I obtained my degree in civil engineering in 1966 (external London University) and that year joined a small firm of consulting engineers in the city of Westminster, specialising in public health (municipal) and environmental engineering. Subsequently, I became a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
I arrived in Dubai in September 1971 by BOAC on a hot sultry evening and so started my overseas career as an engineer.
I was Deputy Resident Engineer for the Dubai Sewerage Scheme, at the tender age of 26, living and working amongst some of the most interesting people in the world. Dubai at that time was the world's largest exporter of gold but that was of little interest to me as we provided sanitation for the Gulf State.
Assisting the Resident Engineer, I was responsible for supervising the construction of several miles of sewerage and connections to homes. During the course of my work, I occasionally met our client at that time, his highness Sheikh Rashid bin Said al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai.
Dubai Creek from my flat in Deira in 1971
In my spare time, I found myself working on the
local radio station, the Dubai Broadcasting Service, reading the evening news twice or three times a week, as well as broadcasting quiz programmes and the like. On one occasion, with about five minutes notice, I found myself reading the English translation of the Ruler's speech to the assembled company at the official opening of Port Rashid!
As Deputy Site Representative, I found myself working on the Bahrain Sewerage Scheme for the World Health Organisation. This was a fascinating opportunity to put to good use all that I had learned in Dubai and to assist our team in putting together one of the most successful sewerage schemes in the Arabian Gulf.
Along with a small team of engineers, we developed the Master Plan, Feasibility Studies and Preliminary Engineering for new sewerage for the urban areas of Bahrain, principally Manama and Muharraq.
Ten years later, I was asked to return to Bahrain to review the work that we had done previously, recommending improvements and the way forward into the future. On this occasion, I stayed for about 18 months during which time, we were able to develop a Master Plan for the entire country.
Adari Pool, Bahrain in the early 1970s before it was redeveloped. Large carp used in swim in the pool amongst the local children who found it a favourite place to keep cool in the Summer months!
I went out to Hong Kong to be Project Manager of the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works scheme, providing brand new facilities for a brand new town.
I went to Hong Kong as a bachelor and left as a married man, my wife coming from Sunderland in the North East of England.
We became engaged on Repulse Bay Beach and married at St John's Cathedral in the heart of Hong Kong.
The QE2 leaving Ocean Terminal, Kowloon in April 1977.
I transferred to Singapore to work as Project Manager on two Sewage Treatment Works Schemes (which were in their finishing stages) as well as take responsibility for a number of other schemes, in Malaysia and Brunei.
This diversification of work gave me the opportunity to visit countries neighbouring Singapore, broadening my knowledge and experience of the South East Asia region.
I worked on the Brunei Master Plan Study, spending up to 3 months at a time in the State. This enabled me to visit various parts of the country.
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
I first visited the Sultanate of Oman in about 1972 when it was relatively unchanged. The centre of Muscat was much as it had always been, with narrow streets and the most beautifully carved doors to the houses. Almost without exception, these have now disappeared.
I was back again in the Oman in 1986, seconded to one of the Ministries there, dealing with environmental matters. The Oman, in my opinion, is one of the most pleasant places in the Middle East in which to work. The people are friendly and the places you can visit are spectacular.
This lake, up in the mountains some 200 km from Muscat, is the principal source of water for nearby villages. The water is passed down the valley in small channels known as 'falajs', enabling the villagers to survive in otherwise arid and extremely hot conditions. At the time that I visited, not even electricity had arrived in the area.
I was Project Manager for the Istanbul Sewerage Scheme (Stage 2), taking it from feasibility studies and preliminary engineering to the bidding stage. The Scheme involved the preliminary design of two very large treatment works, five smaller installations and some 150km of sewer (including tunnels).
This enabled me to live in Istanbul for a period of just under three years - a very happy period of my life, living among very good Turkish friends who from the start made me feel welcome in their city.
In addition to my normal work, I was for a while Secretary to the British Community Council in Istanbul, an organisation set up to support the British Community and in particular, those British nationals who had not right of abode in the UK but needed support in order to survive.
This was the view from my flat in Beylerbei, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. What a spectacular view it was but how rare it was for me to be there to enjoy it! I looked down on the house where Kim Philby, the 1950s British spy had lived before he eventually escaped to Russia.
It seemed odd to return to England again, as I did at the end of 1988 and find myself working at home again. I transferred to the North and took on the responsibility of an organisation of over 100 engineering staff in three different locations, as well as responsibility for the design of a major barrage project in the North East.
I was fortunate to be the Project Manager for what is believed to be the first Partnering Scheme in the British Water Industry, where there is no adversity between client, designer or contractor - we are working to the same goals and objectives. This Scheme is now coming to an end and I have set up my own Consultancy,
Roe Thompson Limited, now Team Focus - RTL Limited, specialising in Partnering, Value / Risk Management..Return to
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