Dear Fellows and Members
In the last letter I loaded to the Suffolk and North Essex Area website I said that I had resigned as the Chairman, hoping to join the "backbenchers" while a younger leader took over to maintain the momentum. The disruption caused by the pandemic over the past few years has seriously affected the programme of lectures and visits which we had hoped to organise. As the effects of Covid are receding we are hopeful that with your support we can restart the meetings as well as establish a few works' visits in the year. I have decided therefore to rejoin the committee (in the short term) in the hope of stimulating a renewed interest in engineering meetings.
Please keep an eye on the Near You pages where I will be loading lectures and events as they are arranged. The first is there now - an on-line update of the successful crossing of the Atlantic by the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS400). I also have an offer from Karl Ludvigsen the auto historian who has agreed to present a talk on "The First Supercharged Production Cars". I have yet to confirm the date and venue. With Artificial Intelligence appearing regularly in the press, I am looking for a speaker who can give a spirited introduction and insight into the topic.
I look forward to meeting some of you again at future lecture meetings.
With my best wishes
Michael Allen
Past Chairman.