Staff News

The key at HOP has always been and will remain the fostering of long-term relationships; not short term gain but long-term survival and improvement. Our 22nd anniversary year sees us in excellent shape with a good plan for structured growth not only of client and projects but, most importantly, the people in the firm.

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HOP Engineer takes time out for Disaster Relief

Contract Engineer, Des McCall, took time away from his HOP work recently to devote his time, energy and engineering skills to working on a water/sanitation project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Des is a member of RedR (Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief) who help provide professional engineers to humanitarian aid agencies working to save lives and improve the quality of lives of others.  ‘Good on yer Des!’

Onwards and Upwards

Adam Humphrey joins John Spearman, Jon Orrell and Alan Taylor as an Equity Director.

The key Associates of David Jones and Phil Hedges are now strengthened by the promotion to Associate Director of Mark Naumann, Lee Stewart and Nigel Hosker. These guys bring special skills and assume specific responsibilities within the HOP organisation.

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New Staff

We are pleased to welcome Graduate Engineers Chris Parry & Tom Vakianis, and Trainee Technicians Shaun Maher & Jake Spice.

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HOP Training

Congratulations to newly Chartered Civil Engineer, Nigel Hosker (Team Leader; now C.Eng, MICE) with Structural Engineering Team Leaders, Lee Stewart (CEng MIStructE) and Waldo Zaragoza (C.Eng, MIStructE). Nigel, Lee and Waldo all passed their final professional exam “first time”. Another success for individual hard work and HOPTraining.

A number of our staff deliver presentations throughout the south on Engineering and Construction-related topics. We are also lecturers for the Structural Design Module at the University of Brighton. See also “HOP Presentations”.

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HOP Community Service

Involvement in the community is one of HOP's main aims and objectives. We very much support Brighton & Hove Albion's work, both on and off the pitch, are a “Friend of the Albion” and match sponsor.

Some of the most rewarding projects we are involved in are those where we provide our services free of charge. We assisted in the design, procurement and management of the Hove Lagoon Splashpool children's paddling pool, which has now been enjoyed for several years by the local kids.

On the same site, we have been working with Skatexpectations to construct a skatepark. Again, we have produced design details and schedule of works and are pleased to be working with RLF construction consultants and Dean & Dyball as main contractor on the scheme.

We are very proud also to support the Whoopsadaisy charity. This is a charity for the benefit of physically disabled children living in the Brighton area. We are currently assisting in putting together design information, again with the kind assistance of RLF Hove, and look forward to getting fundraising and procurement up to full steam in January 2007. More information may be found at www.whoopsadaisy.org

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HOP Launches ICE South Schools Initiative

Our presentation ‘The Rough Guide to Civil & Structural Engineering’ has been adopted by the Institution of Civil Engineers to show schoolchildren how interesting and fulfilling a career in Civil engineering can be.  [See also ‘Presentations’]

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Good Citizen Award

Alan Taylor, a director at HOP was presented with a "Good Citizen Award" on July 16 2004.

He was honoured alongside dozens of Officers at Police Headquarters in Durrington, Worthing. Alan and Tiff, his fiancée, were awoken by their cats in the early hours of the morning.

He ran down the stairs to find two intruders running out of the rear patio doors of the living room. He sprinted 250 metres in order to catch the intruders who had raided their home and tackled one of them to the ground. The impact broke the burglar's jaw and tore a tendon in Alan's hand.

This was all done whilst naked, and some would say "buff justice". With this in mind - to all you would be burglars you should think twice about breaking into "HOP House"!!

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HOP Sends the R.E’s to Normandy

We were recently pleased to sponsor the Royal Engineers Troop Commanders course via our own Ross Wendover, through Sandhurst and the Parachute Regiment, now with 9 Para RE. The lads took a section of World War II Bailey Bridge panel out to Le Grand Bunker in Normandy (Sword Beach), which proved to be a great photo opportunity for the French press as you can see.

HOP’s connection with the military extends back to D-Day when Lt Bob Orrell blew the doors of the main command bunker on Sword Beach, capturing 52 officers and men for which he received a King’s letter, a Mention in Despatches and promotion to Captain. This bunker is now the best museum of D-Day on the Normandy coast and features Bob Orrell RE and the work of the Royal Engineers at D-Day – well worth a visit.

‘Saving Private Ryan’s Landing Craft’
HOP procured a WWII Higgins boat, the actual one used in the dramatic opening sequence of the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’, saved from a naval scrapyard in Portsmouth.  Now on display as part of the sponsored landscaping of the Holmbush Roundabout, Shoreham. 

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HOP IDOLS Football

Hemsley Orrell's homegrown football team HOP IDOLS, having won the ICE South football tournament, took up the challenge of the national finals in Belfast. Having played some good football HOP IDOLS finished third in the second tier competition.

Since returning from international duty in Belfast, the team has continued a fantastic winning sequence in which they have been promoted to the Premiership of the Brighton region five a side football leagues. There are six leagues; to date HOP IDOLS have won every division from conference to first and need to win the Premiership to have a full house in winner's trophies.

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HOP and Brighton Pier

Even Zoe Ball is interested in HOP’s work under the pier. Our teams regularly check the structure and design all necessary repair, renewal and extension works. See the new mega-rides in 2006. See www.brightonpier.co.uk