Celebrating Generations of Excellence
In May 2015 the College of Engineering & Built Environment at DIT & the Beta Society (est.1974) came together to welcome back alumni from across the decades and the disciplines at the college. Pat Roche, former Chairman of the Beta Society and 1957 engineering graduate spoke of the good old days at Bolton Street how a group of active and passionate alumni came together in 1974 to form a society to help support and invest in excellence at the College.
The Beta Society was formed by a group of engineering graduates in Bolton Street in 1974. It was active for about 20 years and amongst many other things the society began awarding the Beta Medal for Excellence in Engineering which is still awarded today.
Professor Gerry Farrell, Dean of the College of Engineering & Built Environment praised the great support of the Beta Society and spoke of significance of the relationship with alumni both in the past and for the future of the College. Professor Farrell spoke to the opportunity the evening presented to strengthen the relationship between the college and the alumni community at a pivotal time in DIT’s history with the new campus development at Grangegorman and the upcoming application for university status.
Pat spoke specifically about his experience studying engineering in 1950s Bolton Street and the depth of knowledge he acquired across a broad variety of subjects which helped him greatly working later on in London on multi-million pound construction projects. He spoke fondly about his lecturer George Latchford who had the engineering students come in on a Saturday morning to do a basic course in Nuclear Physics!
Pat recalled celebrating the golden jubilee of the mechanical engineering course in 2007 under the banner of ‘excellence in engineering’ with his group of friends, many of whom were also involved in the Beta Society. This group were used to celebrations in Bolton Street and many were on the Committee which arranged the first dress dance at the Royal Hotel in Bray.
On behalf of the College Professor Gerry Farrell thanked Pat and his friends for their dedication and commitment to Bolton Street, which is as alive today as it was many years ago. Professor Farrell asked the alumni community to join the college on its future journey and committed to giving graduates greater opportunities to get involved in the work of the College, including potentially re-igniting the Beta Society and how that might look today.
To see the full album of photos please click here.
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact julie.stafford@dit.ie.
