Legendary BBC football commentator and national treasure John Motson – the man in the sheepskin coat – will be this year’s celebrity host at the 2017 Dinner at the Roundhouse, Derby on Thursday October 19th.
Following in the footsteps of actor Brian Blessed and explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, ‘Motty’ will welcome two outstanding keynote speakers in the historic surroundings of the 1839 Roundhouse within Derby College.
Dinner at the Roundhouse is also a big opportunity for everyone to rub shoulders with both UK government and key industry leaders about current and planned investments. It is on target to be another sell-out with up to 600 attendees, with convivial informal networking until 1.30am.
How will the latest major shift in Government investment in our railways affect manufacturers and suppliers?
Keynote speaker Phil Verster, MD of the multi-million East-West Link – the new ‘M25 railway’ linking Oxford with Cambridge, can be expected to have some forthright views. Joining him on stage will be Charles W. Moorman, the President of CEO of Amtrak, the United States national railway, who is flying over specially from Washington to talk about running 2,200 commuter trains alongside 185mph expresses, and trying to move into profit. What are his views on Brexit… and his near-neighbour President Dinald Trump?
John Motson promises to entertain us with stories about his 50 years in the national spotlight, and the people he has met during his reporting on over 1,500 games including countless World Cups and FA Cup Finals.
For a second year, our charity will again be the Royal School for the Deaf Derby, which specialises in individual care for disadvantaged children from 3-19 to help them realise their potential. We have already raised thousands of pounds for specialist technology to assist teachers in their valuable work.
Dinner at the Roundhouse is also a big opportunity for everyone to rub shoulders with both UK government and key industry leaders about current and planned investments.”
The annual Dinner the Roundhouse – now in its 7th year – is the UK’s flagship railway networking event, and its supporters include Bombardier, Hitachi, Faiveley/Wabtec, SNC-Lavalin, Resonate, Linbrooke Services, Eversholt, Porterbrook, Arriva Train Care, Arcadis, Comech, and Tecforce.
The 2017 Dinner at the Roundhouse is the climax of a busy day in Derby, because it is also the Rail Forum Midlands Annual Conference, with a host of topics being addressed by speakers from across the public and private sectors. A special RFM Showcase in the adjacent Carriage Shop Theatre will highlight the work of its 150 business members employing 25,000 people doing their best to create the next generation of skilled workforce, growing exports and accelerating and supporting innovation.
To learn more about 2017 Dinner at the Roundhouse, and see pictures from 2016, go to mainspring.co.uk. Call 01733 367600 to book your place.
