Over 1,500 nuclear industry professionals turned out for an evening of fine dining and high entertainment at the NI/NIA Annual Dinner and enjoyed five-course dining, a plenitude of wine and celebrity speaker John Lloyd CBE at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Thursday 3rd December.
A stunning venue decked out in Christmas decoration was the welcoming sight for guests as they arrived and were seated under the chandeliers of the Great Room at the Grosvenor for the evening.
Pic: NI Guests enjoying the President's reception before the main event
The 23-seat top table this year provided the stage for key industry figures representing their organisations and businesses, including Women in Nuclear UK Chair Miranda Kirschel, Professor Charles Hendry MP, who was announced as the new NI Patron, and after dinner speaker John Lloyd CBE, producer of hit television series Blackadder, QI, and Have I Got News for You.
The President's Welcome, delivered by NI President Rear Admiral Tim Chittenden, was followed by the special announcement that as of February 2016 WiNUK will become an integrated branch of the Nuclear Institute.
Pic: Women in Nuclear UK Chair Miranda Kirschel announces the integration of WiNUK with the NI
After the five-course meal, speeches commenced with the prize-giving of NI Awards. NI President Tim Chittenden presented awards to NI Young Professional 2015 Award Winner Michael Greenshields and to Richard Crawford, winner of the Nuclear Institute Pinkerton Prize for best technical paper published in volume 10 of the NI journal Nuclear Future.
Pic: NI President RAdm Tim Chittenden presents Michael Greenshields with the NI Young Professional of the Year Award
The NI YGN Chair Melissa Loyley also presented a lifetime service award from the Nuclear Industry to outgoing NIA Chairman Keith Parker in recognition of his work.
Television producer John Lloyd took to the podium to have the audience in fits of laughter as he regaled the crowded room with tales from his long career with the BBC taking in such seminal British tv series as Blackadder, Not the 9 o' Clock News, and Spitting Image.
Pic: After dinner speaker John Lloyd entertains the audience at the NI/NIA Annual Dinner
The after party got started shortly after, as live band the Lionels helped to fill the dance floor and an open photo shoot was available. Guests finally departed for their beds at around 2am.
Pic: NI Members enjoying the AMECFW Reception at the NI/NIA Annual Dinner