issue two: may 2009 - Halcrow

AlumniOld friendsA grand gatheringTo rememberJohn Wylie passed away on 9 March 2009 at the age of 79. John joined Halcrowas head of the architect’s team in Dubai in 1979, and then worked as principalarchitect in London and Iraq between 1981 and 1983.Robert Landau died on 10 October 2008, aged 86. He took early retirementfrom Halcrow in 1982.Herbert Archard died on 21 January 2009 at the age of 87 having worked forHalcrow from 1973-1983. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth.Arthur Beard passed away, aged 90, on 13 December 2008. He retired in 1982,having worked for Halcrow in the finance team since 1976.Louis Kirwan died on 4 August 2008, aged 89 years of age. He is survived byhis wife, Rita.To send condolences, email pensionsteam@halcrow.comFriendsreunitedMemories, stories and updates on yearspast – all coated with a liberal sprinklingof misty-eyed nostalgia – were the orderof the day at the inaugural Caledonianbranch pensioners reunion towards theend of last year.Recognising that many northern friendshadn’t ventured south for the nationalreunion, retired Halcrovian Roy Dargieorganised the event – held at theHighland’s Atholl Palace Hotel inPitlochry – a little closer to home.After catching up with old friends overlunch, regional managing directorNeil Johnstone and Halcrow’spension fund trustee chairman,Derek Pollock, cleared the mists oftime, bringing the room up to dateon the company’s current activities.Several members of the gatheringshared their memories of meetingSir William Halcrow, having joinedthe company in the1950s when theemployee headcount numbered inthe hundreds.Well-thumbed photos circulatedthe room, spurring people torecount their time on Scottishhydropower sites and other iconicprojects. With plenty left to catchup on, plans are underway for arepeat event in 2010.Edward Gosschalk(1924 – 2008)A model of inspiration,dedication and courtesyAt the age of 23, Ted Gosschalk embarked on a careerwith Halcrow that lasted nearly four decades. He stayedwith the firm until retiring in 1985, continuing to work asa consultant.Ted specialised indams and hydropowerfor most of hisworking life. Initially,he was concerned withsurveys, designs andsupervision of hydroelectricdevelopmentsin Ireland, Scotland,Jamaica and Malawi.In 1955 he went toGhana to supervisethe construction ofthe first major bridgeacross the Volta River.After planning a ricemilling complex for Guyana, he was engaged to designand administrate several hydro-electric projects andprovide a hydrological assessment of the Muda irrigationproject. He then supervised construction of three sizeabledams in Malaysia and a 7km tunnel.Later, he was resident engineer for Sri Lanka’s100m-high Kotmale dam and hydro-scheme and preparedmaster plans in Ethiopia and China. He also designedpost-tensioning works for the Mullardoch Dam inScotland, UK.When problems inevitably arose on some projects, Tedwas completely unflappable and was determined toresolve them in his clients’ best interests. He was aninspiration to younger colleagues and, as an externalconsultant and supervisor for the masters in irrigationcourse at Southampton University, took a great interest inhelping the next generation of engineers.He wrote more than 30 technical papers and severalbooks as well as being an active participant in The BritishDam Society, the International Societies of Soil Mechanicsand Rock Mechanics and the International WaterResources Association.Despite his considerable eminence in the engineeringfield, Ted remained highly approachable and was a modelof courtesy and kindness to all who knew him.Ted died at his Bath home in November 2008. He leaveshis wife, Kim, and daughters, Karen and Louise.