Much has been written on the history of the IET from its genesis in 1871 as the Society of Telegraph Engineers to today where we count amongst the largest engineering institutions worldwide however, often what is written applies to the key milestones, members and high level overviews.
Upon noticing at the start of 2024 that the IET France Local Network was going to hit 30 years since its official registration as a Loi 1901 Association in France, I thought that perhaps it would be a good idea to celebrate this birthday and to best do so, having been essentially parachuted into the Network two years prior when i moved to France, that it would be good to have a little dig into the history of how the network came about and got to where it is today.
What followed was a rabbit hole filled with tales from older members, looking for letters, clippings and pictures in the IET archives, good googling and asking people to go look into cardboard box of VHS tapes from the back of their garage for the odd coffee stained meeting minutes or fading photo album but, after six months of typing, deleting, retyping, procrastination and cursing the gods of formatting and autocorrect, I bring to you this tale.
You will find within how the The IET in France started not as a Local Network in 1994 or even in 1988 when a 'gang of four' enterprising engineers opened the IEE French Centre, or even in 1946 when a founder of EDF became the first Overseas Member of the IEE Council for France... There had been IEE representation in France in the form appointed Honorary Secretaries going back to 1887. Consider, that the IEE has been in France since before the Eiffel tower was completed.
Through world wars, petitions to the IEE council, highs and lows, crises, mergers and IET TV broadcasts, local partnerships and international events, through Brexit, Covid, Lego Leagues and the odd bottle of Beaujolais Nouveaux, IET members, volunteers and staff have maintained one of the longest running overseas presences of the IET.
It was a labour of love, humility and a touch of ***-mindedness but it is now my honour and privilege as the current Chair, very much standing on the shoulders of the giants that preceded him, to present to you - The IET in France - A Short History.
Do take a look at and get in touch with us at the IET France Local Network on EngX, LinkedIn and Facebook to keep up to speed with our news, events and activities.
EngX: IET EngX (theiet.org)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iet-france-local-network/
Facebook: IET France Local Network | Facebook
Special thanks to Anne Locker, Micheal Wrigley, Ian Gillis, Phil Dunbar, Andrea Lund, all those who have screened and helped draft this as well as all past, present and future volunteers of the IET France Local Network.
Morgan Bonici
