REFRIGERATION'S invaluable contribution to mankind's development, our health and very survival on this planet, has been the mantra of many a president of the Institute at past IoR dinners.
Not wishing to be too critical, but one wonders the value of preaching to the converted on these industry occasions, when a general acceptance of this undeniable fact goes unrecognised by the population as a whole.
So I was surprised and heartened to learn of English Heritage's efforts to preserve what the Carlsberg Lager advertising agency would describe as 'probably one of the finest examples of 20th century refrigeration in the world'.
The future of the now derelict Grade-ll-listed Grimsby Ice Factory has split local opinion between those wanting to level the site and those wanting to preserve what it sees as the last vestige of Grimsby's once mighty fishing industry.
Amazingly, until now English Heritage was virtually alone in recognising the historical importance of the refrigeration equipment still contained within the building. Aside from a few locally-based engineers, the refrigeration industry was unaware of the very existence of this building, let alone the threat to its future.
Equally surprising was English Heritage being seemingly oblivious to the fact that there might be a well-organised refrigeration industry, many members of which would probably be willing to support their efforts.
So is it worth saving? Built in 1900, the Grimsby ice factory was the largest enterprise of its kind in the world. The equipment still in place and installed as part of a 1930s upgrade includes four of the largest (if not the largest) compressors ever built by one of the UK's great pioneering refrigeration companies. The compressors operated successfully for 60 years and were still working when the plant eventually closed in 1990.
If nothing else, it stands as a testament to two great industries - fishing and refrigeration - but while one is a mere shadow of its former self, decimated by quotas and foreign competition, the other remains as vibrant, innovative and essential as ever.
As the IoR , once again, launches an initiative in the apparently unequal struggle to interest school leavers in considering a job in air conditioning and refrigeration, it will no doubt again be impressed upon our potential future engineers the value of refrigeration to mankind.
If we really believe this, is it not important that our industry is seen to be keen to preserve an important part of its heritage? If nothing else, wider publicity created by coverage of efforts to preserve this historic equipment would increase the public awareness of our vital industry and maybe encourage more to see the value of refrigeration as a career.
Perhaps then we can reach the stage where outsiders tell us how valuable the refrigeration industry is rather than having to rely on a spot of mutual back-slapping every February.
Neil Everitt
Editor