Lift Engineering Group

The University of Northampton MSc in Lift Engineering Alumni reunion

The University of Northampton has produced 37 postgraduates with the Master of Science (MSc) in Lift Engineering, since the course was launched in the late 1990's. The course is recognised world wide as the highest specific qualification in lift engineering available and a few have continued their education and moved onto pure research degrees such as MPhil and PhD which are also offered by the University. At the weekend school for the current cohort held over the weekend of 16th January 14 of the postgraduates from the MSc course were reunited to celebrate old times.

The weekend school started on the Friday afternoon for the alumni and some attended two extremely interesting presentations on safety gear testing by Ignacia Herrera and Electro-mechanical braking by Phillip Andrew. The algebra involved was a reminder to us all that we are glad that our MSc studies are long behind us!

Lynn Margetts of the University Alumni Office attended the pre evening meal drinks and spoke about the Alumni movement at the University which has over 50,000 members.

Mike Purdy spoke a few words about our colleague, Graham Lees, who tragically lost his life during a charity bike ride during 2008.

The evening involved a meal at the Sunley Centre on the Park Campus followed by drinks at the bar. As the bar closed early it was decided that we would frequent the on campus student nightclub where a quick research project by the alumni concluded that all undergraduates are likely to be deaf by the age of 30! Fortunately the evening wasn't spoilt by the fact that the DJ only had one record that he played over and over again although he insists that he never played any of his tracks more than once - perhaps they just all sound the same!

On the Saturday morning a visit had been arranged to the former Express Lifts test tower just off Weedon Road in Northampton. The 417 ft structure opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth is now surrounded by residential properties but is being restored to its former glory by some industry enthusiasts. The tower, first named the Northampton Lighthouse by Terry Wogan in 1992, proved to be an appropriate finale to a great weekend school where old friends reunited to reminisce over five years of hard slog to graduate with the MSc. Anyone interested in making use of the tower can contact the operators through enquiries@nationallifttower.co.uk

Dave Cooper who organized the reunion said he was really pleased with the turnout which was high considering that most of the alumni are based overseas. The alumni have determined to meet again on an annual basis.