Earlier this summer, the Institution recognised and rewarded an elite group of engineering professionals who have been members for 50 years. John Sweeney, one of the members who received his gold 50 year badge, is proud to be the head of an engineering family, because his grandson, Rob, is in the process of working towards Engineering Technician status. Here, we hear from John and Robert about what membership of the Institution means to them.
John Sweeney was so proud to receive his gold badge denoting 50 years of continuous membership of the Institution that he went to the pub for a celebratory pint of Guinness. John’s celebration was made even more special by the fact that he was joined by his grandson Rob, who is carrying on the family’s engineering tradition by applying for EngTech status with the Institution.
Each man was equally proud and inspired by the other’s achievement, and shared some of their respective engineering experiences with us. From his Hampshire boarding school, John started full time work at the age of 15 in his grandfather’s company, Sweeney & Blocksidge Ltd, which was founded by him in 1869.
In 1936, John started work at the Parkfield Road site, working in an area called the pen, and he worked on a horizontal miller. Just after the war he started night school at the Bordsley Green Tech, where he achieved his National Certificate. After that, he progressed to the Aston night school where he completed his Higher National Certificate. In 1938, as the company was growing, the Ash Road factory was built, where the smaller power presses were manufactured. After learning the skills on the bench in the Parkfield Road site he was transferred to the Ash Road site where he began working on the lathe. He loved the lathe and enjoyed turning. Unfortunately at the age of 66, he suffered a heart attack and as a result he had to retire.
During his working life, John witnessed a lot of changes in the engineering profession. He said: “We were exporting lots of hand presses, all over the world, but India was one country that had the highest demand for our hand presses. The company was well known for exporting hand presses: they were exported to Australia, New Zealand, and Russia: where they were used to make artificial limbs. Due to the popular demand for hand presses and power presses, my engineering time was thriving and I was always kept busy. It was after my retirement that the demand for hand presses started to decline, and the company started to focus more on the power press industry. During the late 1980s I saw the manufacturing industry take a dive and Sweeney and Blocksidge Ltd was unfortunately hit by this.”
Membership of the Institution and becoming a professionally registered engineer made John extremely proud, and undoubtedly had a real value both for his career and for his company. He said: “My favourite memory was when I finally achieved my letters. I had some hassle trying to get a sponsor, and a good friend of mine was highly enthusiastic in helping me; so when I finally achieved my letters I was over the moon, and I will always remember it. The company displayed my IMechE membership to show the company’s professionalism; and my name, including my letters, was often used when approaching new customers.”
“I have seen the growth of the Institution; seeing it become larger over the years. It’s really nice for me to see more and more people joining the Institution because they appreciate the benefits that membership can bring.”
“Being a member for 50 years is a wonderful achievement. It was quite a surprise to receive the 50 year membership badge, because funnily enough I didn’t realise that I had been in the Institution for that long! I was pleased about the recognition the Institution had given me.”
John was thrilled that his grandson, Rob, is following in his footsteps by choosing a career in engineering and becoming a member of the Institution. He said: “I was very pleased when Rob decided to join the IMechE, and I found it a great pleasure to have a grandson so enthusiastic in engineering. My advice to Rob is to keep with the Institution as it can help with furthering your career and looking after you, in tough economic times like now.”
The Sweeney family’s passion for and commitment to engineering is certainly shared by his grandson, Rob. He said: “Ever since I can remember I've been a 'hands on' person; designing and building is something I enjoy with a passion. I've always loved engineering mainly due to my family's involvement in this industry.”
“At the age of ten my father, the chairman of Sweeney and Blocksidge Ltd, would show me the skills and techniques used within the power press industry. I am lucky enough to carry on my family tradition by working at a small local company called Tru-Thread, which manufactures gauge equipment for the oil industry.”
“During my advanced apprenticeship I have learnt how to use a range of machinery from milling machines to thread grinding. Recently, due to staff absences, I have been given the chance to manage my section and during this time, I hit all major targets. It has been a good experience for me. My latest challenge is to get a friend of mine, who has restricted mobility and is in a wheelchair, up the tallest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. We are currently in the process of redesigning and modifying a wheelchair in order for it to stand up to the difficult terrain we will be faced with.”
John was the inspiration for Rob to get into engineering and join the Institution. Rob said: “My granddad has told me many stories about engineering and I often speak to him about turning and machinery, so when I was offered the chance to join the Institution, I felt it was right to follow in his footsteps and get the next generation of EngTechs started.”
“Funnily enough, I had only recently discovered my granddad was a member! However, he is extremely proud of his engineering background especially his IMechE involvement. The fact that at the age of 89 he still remembers vividly the time he was struggling to get his sponsor, when he was applying for his membership, shows that the Institution means a lot him.”
“My granddad is a mathematician. He used to send his friends from night school mathematical problems for a bit of light humour. When I was struggling with differential calculus during my HNC, it was my granddad whom I approached for help. Although occasionally he tended to go off the beaten track a little bit – he was 86 at the time - however he helped tremendously and I have learnt so much from him.”
For Rob, the Institution is formed by people who are inspired by engineering, and who are proud to be an engineer. He said: “The Institution can help me broaden my engineering knowledge thanks to the facilities and contacts I can use for both my working requirements, and my personal needs: for example, the light weight suspension system for the wheel chair modification I'm working on at the moment.”
“I would like to think that my granddad has started a dynasty. His enthusiasm for engineering has been passed on to me, and I greatly wish to pass that on to my future grand children, and yes, it would be good to be photographed with my grandchildren when I've got my 50 year badge in a few years' time!”