By Rose Bell
The BTS’s James Clark Medal for 2024 has been awarded to David Hindle for his major contribution to the tunnelling industry and to developing tunneling techniques and tunnel preservation.
Ex-chairman of OTB Engineering, Hindle has not only provided 50 years of service to the tunnelling industry, but for 25 years also served with the Engineer & Logistics Staff Corps of the Royal Engineers’ Army Reserve.
After graduating in 1972, Hindle undertook post-graduate research at Cardiff University and in 1989 was awarded an MSc with Distinction from Imperial College.
He has worked on national and international tunnelling projects for Howard Humphreys & Travers Morgan (A55 road tunnels North Wales); Dr G Sauer Co Ltd, where he was founding UK managing director (Jubilee Line Extension and the A27 road tunnels); and was also founding director of London Mining & Mineral Consultants Ltd where he worked on the refurbishment of the 200-year-old East London Line Brunel tunnel between Rotherhithe and Wapping.
He was also founding director of Innovative Support Systems Ltd and OTB Engineering Ltd.
Hindle also organised and chaired the Institute of Mining, Minerals and Metallurgy tunnelling conferences and he served on the council of the IMMM London conference and exhibition from 1994-2001.
He is also a senior military officer. He joined the Engineer and Logistics Staff Corps of the British Army in 1995, reaching the rank of colonel. He is due to retire from the Corps at the end of this year after 29 years’ service. The Engineer and Logistics Staff Corps is a reserve unit of business leaders that provides specialist advice and skills to the UK’s Armed Forces. The Corps was founded by members of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1865.
Presenting the award at the BTS meeting yesterday, Martin Knights said Hindle had a professional curiosity, the ability to develop new ideas and see them through, an ability to enthuse others by his manner and outlook, and was an ingenious engineer.
He said the three compelling reasons for Hindle’s nomination were his innovation, contemporary achievement in tunnelling, and major contributions to the tunnelling industry.
Hindle was an inventor, said Knights, and in the 1990s he was involved with a patent for decommissioning a fast breeder nuclear reactor in the US using tunnelling and mining techniques. Today this experience was being brought to the UK Nuclear Power Station Decommissioning programme.
“David is a crucial knowledge holder in this endeavour with LBA, OTB, GCG and NRS and is part of a revolution of thinking that is potentially saving billions and decades from the UK nuclear decommissioning program,” said Knights.
“Since the early 90s David advocated for the adoption and application of SCL/NATM in the UK, establishing and leading Dr G Sauer & Partners, London Mining & Mineral Consultants and OTB Engineering to bring this to bear. With Innovative Support Systems he developed the Ramwall and Ramarch tunnel support systems, which have been widely adopted by Network Rail to preserve the integrity of aged brick-lined rail tunnels and give them a new lease of life.”
In 2005, Hindle established OTB Engineering to offer the industry a specialist consultancy and designer that is both innovative and practical.
“As an SME company OTB punches way above its size in terms of influence and expertise and is always involved in the major UK tunneling projects,” said Knights.
In terms of Hindle’s contributions to the tunneling industry, he has been involved in the UK tunnelling industry, the IMMM and the BTS for more than 30 years. He continues to lecture and support teaching activities at the universities of Warwick, Portsmouth and Camborne School of Mines, as well as the annual BTS D&C course.
He has also been a regular contributor to Tunnels & Tunnelling International. World Tunnelling, and Tunnelling Journal.
“He has mentored numerous tunnel engineers throughout their careers and he continues to encourage young members,” said Knights.
The James Clark Medal is the highest honour awarded by the BTS. It recognises major contributions to tunnelling and the tunneling industry, innovation and/or responsibility for a major tunneling project. The medal perpetuates the memory of James Clark, who worked for Charles Brand & Sons on many well-known projects.
