Every year the CIWEM Rivers and Coastal Group (RCG)
committee presents the Jack Lewin prize to someone who has made a significant
contribution to the rivers and coastal sector.
In the past, the recipient has had a lengthy career or been
involved in a significant project, initiative, or event. However, this year, our
wider members from the sector are invited to propose the recipient of the Jack
Lewin prize.
Would you like to propose someone? If so, it is quick and
easy. Fill
in this form, providing a short description of the contribution the person
has made by 06 April 2023.
About the prize
Formerly known as the [Rivers and Coastal Group] Chairman’s prize,
the prize was renamed in 2010 after Professor Jack (Jacob) Lewin. Lewin, born
in 1922 in East Prussia as it was then, was a survivor of Kristallnacht in 1938,
and came to Britain the following year on the Kindertransport aged 16. Lewin
learnt English at night school and started out as an apprentice draughtsman. He
became one of the world’s leading experts in the design of hydraulic gates,
writing the definitive book ‘Hydraulic Gates and Valves’ in 1995.
Lewin was an enthusiastic supporter of CIWEM and the RCG and
donated a section
of original wooden elm water pipe from his days with the Metropolitan Water
Board to the RCG. The water pipe became the trophy for the Chairman’s Prize.
Following Lewin’s death in January 2010, the RCG chose to
rename the Chairman’s prize in his honour. The name plate on the Elm Pipe
trophy was full of previous winners and is on display at CIWEM HQ. A new trophy
was manufactured, in Jack’s honour, made from parts of one of the UK’s famous flood
gates - the Thames Barrier.

This year’s Jack Lewin prize will be presented by the RCG at
CIWEM’s Flood and Coast conference in Telford between 06 - 08 June 2023.
Recent recipients
Recent recipients of the prize include:
- 2021-2022 – Bryan Curtis for their long history
of contribution to Coastal Partnerships and coastal planning and issues, as
well as contribution to the CIWEM Rivers and Coastal Group
- 2019 – Multi-agency group coordinating the
emergency response to the Toddbrook Reservoir (Whaley Bridge) dam spillway
collapse
- 2018 – Chris Broome for a lifetime contribution
and member of CIWEM East Midlands Branch committee for more than 15 years
Propose someone now at: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?i...
The deadline for proposals is Thursday 06 April.
Find out more about the CIWEM Rivers and Coastal Group here.