Having joined The Welding Institute in 1962, Michael B. Flannery IEng MWeldI MEIT is one of our longest-serving Professional Members.

Alongside his links to The Welding Institute, Michael also has an association with The Institution of Engineering and Technology and achieved his ‘Advanced Examination Electric Arc Welding with Credit in 1965’ and ‘Advanced Examination Oxy-acetylene Welding with Credit’ in 1966. From there, he obtained a full Technological Certificate in Fabrication and a Welding Engineering Technicians Certificate with distinction in 1975.

Michael walked us through why he became interested in engineering, his journey within the industry and how being a Member has aided him.

He began, “I first became interested in welding when my father was a vehicle mechanic with The British Oxygen Company,” adding, “He introduced me gas and arc welding associated with vehicle repair.”

Michael’s career saw him work as a welding apprentice at Fraser and Chalmers Engineering Works in Erith, Kent as well as at G. A. Harvey, in Charlton, London.

This followed with work for international companies in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, with Michael revealing, “My field of work in welding, included welding supervisor, welding engineer, lecturer in fabrication and welding, chief field engineer, and construction manager.” He continued, “For the past 7 years I have been engaged as facility manager for the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta, Canada.”

Having joined The Welding Institute in 1962, Michael revealed that he was encouraged to join while attending training at TWI, explaining, “The Welding Instructor in the training school encouraged me to join The Welding Institute to keep up with developments in the welding environment.”

Michael was a regular attendee at branch meetings for The Institute in London and Kent, where he was able to “keep myself appraised of developments in welding,” adding that, “on two occasions, I attended The Welding Institute at Abington on seminars related to pipe welding.”

He continued, “The Welding Institute is the source where so many answers to questions are available and has provided information I required on many occasions.”

Looking back over his career so far, Michael said, “My career has covered many different aspects of engineering insofar that welding is and always will be significant in tomorrow’s world,” adding, “Encouragement to my son-in-law to teach welding for the past 16 years and a granddaughter to be in her third year as an apprentice is proof of my commitment to the future.”

While Michael looks to the future and using his expertise to help the next generation, as one of The Welding Institute’s longest serving Members, we had to finish by asking him about his fondest memories from being a Member.

Michael concluded by saying, “As a young apprentice, I became a Member of the Welding Institute with great enthusiasm. My attendance to meetings in London and Kent were very informative, which assisted both my work and technical college training, for City & Guilds of the London Institute,” noting, “As time went on, I attended many lectures and practical applications on research, technology and training by The Welding Institute at Abington and other locations.”