THS:UKI History

At the 2021 AGM the membership approved the change of the THS UK trading name to The Hydrographic Society UK & Ireland” (THS:UKI).

Commenting on the change, David Parker CEO said “Ireland has always been one of our regional chapters and was effectively treated as a region of the UK with this arrangement. For some time I have wanted to make what I see as a simple correction – to change our name to reflect the true situation. I believe this is long overdue as Ireland has been undergoing an expansion within the hydrographic sector, led by a burgeoning marine renewables sector and a world leading government seabed mapping programme undertaking combined hydrographic, geophysical and habitat mapping. Ireland’s marine Exclusive Economic Zone is more than ten times its land mass, so the potential growth in seabed mapping activity is substantial. We feel that the name change will help the Ireland Branch grow the Society in Ireland by seeking out new individual and corporate members.”

The annual award – named after the Society’s founder, Alan Ingham, who once said “Perfection is elusive but its pursuit is infinitely fascinating” – recognises and rewards the very best research, innovation and application demonstrated by students and recent graduates on relevant BSc, MSc and PhD programmes at universities in the UK and Ireland.

A drinks reception and dinner onboard HQS Wellington, Thames Embankment, London to celebrate 25 years since the formation of the UK Branch of the former Hydrographic Society

The UK Branch of The Hydrographic Society becomes The Hydrographic Society UK (THS UK) and is incorporated as a non-profit limited company.

The ceremonial signing took place at Hydro 04, Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway, Ireland. The resolution was signed by representatives of:
The Australasian Hydrographic Society,
The Hydrographic Society Benelux,
The Hydrographic Society Denmark,
The Hydrographic Society United States,
The Hydrographic Society UK.

As the Society continued to grow it was realised that it could no longer continue as an informal arrangement so became a non-profit limited company.

The first meeting took place at Waltham Forest Technical College (later to become North East London Polytechnic in 1970, and now the University of East London). The Hydrographic Society was the brainchild of Alan Ingham, the driving-force behind the fledgling enterprise staffed by a select band of unpaid fellow-enthusiasts (including his wife, Rose). Alan remained its Honorary Secretary until his retirement from academia in 1984. He was subsequently elected its first Emeritus Member in recognition of his selfless devotion to the ‘Cause’.