The secret engineer

摘要

The Engineeris the preeminent publication for our profession. Therefore, unsurprisingly, I regularly make my way through the articles online. One piece that recently caught my eye was about the way engineers are portrayed in popular culture, the responses of the readership being as interesting as the original text. It brought to mind one of the few times that I had reason to proudly proclaim my profession to a stranger. Returning from holidaying in Devon, my wife and I decided to take in the scenic splendour of East Prawle and, after a pleasant wander among the verdant fields, we settled at the Pig's Nose Inn for lunch. Soon after our food arrived the electricity failed and then we were asked to leave due to the small matter of a fire having broken out. Naturally we took our beer and sandwiches with us onto the green, but by the time we had finished them there was still no sign of the fire brigade.