HOP Wishes Jon Orrell a Happy Retirement!

At the end of this week, we say a fond farewell to Jon Orrell, one of the Founders of the Consulting Civil & Structural Engineering firm, HOP Consulting (formerly known as Hemsley Orrell Partnership).

After a little over 54 years in the industry, Jon is finally stopping work.   This ends a long ‘succession programme’, which started when his original partner and good friend, John Hemsley, retired in 2013 and continued when Jon stepped back as Managing Director in 2019, paving the way for John Spearman to drive HOP forward.

Jon is leaving HOP in as good a shape as ever; in John Spearman, Adam Humphrey, Alan Taylor, Nigel Hosker and Tristan Banks, we have 5 very capable Directors with the complimentary skills needed to take the Firm forward in this continuously changing world.  They are still keeping the ethos on which the Practice was founded; that of working hard, providing practical solutions on time; whilst putting Training and the Community at the forefront of what we do.

Jon has worked on many a Brighton & Hove landmark, including Brighton Marina; both Brighton Palace & West Piers; the i360; the Brighton Dome; Victoria Fountain and the AMEX Community Stadium to name but a few.   He has also worked on Piers and marine works all around the country and overseas.  Funnily enough, some of the smaller pro bono community projects were some of Jon’s most rewarding projects with Hove Lagoon Splash Pool, one of his favourite jobs, which is still being enjoyed by children today.

 

 

All at HOP will miss Jon’s infectious personality, positivity and general love of people, combined with a wicked sense of humour.  Over the years, Jon has been involved with many charities primarily Whoopsadaisy; Paddle Round the Pier and the Macmillan Horizon Centre, for whom he has raised thousands of pounds.

Jon has mentored many people both at HOP and within the industry and has given many lectures to people of all ages with regards to careers in Civil and Structural Engineering.  He also helped set up the ‘Want to Work in Construction’ Initiative with Albion in the Community and the ‘Practical Skills in Construction’ Initiative, which both successfully helped young people get into the Construction Industry.

Jon was also active on Institution of Civil Engineer (ICE) Committees, ICE South Maritime Group from 1997 to 2002, when he set up the first Working in the Wet Conference, which still takes place annually; and was Chair of ICE South between 2008 and 2009.

Jon also initiated and chaired the Industrial Advisory Board at the University of Brighton (2013-2020), in which industry could comment on and contribute to the development of the overall course portfolio and that of new courses for the School of the Built Environment.

We would like to thank Jon for his vision, drive and enthusiasm in establishing the Partnership.  We hope that Jon can remain proud of the tremendous Engineering legacy that he started, which continues to prosper and evolve, in meeting the new and ever-changing challenges of construction today.

Have a long and happy retirement.

 

Love from all at HOP x