World’s first Masters of Science in Demolition Management graduate.
The long-held hopes and aspirations of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE) came to fruition today when seven individuals graduated as Master of Science in Demolition Management at the end of a course devised by the Institute and delivered at the University of Wolverhampton.
Those seven individuals are Matthew Bardgett, Matthew Browne, David Gauja, Robin Powell, Davinder Singh Reehal, George Robinson, and Patricia Sloneczny.
At a glittering graduation ceremony, the “Magnificent Seven” were described by University of Wolverhampton vice-chancellor Professor Geoff Layer as “the leaders of the future”.
The graduation is the culmination of several years of study by the seven individuals; and it is the realisation of a dream the IDE has pursued for more than 12 years. Speaking at the event, Dr Terry Quarmby – until now the only demolition academic – said that the concept of a demolition degree was spawned during the presidency of the late David Ross Turner. “if you had told me 12 years ago that we would be stood here celebrating the first graduates, I would have laughed,” he says.
It was fitting that Quarmby was joined on stage for the graduation by John Woodward who succeeded Quarmby as IDE president and continied the campaign for a recognised demolition degree; and by current IDE vice-president Richard Dolman who will take up the IDE educational mantle next year.
Full report in the next edition of the Demolition magazine.
