Have you heard of the Jack Lewin prize?

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.