North East Scottish
2019 North American Branch
2020 East Midlands Branch
2021 North American Branch
2022 Early Careers Branch
Details of all Institute awards can be found here.
