History

In 1986, Ian M. Arbon and Dr Joe Rozewicz (Bechtel Ltd.), began discussions preparatory to establishing a UK Chapter of ASME. A Joint Meeting was arranged at IMechE headquarters in London on 1 June 1988, addressed by ASME President Richard Rosenberg and Executive Director Dr David L. Belden; at that meeting there was insufficient support to start a new chapter but Ian and Joe kept working at the idea with support from a handful of other ASME member in the UK. 

As a result of this persistence, a further meeting was arranged in London on 13 June 1990, with President Prof. Arthur Bergles and Dr Belden, where the decision was made to proceed with the formation of the UK & Ireland Chapter. As a result, on October 2, 1990, a meeting of ASME members in the UK, formally established the Chapter and elected Ian Arbon as the Founding Chairman of the Executive Committee. Joe Rozewicz was elected as Vice-Chairman. The new Chapter was subsequently formally acknowledged by ASME and established on November 27, 1990.

During this early period while Ian Arbon was Chair, the Executive Committee organised a conference jointly with the UK Department of Trade and Industry and The Commission of the European Communities, entitled, "Effects of Harmonising Standards in Europe - Pressure Vessels in Petrochemicals, Cryogenics, Power Generation, Liquid and Pressurised Gas Industries, Road and Rail Transport." that was held on 25 February 1992 in London.  Also, the Committee helped organise the 7th ASME Cogen Turbo Power Congress and Exposition in Bournemouth, England on 21-23 September 1993.

Dr Joe Rozewicz was elected to replace Mr Arbon as Chairman on 1 December 1992. The other officers were Eric M Smith (Energy Systems - Dundee), Vice-Chairman, Dr Joseph A Walsh (Logica - Leatherhead), Secretary and Ramiz F Babus'Haq (Cranfield Inst of Technology) as Treasurer.

Joe Rozewicz continued as Chairman until the 1994 AGM when Prof George R Harvey (Medenco Ltd - Belfast) was elected to replace him.

Following George Harvey's period of office, Ian Arbon  was re-elected to a second term as Chairman from December 1996 to December 1999.  During this period, various people held the other officer roles; in 1997, these were: Vice-Chairman, K. Siva Kumaran (AMEC - London); Treasurer, Dr Ajay Kapoor (Univ of Sheffield); Secretary, Dr Flavio J B F Franco (GEC-Alsthom - Whetstone).

One of the highlights of this period was the award of the joint ASME/IMechE Engineering Heritage Hallmark to the Kew Bridge Engines Trust on 10 July 1997. This was made during a joint visit to Kew by Pam Liversidge, President of IMechE and Keith Thayer, President of ASME, attended by Ian Arbon and Chris W. Maude of the UK & Ireland Chapter.  Most of the background work leading to this award was done by Chris Maude (Consultant - Lenham) who was a long-standing member of the UK & Ireland Chapter/Section.