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Talk Programme - Spring 2012 (Provisional)


Mid Norfolk Railway extension from Dereham to County School

Monday February 13th 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

by John Hall, Director responsible for liaison with Permanent Way / Infrastructure department.

Synopsis to follow


The Sheringham Level Crossing Reinstatement

Monday February 27th 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Stevan Ashling

A gang of volunteers raised £140k and constructed 120m of new railway, bridging the gap for the first time in 43 years. This 120m of railway connected to Network Rail,crossed a car park, a highway, a public garden and then connected to the NNR. It passes over every utility there is. "We even built a bridge and buried it".


Examples of Synergy

Monday March 12th 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Prof Derek Fray, Material Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge

This presentation will illustrate how knowledge of a problem,coupled with an understanding of the requisite science, can lead to innovative solutions associated with the use of renewable energy, its generation and storage,green processing of materials (including recycling) and finally care of an ageing population. These solutions are attracting venture capital leading to successful developments.


Unfortunately the original talk for March 26th on "The development of the Pilatus PC turbo-prop trainer" has had to be postponed. This is because the speaker, Nigel Wainwright, is in the process of taking a new job (one that can't be turned down!) abroad. The NES very much wishes him well in this new venture. His father in law , Arthur Gent, has kindly offered to give a talk in his stead.

Monday March 26th 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road
(Joint Meeting with the Norfolk Industrial Archaeological Society.)

The new talk title is "Francis Barnett and the motor cycle - the complete story"

Arthur Gent, an NES Member

The talk will cover the reasons why there was a motorcycle industry in Coventry in the first place; basically from the birth of Francis & Barnett Co. Ltd in 1919 to its demise in 1966 when the then owners, Associated Motor Cycles Ltd., went bankrupt.

Francis-Barnett was central in the two golden eras of the motorcycle industry, the 1930s and 1950s. The company was founded in 1919 by Gordon Francis and Arthur Barnett, and based in Lower Ford Street, Coventry.

The 1930s were certainly the halcyon days of the industry with over eighty marques in production and machines exported to what was then the British Empire as well as the rest of the world. Francis-Barnett played a key role with the production of its "home to work" commuting two-strokes at the peak of the British motorcycles sales.

Francis-Barnett was known mainly for its lightweight two-stroke motorcycles. They were innovative in their approach to design by first using the unique triangulated frame in 1923 and then changing the frame design completely for the 1933 Cruiser. The engines were all bought in, with all the two-strokes being supplied by Villiers, this enabled Francis-Barnett to concentrate its design efforts on the frame. It was not until the late 1950s that parent company AMC (Associated Motor Cycles) decided to design and build their own engines.


AGM

Monday Apr 2nd 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

After the formal business of the Society has been completed it will be followed by Members papers. The presentations will be about 15 to 20 mins long. The following members have kindly volunteered to give a talk:

PresenterTopic
Dr Steven TempleAnaerobic Digestion.
Prof Ken AgnewA Solar House?
Philip TolleyWhy Picture Quality isn't just Pixels.

Synopses to follow

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Talk Programme - Autumn 2012 (Information so far available)


Title TBA

Monday October 8th 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Speaker TBA

Summary not known


"From Instability to Chaos: A Pictorial Overview of Engineering Dynamics"

Monday October 22nd 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Speaker Prof Michael Thompson, Emeritus Professor, University College London.

Summary not yet known


Energy Topic possibly "Green Offices"

Monday November 5th 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Greg Luxford, Carbon and Utilities Manager, Aviva UK

Summary not yet known


"Design and Development of hybrid cars"

Monday November 19th 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Dr Tom Nicklin, Ford Technical Centre, Ford UK

Fuel efficiency and emissions control are helping to shape the vehicles of tomorrow. This talk will look at the work Ford is doing in the development of the range of hybrid and electric vehicles. The speaker will review the development of the Transit Connect electric vehicle as well as the 2012 Ford Focus electric vehicle and the 2013 Ford C-MAX hybrid and plug-in hybrid releases.


Title TBA

Monday December 3rd 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Speaker TBA

Summary not known


"How steam works"

Monday December 17th 2012 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

David Blackman, Charles Burrell Museum, Thetford.

Summary not yet known

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Talk Programme - Spring 2013 (Provisional)


"Proeon: our involvement in North Sea Projects"
(Joint Lecture with the IET Anglian Coastal Branch)

Monday January 14th 2013 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Kevin Magee, Chief Engineer, Proeon Ltd, Hethel Engineering Centre.

Summary not known


Title TBA

Monday January 28th 2013 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Speaker TBA

Summary not known


Title TBA

Monday February 11th 2013 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Speaker TBA

Summary not known


Title TBA

Monday February 25th 2013 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Speaker TBA

Summary not known


Title TBA

Monday March 11th 2013 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Speaker TBA

Summary not known


AGM followed by Title TBA

Monday March 25th 2013 at Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road

Speaker TBA

Summary not known

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