Sir Alan Muir-Wood

This is one of dozens of portraits of past ICE Presidents on a staircase in the Institution of Civil Engineers.

25 years ago, I worked for Halcrow, where Sir Alan - a former partner - was retained as a consultant with particular expertise in tunnels. His office was along the corridor from mine, he was invariably polite and helpful, and I learned a lot from him. Tunnels remain a keen interest to this day.

Each time I pass his portrait I say hello.