Oral history interview with Olivia Perkins, 2023
Main details
| Reference number | 2023/630 |
|---|---|
| Interviewee | Olivia Perkins |
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| Object type |
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| Topics | |
| Completeness | 40% |
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Physical description
Item content Attribute Value Object title Oral history interview with Olivia Perkins, 2023 -
Interview summary
Track 1 of 1 [01:14:03] Olivia Perkins was born in 1986 to parents Beverley and David. Attended school in Bedford, enjoyed maths, science, history. Studied civil engineering at Loughborough University. Sought sponsorship from construction company. Graduated in 2010. Offered placement with infrastructure team at Crossrail with Kier. Part of BAM, Ferrovial, Kier partnership. Opportunity through sponsorship. Talks about doubting engineering in final year of university [00:05:00]. Explains role - tendering on tunnelling project as well as Paddington and Farringdon stations. Moved to Tottenham Court Road in 2011, excavation of ticket hall box. Explains status of Crossrail project. Mentions tunnel boring machines (TBM). Reflects on placement. Talks about role at Tottenham Court Road. Planning for works. Talks about expectations and scale of project [00:10:00]. Explains propping works for build of station box. Challenges of process. Wrote technical papers. Talks about challenge of needing to connect to where TBM was working in the tunnels. Explains being transferred to tunnelling works. Describes tunnelling and spray concrete lining (SCL). Mentions nervousness following Heathrow tunnel collapse [00:15:00]. Talks about mining team. Describes testing concrete, checking hardness. Explains shift patterns, 12-hour shifts. Worked as shift engineer for a year then moved to office role. Describes layers of concrete and thicknesses. Primary lining. Explains risk of over-digging. Talks about coming across unchartered well [00:20:00]. Talks about regulating layer that features steel fibres. Secondary lining and then fireproof layer. Explains primary lining works further. Worked on one kilometre of tunnels. Talks about scope of contract and communication between teams. Explains pilot tunnel works. Talks about survey manager. Google Earth surveying system to track TBM [00:25:00]. Describes TBM works, coming off course slightly. Explains SCL having less accuracy and issues created. Talks about learning about tolerances. Describes milling of tunnels to remove excess concrete. Mentions 3D scanning. Talks about tunnel excavation. Crane installed to remove material. Crane hooks nicknamed Olivia and Fiona. Talks about tipper trucks from site [00:30:00]. Explains TBM conveyor system to help with excavation. Material taken out to Paddington. Two TBM, eastbound and westbound. Describes other people on site. Three shifts of engineers. Mining team with pit boss. Office team doing planning, risk assessments. Quality team collecting documentation [00:35:00]. Another team at Bond Street, competitiveness but also helping each other. Talks about connecting into London Underground. Describes first break-through into Underground tunnel. Lack of fanfare at milestones. Talks about technical papers competition at Crossrail. Recording works. Describes shifts. Didn't leave tunnel-face during shift [00:40:00]. Progressed 3-4 metres per 24 hours. Headings and inverts. Describes phases of work including correcting works where needed. Cycle of excavation, spraying, swapping machines. Reflects on being nervous and uncomfortable in first 3 months. Being left in charge over a weekend when colleague off work, boosted confidence. Explains welfare hut at base of tunnel. Talks about relieving shift engineers once moved to the office [00:45:00]. Describes physical atmosphere in tunnels. Hot from concrete lining curing process. Tunnelling machines also give off heat. Describes dust. Explains kit including air filter pack. Lack of daylight. Reflects on positive atmosphere in teams. Talks about multi-national teams, collective of cultures. Reflects on gender and dynamic with male colleagues [00:50:00]. Women working a little harder to prove themselves, but trust built. Talks about mentoring from colleague Bethan. Culture of educating. Feeling part of a bigger thing [00:55:00]. Reflects on seeing Tottenham Court Road with passengers for first time, felt emotional. Worked at Crossrail for 4 years. On shift in tunnels for few months then in office. Opportunity to step up. Responsible for overseeing remainder of primary lining works and planning secondary lining. Felt sad to leave. Describes team as family. Left end of 2014 to start design placement with Kier. Talks about campaign to attract more women. Photo exhibition [01:00:00]. Then did day-in-the-life film, YouTube. Talks about feeling uncomfortable with face being used in campaigns but proud to help. Explains winning James Rennie medal. Explains career progression. Worked on HS2 tenders including working in France. Secondment in business strategy team [01:05:00]. Design management role and cost development manager role at HS2. Travelled for 3 months then worked on a project in Luton. Joined Morgan Sindall and now works as Managing Director of Rail business. Reflects on level of responsibility at Crossrail, being pushed out of comfort zone. Talks about importance of team. Skill of getting people to work together. Reflects on how difficult the long hours were. Weekend working. Challenge of working with difficult people on occasion. Talks about fatality on Crossrail [Rene Tkacik] [01:10:00]. Considers proudest achievements including value engineering, propping. Reflects on being lucky with people on team. Talks about being stressed and colleague addressing this. Talks about using Elizabeth line. Ends with mentioning upcoming tunnel project and being a 'tunnel tourist' with contacts at Northern Line and Bank station. [End of recording 01:14:03] Please note: this is a summary of the full original recording rather than the edited web version -
People involved
Role Person(s) involved Interviewer Jen Kavanagh,Interviewee Olivia Perkins -
Associated companies, people and places
Places Place Tottenham Court Road,Interview location 210 Euston Road