NOLAN ENGINEERS A WORLD TOUR

Nolan and Duckers

But Big John’s freebie is one to be savoured by Birmingham

An excellent bash to launch John Nolan’s inauguration “celebration” as president of the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Naturally taking place in the lad’s Friday home-from-home, Metro Bar.

The boy is phlegmatic – spending the year going round the world, you probably would be.

Phlegmatic because he doesn’t have to pay – the Institution apparently coughs up for travel and expenses.

For an ancient journalist like me, it sounds like a dream.

But Nolan points out that he is giving his time for free.

Yes, but I could even handle that!

First is a tour of Britain and Ireland during which the ‘Irishman’ – arguably as much Anglo as Irish (that’s me dead) – arrives in Dublin the day before the Ireland-Wales rugby international.

And Nolan just happens to be a Moseley rugby enthusiast – played at the Reddings (now Billesley Common; not quite the same ring to it) in the glory days.

Former chairman of Moseley Old Players Association.

Anyway, the tour takes in the Middle East, Canada, the US, Hong Kong, China, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and a few paradise islands on the way.

This is no local honour – this is the big time.

He is the worldwide president – there are 30,000 members, half abroad.

“It is a great honour for me and a great honour for Birmingham,” he says rightly.

Eddie Morse, Jilly Cosgrove and Richard Johnson

Chairman of Nolan Associates he fully deserves the accolade.

Mind you, wife Valerie, who will accompany him part way, is getting edgy.

“We’re not going to Slough,” she quips. “There are limits!”

Oh dear, expect mass ISE resignations in Slough then.

And she is also a bit dubious about Chicago – the ceremony is on the 80^th floor of some tower and Valery has extreme vertigo.

“I shall tell them to park me in a corner with a cup of tea!”

Nolan will connect however with his constituency, even perhaps Slough, when highlighting the divergence of cost and value in his president’s address.

He maintains there is an “epidemic” of professionals being screwed on fees, with a consequence that the sums don’t add up – to the detriment of potentially great buildings.

Sounds very like Birmingham!

But he promises he will challenge the Government on the issue – go for it.

Car number plate – B1G JN.

Have a great year, Big Man.
PICS: Steve Fisher