Thank you BINDT

I have just returned from a trip to the 58th Annual British Conference on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT 2019), this year held in Telford, UK, where I received an Honorary Fellowship Award at the Conference Dinner. It was a heart-warming occasion: the conference, the exhibits, the social occasions and, most of all, the attendees.

I did some research on the significance of the award and learned that it is not lightly bestowed. I was gratified and honoured to receive the award and I have displayed it along with my ASNT Fellow Award.

I considered that my monthly contribution to NDT News must have influenced my selection and I must give my dear friend David Gilbert, who I have known for over 20 years, credit for suggesting the column in 2000, which seems like a long time ago. David was Editor of the BINDT publications for many years, but has been ably replaced by Corinne Mackle since his ascension to Chief Executive Officer. Writing this column, which has featured in each issue of NDT News since January 2009, has been a labour of love and I was delighted to be recognised as the author and receive many compliments on the content.

It has been stimulating to research a new subject matter every month and commingle current events, NDT-related projects, historical dates from personal experience and, sadly, material failures and explosions. One of my greatest compliments came from the wife of an NDT engineer who told me that she always commandeers NDT News before her husband in order to read ‘Letter from America’.

For those readers to whom the attribution to Alistair Cooke may be a mystery, he was a British-born journalist who wrote the original ‘Letter from America’ and was the host of Masterpiece Theatre. I never did have the pleasure of meeting him.

Another item that may have contributed to my selection could have been my service as the original and only Chair of the North American Branch of BINDT, which was formed at the ASNT Fall Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, in 2004. The creative drive and concept for the North American Branch came from Brian Shannon, my good friend and colleague for 25 years.

The world of NDT is a small one. Over many decades I have interacted with many technicians, engineers and equipment suppliers at conferences, job sites and presentations over large segments of the earth and they continue to reappear in unexpected locations.

My NDT experience commenced in 1960 and continues still, with no intention of transitioning into retirement. I thank you all, my readers, colleagues and fellow NDT associates.

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