ISSUE THIRTY-FOUR Spring 2021

In this issue… 12 14 26 ASSOCIATION NEWS & REVIEWS OBITUARIES 3 Presidents Report 30 Philip A. D. ALLSOPP (Civil Eng 1949-54) 4 Diary; CGCA AGM; Decade Reunion Lunch; 31 John Paul AUTON (Elec Eng 1958-62) John & Frances Jones Prize; OC Trust Chair Peter John Bell CLARRICOATS (Elec Eng 1950-3) 5 RSMU careers evening Reginald Noel SHIELD (Aeronautics 1954-7) 6-7 RSMA 100 Club; Bursaries 32 Paul Vernon REVELEY (Elec Eng 1928-31) Peter Anthony SLANN (Aero Eng 1951-4) FACULTY NEWS 33 S. C. C. BARNETT (Metallurgy 1972-6) 8 Prof. Toumazou elected to the NAE; Christopher Jeffrey ALLEN (Elec Eng 1973-6) Prof. Stevens wins Women in Science Award; Charles Stuart BRINDLEY (Civil Eng 1953-9, 77-8) Dr. Sharif Khodaei elected WES Fellow; Kenneth William SHAW (Civil Eng 1955-6) IChemE Awards; 34 Peter Gordon HINES (Civil Eng 1965-8) Prof. Sherwin awarded ECCOMAS medal Ralph BENJAMIN (Elec Eng 1941-4) 35 Ernest A. HARVEY (Chem Eng 1952-5, 55-8) FEATURES John MOORE (Mech Eng 1962-5) 9-11 Interview with Chris Lumb Peter BETTESS (Civil Eng 1964-7, 67-9) 12-13 STEMulator, Richard Gundersen 14-17 40 years of iteration innovation, Raakhi Chotai 18-23 Mountaineering in the Monte Rosa Massif, Laura Braun, Benedict Krueger, Nicolas Felka, Jack Morford Cover Image 24-25 In pursuit of a rock solid career, Peter Williamson 26 Illustrating climate change, Nigel Fitzpatrick Benedict Krueger summitting the 4554m Signalkuppe / ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS Punta Gnifetti. 27 Letters: My journeys through Life, Tony Brewis; Image © Nicolas Felka. ‘Top Submerged Lancing’, John Floyd (See pages 18-23) 28-29 52nd Triode meeting, Martyn Hart CORRESPONDENCE and ENQUIRIES Imperial ENGINEER Eilidh Campbell EDITORIAL BOARD Alumni Relations Ofce Peter Buck (Editor) Level 1 Faculty Building, Imperial College , David Bishop, Eilidh Campbell, South Kensington Campus, Tim Cotton, Paul Holmes, London SW7 2AZ Bill McAuley (Emeritus Editor) Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 9238 Email: [email protected] for RSMA queries PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Email: [email protected] for CGCA queries Alison Buck Website: www.imperial.ac.uk/engineering/alumni/ CGCA website: www.cgca.org.uk PRINTING RSMA website: www.rsm-association.org Bishops Printers, Portsmouth URLs at the end of items indicate more details online. Where appropriate we use bit.ly short-links for readability and useability. ISSN 2398-1237 (Print) Faculty news items may be derived from Imperial News where full ISSN 2398-1245 (Online) attribution details can be found. STORY IDEAS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE BY AUGUST 23 2021 FINAL COPY DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 20 2021 Te opinions expressed in Imperial ENGINEER are those of the contributor and not necessarily those of , City and Guilds College Association, the Association, or the Editorial Board. Te Editorial Board of Imperial ENGINEER reserves the right to edit copy for style and length.

2 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 Since my last report in Autumn 2020, we have continued to be in some form of lockdown in the UK. Despite these difcult times, you will be pleased to know CGCA has learnt to work virtually and thrived. As we see some green shoots at the end of this pandemic in some parts of the world, it is important to refect on our history, what we have achieved as Imperial Engineers during the pandemic and the contribution we can make in the future. Engineering at Imperial is now 145 years strong – over those years, our engineers have faced many crises and have helped to shape the world. Over the last year, Imperial Engineers have been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to tackle the current pandemic and the Faculty is playing a leading role in shaping the post- Covid world. We organised excellent member events in March and December to celebrate our Engineering Faculty’s achievements. Our thanks go to Professor Dick Kitney, Dr Ana Mijic, Richard Gundersen, Dr Joseph van Batenburg- Sherwood and Jumpei Kashiwakura for their contribution at these events. CGCA continues to play an important role helping students’ and members’ well-being during the current pandemic. Despite the constraints of lockdowns, we have organised careers and social events for our students, launched the frst alumni-alumni mentoring scheme, produced an excellent IE magazine and helped students in need through the Old Centralians Trust. Te accuracy of membership data continues to be a focus area for the Committee Atula so that we can target events to our CGCA community. Our popular Annual Dinner, scheduled for February 2021, has been postponed to February 2022. I hope there will be a good turnout among alumni and students. We could not have done these events without the support of the committee and the wider membership. I would Abeysekera like to express my appreciation to the leadership provided by Nigel Creswell as Honorary Secretary, ably supported by Honorary Assistant Secretary, Milia Hasbani. We thank Peter Chase, our Honorary Treasurer, who will be stepping down at the next AGM and will take over as Chair of the Old Centralians Trust. Peter replaces Chris Lumb who is stepping down as Chair after nearly 21 years. We are delighted that Peter and Chris will continue to be members of the CGCA Committee. We also welcome our new Honorary Treasurer, Andrew Hill. Once again, under difcult circumstances, Peter and Alison Buck have done outstanding work in producing Imperial ENGINEER – an important link to our members. Once again, a special thanks to the younger members of the committee who have been critical in adapting our virtual events schedule and planning for 2021/2022. I look forward to remotely seeing most of you at a CGCA event in the near future. PRESIDENTS REPORT

“Spring brings with it a sign of renewal that makes itself known in a thousand ways.” (Anon.) 2021 could be the year of renewal for all of us and whilst it has been a particularly hard year for students who have not been able to enjoy normal college life with all of the usual lectures, feld trips, social and sporting events and interactions, we have defnitely turned a corner in coping with the pandemic. So, thinking positively, here are a number of upcoming events for your calendars: Te Weekend that was tentatively arranged in London for the weekend of June 11-13th HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Unfortunately, the RSM and CSM have been unable to steer a path through the maze of Government and College Public Health rules to safely organise the weekend. With term ending on 25th June, there will not be enough time to ft in the event after 21th June when it is hoped all Government restrictions will end. Planning is under way for the 2021 Annual General Meeting and POTENTIALLY the Summer BBQ for Final Year Students! Given current Government guidelines, these will both be occurring on Tursday June 24th, the day before the last day of term, at the Union Bar in Beit Quad. In addition, a date has been booked at the Rembrandt Hotel, South Kensington for the 136th Annual Dinner, for Friday November 26th 2021. Tim Following the recent successes of the annual RSMU/RSMA careers event, in early March 2021, the committee once again supported the students with an engaging virtual careers evening. Teigan Collins, the RSMU HonSec, Cotton organised a great event and has provided a brief report for you all to read (see page 5). Te committee continues to maintain a very active relationship with the RSMU and key societies within the RSM such as Geology, MatSoc and GeoPhysicsSoc. All of them are Represented on the RSMA Committee meetings and the RSMA provides fnancial support where needed. Tese Clubs and Societies are the life blood of the RSM and it is very pleasing to report that these organisations managed to maintain a very active schedule of virtual events throughout the year. As mentioned earlier, all organisations enjoy, and want more, interaction with the wider alumni group. Te RSMA continues to work through our membership database to clean up our records regarding membership status, contact details and subscriptions paid. Big shout out to the Imperial College Alumni Ofce for their on going support in this efort. You may receive a letter or email from myself asking you to update your annual membership to £15. Please consider doing so as with this small amount we can make a big diference to a student at the RSM. In the 2020 Autumn term, the RSMA Trust awarded fve £1000 bursaries to fnal year students. Tis is now the third year running that the Bursaries have been awarded and 11 students have so far beneftted from the tremendous generosity of RSMA members. Tis year, the selection Committee had 16 worthy applicants from across the RSM. Tis is a signifcant example of how you are directly supporting students at the RSM. Remember ALL the funds for this Bursary have been raised by YOU through your kind generosity at events and specifcally by those members who have supported the 100 Club. Tis is an amazing achievement and is a concrete example of former students of the RSM who want to give back to the current student body. Lastly, the 100 Club is slowly growing and I would encourage you, if you are able, to sign up and support the RSMA via the 100 Club or by a one-of donation. Te Committee has recently set up diferent ways to allow members to support the 100 Club, for example ofering a monthly direct debit to spread the cost. See pages 6 and 7 for a piece from the fve new RSMA Final Year Bursars and how you can sign up and keep helping the RSM students. I hope you fnd this issue informative and I look forward to seeing some of you in the RSM and / or at an RSMA event in the near future. Lastly, many thanks for your support, it is truly appreciated. Te RSMA is always looking to attract more Committee members so if you can spare a few hours every couple of months please do get in touch. Remember you can all still use the email address [email protected] to contact the RSMA at any time. Please send us your news and we will look to share it with the wider RSM Community.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 3 NEWS & REVIEWS DIARY CGCA Annual General Meeting 2021 OC Trust Chair The CGCA Annual General Meeting, [email protected]) Prof Bob Schroter, a founder member As a result of the ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pan- AGM, will be held on Monday, 14th identifying yourself and the post you of the OC Trust Board, who has demic, events in most locations June, starting at 17:30 (UK Time, wish to stand for. served on the Board in an unbroken have been cancelled or converted to virtual events. UTC+1) and will again be using the We are particularly interested run over the intervening 56 years, Local restrictions are varied, ZOOM platform. Your President, in fnding a Membership Secretary heard that we were interviewing therefore before considering Professor Atula Abeysekera will who will lead a membership drive, Chris Lumb as he retires from attending any event, please contact the organisers to check review the last year, one dominated primarily aimed at students and Chairing the OC Trust Board (see whether the event is still taking by the COVID pandemic, and younger members. If this interests page 9), and shared with us a copy of place. highlight how the Association has you, please email the Hon Sec. an email (extract below) that he had continued to hold events, send out The 2020 Accounts will be just sent to Chris. RSMA Toronto, Canada communications and move forward presented for approval as well. Informal RSM meeting Last Friday of every month, noon. with new initiatives such as Alumni- As the session is expected to be Dear Chris, Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street Alumni Mentoring programme. virtual (ZOOM details will follow East, Toronto […] Contact: [email protected] The AGM will include the in newsletters and be posted on Quite simply, and completely election of all Committee posts social media and website) the usual unchallengeably, you, as its RSMA Perth, Australia except President for the 2021/22 President’s Evening supper will not Chairman, have nurtured the Monthly Sundowner First Friday of every month. academic year. If you wish to be held this year. Trust for around 40% of its The Celtic Club, 48 Ord St, West stand for any post please email the Please mark your diaries and look existence. Your predecessors had Perth, WA, 6005 Hon Sec, Nigel Cresswell (email out for further details. all sorts of issues to successfully Contact: Alan Dickson – [email protected] steer the Trust through, but none John Sykes – [email protected] had to face the enormous task you CGCA Decade Reunion Luncheon have lived with and successfully Imperial Alumni, Houston, US The Decade Reunion luncheon in years ending 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, or 9. Alumni social grappled throughout almost all of Third Thursday of every month, 6pm for 2021 will be going ahead at Hopefully restrictions will have been your chairmanship. Capital Grille, 840 West Sam Houston The Polish Club on Saturday 13th lifted by then. The booking form is In your inimitable way, you have Pkwy N, Houston, TX 77024 November for those who graduated included with this issue of IE. quietly led the interpretation of Contact: Matt Bell – [email protected] the Trust’s objects out of the 1960’s and into the 21st Century. It has Imperial Engineering Alumni, John & Frances Jones Prize Johannesburg, South Africa been on your Watch that all sorts Each year Departments are invited Interfaces’ and became a top 10% of societal and structural changes Quarterly Johannesburg Lunch to nominate a postgraduate student most accessed paper in the journal (19th May, 18th Aug, 17th Nov, 16th Feb) have gone on around us and you Baron & Quail, Woodmead, for the John & Frances Jones Prize. the following year. She has been have ensured the Trust adapts Johannesburg, South Africa In response to the call, for academic described as an exceptional GTA, Contact: Richard Gundersen – in due form. You have shown a [email protected] year 2019-20, nominations were receiving the ‘Best GTA’ Award patient, yet utterly committed, received from three Departments. at the Student Academic Choice resolve to get things right and CGCA Adjudication of these nominations awards 2 years in a row, along with suitably documented. At the AGM Monday, 14th June, from 17:30 was carried out by Professors the Faculty of Engineering ‘GTA-of- same time, you have succeeded (Virtual event via Zoom) Richard Jardine and Martyn Boutelle, the-Year’ award. Julia’s outstanding in keeping the various factions RSMA as College Consuls for the Faculty service as a Sub-Warden for Beit enthusiastically united behind our AGM + Final Year Students’ BBQ of Engineering. They found that all Hall since 2018 has been highly ideals and the Trust is consciously Thursday, 24th June three of those nominated were recognised, and during the closing aware of its strategy and ways to Union Bar, Beit Quad clearly very appropriately and well months of the 2020 academic ensure its future value to students CGCA qualifed in terms of their overall year, resulted in a highly unusual of the College. Future generations Traditional Reunion Luncheon contributions, both academically request – for her to serve as the of students will be able to look Saturday, 13th November, 12:30 for 13:00 back on what you have managed The Polish Club, 55 Prince’s Gate, and in extra-curricular affairs. This Assistant Warden for Beit Hall, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington made the selection process a matter a role generally not held by PhD with enormous gratitude. (See booking form with this issue) of fne judgement, but ultimately a students. She has been a long-time I so realise that the time and committed energy you have RSMA decision was made as to the most volunteer with St John’s Ambulance, poured into the Trust must have 136th Annual Dinner worthy. and in April 2020, Julia assisted with Friday, 26th November come at a huge cost to you and Rembrandt Hotel, South Kensington The nominee selected to receive front-line medical support at St your family. Gill must have been Details TBD the prize for 2019-20 was Ms Julia Mary’s Hospital, spending many long an incredible support to you Sun of Bioengineering. Julia is in days in the COVID and vascular throughout and had to cope with the fnal year of her PhD, during wards to aid NHS staff. She has many losses within your family which she identifed and corrected also regularly volunteered at Bishop time. Gill’s giving to our mission a 40-year-old misconception in the Creighton House to help isolated is greatly appreciated and I hope feld of silicon etching. Her paper on and vulnerable individuals. she will forgive us a little bit in An up-to-date calendar of events this, as sole experimental author, was The John and Frances Jones Prize view of what you have achieved. of interest to CGCA and RSMA published in ‘Advanced Materials celebrates the life – and generous Te demands of the Trust have members is always available on the bequest – of John Jones, who was the also placed competitive pressure CGCA and RSMA websites. Imperial frst Registrar of Imperial College on your parental and grand College maintains a calendar of from its formation in 1907 until his parental desires, for which we college events at bit.ly/IE-WhatsOn retirement in 1927. Since 2013-14 must also apologise - but I hope and the Friends of Imperial College your family will be able to enjoy regularly organise events of interest the prize has been administered to alumni (see bit.ly/IE-FOI) by the Old Centralians’ Trust on the satisfaction of being a part of behalf of the City & Guilds College you and thus all you have achieved Association. Ms Sun will receive the selfessly for others over so many Please note that while many of these years and also into the future. events are open to all and often free, award in the form of a cheque for they usually require registration in Chris, all I can say at this point £200, although sadly it will not be is “Tank you” from Students and advance. Please follow the links in possible for this to be presented the entry to get more information Trust Board Members past and at the 2021 CGCA Annual Dinner, including if and how to register present. and whether there is any cost. as the pandemic has necessitated With very best wishes from cancellation of that event. However, everyone for your future happiness For more information follow the hope remains that she may be

Photo: Imperial College Photo: and health, links, or see page 2 for contact Julia Sun, PhD student in able to attend the Dinner in 2022 details Bob Bioengineering for her success to be recognised.

4 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 NEWS & REVIEWS RSMU Careers Evening – Monday 1st March 2021

On Monday the 1st March, the The varied and extremely insightful only in personal development, but away greater appreciation for other RSMU hosted its annual Careers line-up attracted a wide range of to uphold the RSMU as we all know ways in which their degree from the Evening, held online this year participants, both undergraduate and love. RSM can provide in later life and through Microsoft Teams. As per the from 1st year to fnal year MSci, On behalf of the RSMU, I would it is an event we strongly wish to successes of previous years’ events, research postgraduates and alumni like to extend a huge thank you to continue its successes in the future. the evening aimed to bring together from Earth Science and Engineering those who volunteered their time We are grateful for the RSMA for both current students and alumni to and Materials departments alike. to speak to provide some words its support as we cannot run these hear from those who have been in Throughout the evening, thought- of wisdom, and would encourage events without contributions from their shoes, provide an insight into a provoking conversation starters any other members of the RSMA its members and who better than wide range of industries and further were contributed from a wide range to get involved in our future events. those who have gone before us! study whilst expanding connections of perspectives in the chat function Overall, the event was very well Teigan Collins and networking all around. The and allowed for a great discussion received, students perhaps took RSMU Honorary Secretary evening was one of the best attended between all involved during the RSMU virtual events this academic networking breaks, perhaps a silver year, with nearly 30 attendees at any lining to the virtual realm. given time, however we expect the A particularly strong point from fnal number of individuals to have this year’s event was perhaps the been higher as people tuned in for more recently graduated cohorts’ specifc talks of interest. ability to reassure students with A total of 6 speakers spoke about regards to entering the world of their experience in the RSM and work in this so-called ‘new normal’, how this has only assisted them some pearls of wisdom an event in their various career pathways such as this is able to provide. The across a wide range of professions, majority of our guests were also including those recently graduated heavily involved in volunteer roles to those not so recent. We were during the duration of their degrees kindly joined by: and hence were also able to provide some inspiration to our newer • Arka Dyuti Sarkar on ‘An members of the RSM, highlighting international student’s perspective the importance of these roles not to both further study and work in the UK’

• Jim Platt on ‘A fateful career in Mining Geology’

• Marta Wolinska on ‘Changing industries, understanding the consulting market and getting into the Big Four’

• Madeleine Hann on ‘Looking beyond the PhD to a career in the Public Sector: Applying to the British Military and the Civil Service’

• Sam Casement on ‘Graduating in the COVID Era and a career in Earth Observation’

• Dan Keogh on ‘Life as a Management Consultant and working abroad’

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 5 NEWS & REVIEWS RSMA Trust 100 Club Final Year Bursary : Round 3!

The Club continues to be a success we will still look to assisting with albeit at a reduced rate. We see Electronic banking is the preferred and thanks to the generosity of the sponsorship for college-approved the Club, in the frst instance, as a option for all payments and if you 100 Club members, over £28000 feld trips and activities, though seven to ten year project during are a UK taxpayer you can Gift Aid has been raised to date, which with Covid these are currently on which Club funds would be built up your payment. In which case you has allowed 5 bursaries each of hold. Note, the 100 Club does not whilst allowing disbursements of, say must complete the form fully and £1000 to be awarded in 2020. Just sponsor RSMU sporting or social £5000pa. return to the RSMA. as importantly, the 100 Club fund activities – those sponsorships are Attached on the back of the also allows the RSMA Trust more solely in the domain of the RSMA. address label is a form to complete Below are 5 articles on each of scope to award students who may We have received feedback from if you are either joining the RSMA the 2020 winners and these are a be disadvantaged, either fnancially the more recent graduates that an 100 Club, updating your details wonderful testimony to the Club’s or in other ways and this is done annual contribution of £200 to the or revising your contribution and objectives and we ask that you please in conjunction with the respective Club is onerous and that, for them includes an option of £100pa or a consider supporting your college, departmental undergraduate dir- to participate, £100 may be more monthly contribution of £8.50. Those the Royal School of Mines. ectors. With the onset of Covid, the appropriate for their circumstances. who contributed (at £200pa) from This is a great opportunity to give hardship category has taken a new Many have also suggested a monthly, the outset and are thus responsible back to the Royal School of Mines, dimension and more students, due rather than annual Direct Debit, set for the initial success of the Club of which we all have many fond to family circumstances or other, are at £8.50 per month. To date there will be recognised as the “founding memories, and to positively support feeling the strain. With the build-up has been a hard core of contributors members”, but, understandably, may today’s generation of students. Let of the fund, we are now in a position to the Club (the founding members) wish to reduce their donation with us not leave the support to the to look at increasing the scope of to whom the RSMA is extremely this revised option. A provision has hard core few. So if you can commit, hardship awards to better support grateful but the committee feels it also been included for a lump sum in any way, it would be very much this category. In conjunction with is more appropriate to encourage contribution which may be more appreciated by the students, staff the RSMA Trust and college staff, greater participation from members, suitable for overseas members. and the RSMA.

Abigail Wong was completely in shock and could especially since majority of the year my savings for the future. Hopefully not believe I had just won £1000. I has been moved online. The growing in the near future, with reduced When I frst heard I received the remember receiving an email from demand for improved technology has restrictions, I’ll be able to put the RSMA Final Year Bursary Award, I Tim (RSMA President) with an resulted in my decision to purchase money towards travel expenses attached letter titled “RSMA Bursary a new laptop and that would not for university activities well as RSM Prize” and was over the moon when have been possible without the events. Also, as this is a fnal year I read that I was a winner of the help and contributions from the award it has defnitely reminded prize. Overwhelming feelings of RSMA bursary funds. Alongside me that I really am in my last year happiness, joy and excitement flled this, as society president of Imperial here at the RSM and my time here me but most importantly the feeling Dance Company, I organised a is coming to an end which makes of gratitude and appreciation for fundraiser where we ran 1000 miles me quite sad. I am so grateful for the RSMA. I am incredibly grateful in one month as a society to raise all the people, both students and for the RSMA and their generosity. money and awareness for youth lecturers that I have met during my Receiving this award has meant a homelessness and Centrepoint time here at the RSM as well as all lot for me in my fnal year of study. Charity. I donated part of the money the opportunities I’ve had and will Part of the money I have received I received to this fundraiser as it is always cherish the memories I have has gone towards saving up for a something I strongly believe in and made. I am so proud to be part of new laptop. The current Covid-19 I’m so thankful that the RSMA has the RSM community and I hope to pandemic has defnitely seen a given me this opportunity. Lastly, I one day be able to give back to them more constant need for technology, have put the rest of the funds into everything they’ve given me.

Annie Mao the RSMU and helped our clubs to been focusing on establishing a during national lockdowns. As an overcome fnancial diffculties. The more structured committee and international student, I was not able Being a member of the RSM has highlight of my year as VPCS had to collaborating with other badminton to travel home due to the travel been an amazing experience of be organising the 118th Bottle Match. clubs at Imperial. At the same time, ban. The bursary lifted the fnancial my university life. I am now in my It was a challenging but incredibly during the global pandemic, we pressure from living in London. I also fnal year of university studying rewarding experience. With the also managed to look after our used it to set up a home offce. It Geophysics. support from both departments and members’ physical and mental health helped me to work more effciently In my third year, I was the Vice the RSMU executive committee, I through holding regular training and maintain a healthy work style, President Clubs and Societies engaged a great number of players sessions (when allowed) and online especially while I was doing research (VPCS) of the RSMU. I represented and spectators from emerging social events. for my MSci project. sports and set a new sports record. Academically, I have always been For me, the RSMA bursary is In terms of sports, I have been interested in implementing Maths not only an award, but also the playing for the RSM Badminton and and Physics theories in the world best recognition I can get from the Lacrosse teams since my frst year. I of geoscience. My MSci project RSM community. My university life was the Secretary of the badminton aimed to use mathematical models was made special because of the club in my second year, where I to evaluate the carbon storage incredible people in this community. hugely improved the engagement development trajectories in the UK I have been inspired by the passion of the club via regular social media and the EU. I have learnt a great deal my peers have towards geoscience updates and hosting multiple social of analytical skills via extracting and and the work they have done to events throughout the year. As a processing large data sets. I also make RSM supportive and inclusive. result, we doubled the number of found my interest in the carbon Their spirit encouraged me to get members and made the club the storage industry where I hope my involved and stand for what I believe. largest society in the RSMU. geophysical skills will be applicable. I am incredibly grateful to the RSMA This year, I am continuing my work I felt extremely honoured to for the generosity. I will always in the RSM Badminton committee receive the RSMA bursary. The endeavour to endure this spirit and as the President of the club. I’ve bursary aided me enormously act as an ambassador for the RSM.

6 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 NEWS & REVIEWS Chris Carter community and taking on new challenges (I certainly couldn’t the US is not cheap, so this award academic challenges. Despite my have anticipated ending the year from the RSMA was the frst step The Royal School of Mines has nerves, I threw myself into the in lockdown) I am so proud of the in arranging the funds necessary to been an integral part of my time events and revelled in the collegiate work that I, and the committee I support my move to the US. Once at Imperial. All alumni will know atmosphere and within days, I’d worked with, managed to get done. I’ve accepted a place, this bursary that moving to London and starting decided the RSMU was the right Applying for the RSMA Final Year will help me pay for my fight out and university can be incredibly daunting; community for me. Thanks to the Bursary was an opportunity for me all necessary documentation. arriving in a new city, joining a new RSMU, all doubts about whether to refect on my accomplishments My time at Imperial and with Imperial and London were places I and my time as a volunteer with the RSMU have been the best four belonged were eliminated. the RSMU. Upon hearing I’d been years of my life so far; I’ve made When the time came, in March of awarded the bursary, I felt validated some great friends and had some my second year, to consider running in the work that I had done; it was fantastic experiences, and I’ve grown for a senior volunteer position, I fantastic to know that the RSMA and developed both personally and threw my hat in the ring to serve were proud of my contribution to professionally in ways I didn’t think as President of the RSMU. I hoped the RSMU community, just as I am. were possible at age 18. And now, as President to be able to provide I must admit that when I actually with the support of the RSMA and the same community and quality received the funds, they went the Imperial community, I’m so of experience as I had had in my straight into a savings account! By excited to take the next step in my frst year; I wanted to make sure the time the announcement was career. I’ll be sure to keep in touch that every incoming student felt made, I had begun to consider with the Royal School of Mines as comfortable and included in the applying to graduate programs in and Imperial communities from RSMU as I had and, indeed, still do. science and technology policy in the wherever I end up next year: after While my year as President . As I’m sure many of all, even after you graduate you’re was tough with some unexpected you will know, a Master’s degree in always a Royal Miner! Thank you.

Emilia Dobb spirit and acted as an ambassador to just take notes on my iPad. I suffer mental health. the RSM throughout my degree. The from joint pain, which is exacerbated I have purchased the Rosetta When I heard I’d received the RSM is a wonderful community that when writing for long periods of Stone lifetime subscription too, in award, I was incredibly happy and I am proud to be a part of, and I’m time. Writing with my Apple Pencil order to learn more languages – overwhelmingly touched by it. It very thankful and grateful to have has much less strain on my wrists something I very much enjoy doing. meant so much to me that the received the award. and joints in my hands, meaning I can It’s a nice addition to supplement RSMA felt I have shown true RSM The award has had a hugely work for longer periods of time and my fnal year learning, and I will be positive impact on my fnal year. It be in less pain. It has also allowed me able to continue with it beyond has meant I don’t have to worry to explore my creativity in my spare graduation, with the lifetime about fnances for equipment and time, using the app Procreate, where subscription. I have bought some so on, and can instead just enjoy my I enjoy calligraphy and drawing. textbooks for my course, and also fnal year to the full. The best item I have also purchased a new for my interest, in various areas of I have bought with the funds would mouse for my laptop, and some Geology. I am also planning to attend be my iPad and Apple Pencil. It has warm outdoor clothing for walking some conferences later in the year, helped so much with my lectures during the winter months. It has using the funds. during remote working, as well meant I can go for a walk, even when Receiving the award has meant as reading papers during my MSci it is bitterly cold outside, because the I have been able to enrich my fnal project. It has meant I don’t have to clothing is really insulating. I enjoy year with more opportunities print off lecture notes, which saves going for a walk between studies, without the burden of fnances, and I lots of money in ink and helps the particularly during lockdown, to get am very thankful for that. environment too. It is really handy to a change of scenery and help my

Megan Facey of helping to organise the student a period of complex ill-health, making the most of my remaining component of the RSMA dinner, and something which has affected my time at Imperial. Before coming to My relationship with the RSMA hosted a highly successful careers experience throughout my degree. university I had debated whether developed most during my third event, heavily supported by a huge Despite the diffculties posed by living in London was fnancially year of study, when I was elected number of alumni. Working with the last year, I am proud of my own feasible, however I knew I wanted Honorary Secretary, acting as the RSMA has been a privilege, and I’ve resilience and will be forever grateful to study at the best institution link between the alumni and current been lucky enough to meet many for the support of the Royal School available, and I was confdent that students. I had the great pleasure interesting people during my time of Mines, and the RSMA. moving to London would offer me as Secretary. Hearing their stories Upon receiving the award, I the opportunities for work that I and learning about all the different was able to relax and stop feeling was looking for. It is thanks to the career paths I could take, following stressed about funding the end of funds from the RSMA that I will be my time at Imperial, has been both my fnal year. My time at university fnancially stable, particularly in the inspiring and reassuring. has not been without fnancial time between fnishing my degree I applied for the RSMA Final Year concerns; I am supported by the and beginning my job in Investment Bursary following a very diffcult Imperial Bursary and also work as in September. I plan to use the funds time in both my personal and a tutor to supplement my income as my personal deposit on a fat in academic life. During my third year and afford the rent and living costs London with my partner, as we hope I balanced my Honorary Secretary of London. Receiving the RSMA to move in together this summer. responsibilities with writing my Final Year Bursary has had a hugely I’d like to thank the RSMA for hugely important BSc dissertation. positive impact on my academic life; their constant support of current My diffcult frst term was followed it has allowed me to focus my energy students, and for awarding me this by the sad passing of my Dad after on completing my MSci thesis and generous bursary.

The form to join the 100 Club, or to update your membership details or contribution is on the back of your address label for this issue of Imperial ENGINEER

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 7 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY Prof. Chris Toumazou elected to the NAE The Institution of Chemical Engineers Awards Professor Chris Toumazou, of of engineering, or developing/ The IChemE medals and prizes, Imperial, and in the Chemistry the Department of Electrical and implementing innovative approaches awarded annually to recognise Department at the University of Electronic Engineering, who has to engineering education.” excellence in chemical engineering Cambridge. He leads a group on frequently appeared in these pages, Professor Toumazou was research and academia, this year novel synthesis approaches for has been elected to membership of recognised ‘for innovations in includes fve recipients from (photo)electrochemical and (photo) the National of Engineering electronics for medicine, including the Department of Chemical catalytic materials. in the USA. Membership honours rapid diagnostics’, in particular for Engineering and the Centre for Dr David Danaci, Dr Mai Bui those who have made outstanding his lab-in-a-cartridge COVID-19 Environmental Policy. and Professor Niall Mac Dowell contributions to “engineering PCR test CovidNudge. He will be Professor Geoffrey Maitland have been awarded the Junior research, practice, or education, formally inducted in October. CBE has been awarded the Moulton Medal which recognises the including, where appropriate, In 2019, Imperial bioengineer Ambassador Prize for his sustained most meritorious paper published signifcant contributions to the Professor Molly Stevens (see also impact on chemical engineering. The by IChemE during the last year by engineering literature” and to “the below) was inducted into the NAE prize is awarded to a volunteer who an author, or co-author, who has pioneering of new and developing alongside Imperial alumnus Sir Sam has made exceptional contributions, graduated within the last ten years. felds of technology, making major Jonah (MSc Resources Engineering within an IChemE Special Interest The team were awarded the advancements in traditional felds 1979). Group, Members Group or as an medal for their contribution to the ambassador for the Institution and/ paper published in Molecular Systems Prof. Molly Stevens wins Women in Science Award or profession more widely. Design and Engineering, ‘Exploring

Professor Molly Stevens, of the Professor Maitland has been a the limits of absorption-based CO2 Departments of Materials and prominent fgure in the Department capture using MOFs with PVSA – Bioengineering, receives the award since he joined as a lecturer in from molecular design to process for her innovative bioengineering 1974. He then went on to work in economics.’ approach that addresses key industry in 1985 before returning to Dr Danaci is a Research problems in regenerative medicine Imperial in 2005. He was Director Associate working on a UKCCSRC and biosensing. She leads the of the Shell Grand Challenge on project looking at metal-organic multidisciplinary Stevens Group, Clean Fossil Fuels and Director of frameworks for post-combustion whose research has advanced the Qatar Carbonates and Carbon and CO2 capture. the understanding of biomaterial Storage Research Centre. He served Dr Bui is a Senior Research surfaces. Their results have led to as President of the Institution Associate at the Centre for the invention of new biosensing of Chemical Engineers, and was Environmental Policy in the Faculty approaches and enabled the recognised with a CBE in 2018. of Natural Sciences at Imperial. She development of point-of-care tests Dr Salvador Eslava has been is also a member of the Centre for tumours and viruses such as unanimously awarded the Warner for Process Systems Engineering

coronavirus, HIV and ebolavirus. Imperial College Photo: Prize which recognises an individual (CPSE) and co-leads the Clean The Federation of European Professor Stevens at the 45th FEBS in the early stages of their career Fossil and Bioenergy Research Biochemical Societies (FEBS)/ Congress in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on who has shown exceptional promise Group (CleanFaB) with Dr Niall European Molecular Biology 5 July 2021. She will give a plenary in the feld of sustainable chemical Mac Dowell. She is a Future Energy Organisation (EMBO) Women in lecture at the meeting, which might process technology, nuclear Leader at the Energy Centre of Science Award annually recognises be held virtually. technology or in making chemical the Institute of Chemical Engineers outstanding scientifc achievements Professor Stevens has received engineering more accessible to a (IChemE) and a committee member of a female life scientist who has more than 30 awards and honours, wider scientifc community. of the SCI Energy Group. worked in Europe in the last fve including the Karen Burt Memorial Dr Eslava joined the Department Professor Mac Dowell is a years. The recipients are also Award of the Women’s Engineering in 2019 after fve years as a Professor in Energy Systems inspiring role models for future Society, UK, and the Rosalind Lecturer in Chemical Engineering Engineering. He is a Chartered generations of scientists. Franklin Medal and Prize of the at University of Bath. Prior to his Engineer, and a Fellow of both the The FEBS/EMBO Women in Institute of Physics, UK. She is a role at the University of Bath, he IChemE and the Royal Society of Science Award of €10,000 and a Fellow of eight learned societies in was a Postdoctoral Researcher Chemistry. bronze statue will be presented to the UK, including the Royal Society. in the Materials Department at Dr Zahra Sharif Khodaei becomes WES Fellow Prof. Spencer Sherwin awarded ECCOMAS medal Dr Zahra Sharif Khodaei, of the development. Its aim is to support Professor Spencer Sherwin, Department of Aeronautics, has been and inspire women to achieve as the Head of Aerodynamics in elected to Fellow of the Women’s engineers, scientists and as leaders, the Department of Aeronautics, Engineering Society (WES). WES to encourage the education has received the Prandtl Medal is a charity and also a professional of engineering, and to support for his outstanding and sustained network of women engineers, companies with gender diversity contributions to computational fuid scientists and technologists, offering and inclusion. Fellow is the Society’s dynamics research. inspiration, support and professional highest grade of membership, ECCOMAS (the European awarded to those who have made an Community on Computational

outstanding contribution to the feld Methods in Applied Sciences) groups Imperial College Photo: of engineering or to the sustained together European associations who and bluff body fows and biomedical encouragement of women in STEM. have interests in developing and modelling of the cardiovascular Dr Sharif Khodaei’s research applying computational methods in system. He has worked on focuses on structural integrity and science and technology. developing industrial applications of health monitoring, with a focus on Professor Sherwin leads a these methods through partnerships composite structures. She is also the research group that specialises in with McLaren Racing, Airbus and Department’s Tutor for Women, and developing and applying parallel Rolls Royce. He completed a RAEng/ it is in this capacity that she intends high order spectral/hp element McLaren Racing Fellowship during to forge stronger links between methods (Nektar) for fow around which spectral/hp element methods the Society and the Department’s complex geometries. The research were applied to problems of interest female staff and students. has a particular emphasis on vortical in Formula One aerodynamics. Photo: Imperial College Photo:

8 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES Chris Lumb

Although there have been some well-known and high-profle people in the Executive of the CGCA and the Old Centralians’ Trust, behind the scenes there have been others working diligently to help the Association run as smoothly as possible. Someone who has been doing that continuously since 1977, is Chris Lumb (Elec Eng 1958-61). Quiet and unassuming, Chris has been, at various times, Executive Committee Secretary, Honorary Secretary, Membership Secretary, and – since 1999 – Chair of the Old Centralians Trust Board. Having been retired from a varied working career since 2004, Chris has recently celebrated his 80th birthday and will be stepping down as Trust Chair at the next CGCA AGM, so it seemed like an opportune moment to catch up with him for a (socially-distanced) chat.

You went to school in Gosport, Hampshire? that in the 1950s National Service for men Yes – my parents originated from the West was still obligatory, although this could Riding of Yorkshire. My father was a clerk be deferred until after fnishing university working in local government and he’d moved studies. But it did mean that there were to Gosport, on the west side of Portsmouth others in my year who had already fulflled Harbour, in the 1930s in order to broaden their service, and so many were three or his experience. He and my mother married four years older than me, and one or two in 1937, and I was the second of their even up to ten years older. I was still aged four children. Paradoxically, although my 17, and not particularly gregarious, but I parents had settled in the south, I was born was pleased to fnd a wide range of societies in Yorkshire, since when my mother was that I could join. I’d been a keen member pregnant for the second time in the autumn of the choir at my school, so I joined the of 1940 (I had one elder brother, and – later Imperial College choir and – within weeks – a younger brother and sister), Portsmouth – was singing ‘Gaudeamus Igitur’ with them was being heavily bombed by the Luftwafe, at the 1958 Commemoration Day in the so she moved back to stay with her family , with Queen Elizabeth the in Yorkshire, where I was born in 1941. Queen Mother in attendance as Chancellor Meanwhile, my father would spend the Chris on a Railway Trip in 2014 of London University. But my membership day working in his local government job of the choir only lasted one term, since after before spending long periods at night as an we had been set some tests at the end of the Air Raid Warden – and during the day he mine, the other as a school caretaker – frst term, I was warned that I needed to might be liaising with the nearby military were not particularly knowledgeable about do more work, and felt that choral singing establishments to fnd emergency messing engineering as a profession, but they were was something I could always pick up again for the hundreds of fremen from all corners fully supportive of my wish to go on to later – I wasn’t prepared to give up my other of Hampshire who had been brought in to higher education. activities! to deal with the many fres and casualties. I made good progress at primary school and What was City & Guilds College like in the Where did you live? was somehow fast-tracked, so that I was only 1950s? Tere was very little in the way of student ten when I passed the eleven-plus exam and So very much has changed, but some parts hall accommodation in those days – only started at Grammar School. did appear much as they do now: the Royal about 200 places for men, and under 20 School of Mines, Goldsmiths Extension, for women, in four small halls, one of …and then you went up to Imperial to IC Union building and Beit Hall, also the which was Beit Hall. With help from the study Electrical Engineering in 1958. Why Roderick Hill building. Te old Imperial accommodation ofce I managed to fnd Imperial? Institute was still in place, and there was no ‘digs’ in Chiswick, where there were three I think my Physics teacher said Imperial Sherfeld Building nor any thought of a ‘Blue other students, all from the College of would be a good place to apply to (although Box’! I remember that engineering lectures Estate Management. Although I had cycled this may possibly have been because he had – at least in my frst and second years – were everywhere at home I didn’t bring my bike a friend on the college staf?) I also applied almost all held in the original 1884 ‘Central to London at frst, but soon found using the to, and attended interviews at, Leeds and Institution’ building (designed by Alfred underground rather expensive, not least as I Birmingham Universities, but Imperial was Waterhouse, who also designed the Natural had also joined the Boat Club and needed to my frst choice. I remember being asked some History Museum), which had been absorbed get to and from Putney as well. So after the challenging questions at interview which into Imperial upon the latter’s formation Christmas vacation I brought my bike back required careful thought before replying, and in 1907. Tis was a very impressive red with me, and hardly ever used the tube for I returned home with no ‘feel’ for how well I brick edifce, with high ceilings and some the rest of my three years at IC. It seems had done, so was more than pleased to hear large lecture theatres. As for the student strange now to remember that my frst year’s later that I’d been accepted. It was being said body, I remember that there were very few subsistence grant worked out at about £6 a that there were 8 or 10 applicants for every overseas students, and almost no women week, out of which I needed £3.25 for the place, although I imagine it must be very students at all – none in my year and just landlady, so had just £2.75 left for travel, much more competitive now. My parents, one in the year above. In fact, of the entire lunches and entertainment, which sounds who were from a working class background student body of about 2,000, there were very strange today! – one of my grandfathers worked in a coal just 100 or so women. Another aspect was During my frst year I was paired for lab

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 9 FEATURES work with a student who, like me, was a Methodist; he was staying in a Methodist Church hostel close to Ealing Broadway, and at some stage he suggested that I should go and have a look. I did that, liked what I saw, and applied for a place, so my second and third years were spent amongst a group of about 50 young people – mostly students of a variety of London colleges, of whom about three or four were from Imperial. Te hostel environment made up to a large extent for not being in a college hall, but it did mean that it was much less practical to join in ‘campus’ activities in the evenings.

Why Electrical Engineering – had that always been your interest? No, in truth it hadn’t – I was not one of those people who grew up knowing from a tender age what they wanted to do in life.

And no-one in my family had ever been to Ziyuan Mao Photo: Chris with the winners of prizes and awards at the 2018 CGCA Annual Dinner university, so I had no role models family- wise. In the I studied Maths, now, whenever the opportunity arises, be it voltage distribution network serving several Physics and Applied Maths, achieving very on a river, lake or a Norwegian ford, I’ll take ICI factories in the area. Gill and I married good marks at ‘A’ level, and in the event out anything with oars and enjoy a good row. in Darlington in December 1962 before the Physics teacher had a lot to do with my making our frst home in Runcorn. choice – he said “You’re good at Maths and Your wife Gillian was at Bedford College, Physics, so you should think about electrical also part of London University at the time. You left college to work at ICI, and over the engineering”. But when I arrived in South How did you meet? years have worked at a variety of companies? Kensington it became clear that a number We met at the hostel in Ealing. Gill was Yes, I’ve had a very varied career, but although of my fellow students had beneftted from studying Botany and Zoology at Bedford; that probably means that I’m versatile, it a third year in the sixth form, leading to she was a couple of years ahead of me, and shows that I never really planned my career! ‘Scholarship Level’ qualifcations, so they had just graduated; she then studied for a Te ACGI has been very helpful. And I were fnding the mathematical side much further year at the Institute of Education managed to avoid the stress of becoming more manageable than I did, and although for her PGCE before taking up a teaching management. I was successful in the ‘fnals’ this wasn’t post in Streatham. When I graduated in at First Class level, so it was clear that my 1961 I chose – from amongst a range of job Did you join CGCA while you were still a future path was not going to be in research! ofers made by companies in areas ranging student or when you graduated? from South Wales to Tyneside – to take up Whilst I was a student. In my fnal year I While you were at college you were an active a Graduate Apprenticeship with the General attended the ‘graduating students’ reception’ member of the Boat Club? Chemicals Division of Imperial Chemical that the then-named ‘Old Centralians’ held Yes, although I was not slow to join the Industries (ICI) in Cheshire. ICI was each year, essentially to allow the students to Imperial College Choir, I also discovered using a considerable amount of electrical meet older alumni and seek or receive advice, that those without previous experience power in various electro-chemical processes although it may also to some extent have could join the Imperial College Boat Club to manufacture Chlorine, Sodium and provided an informal recruiting opportunity as a novice and learn to row. (Whilst I was Calcium Carbide in bulk, so they had their for both students and alumni. Tis regular at school – despite the fact that we were so own 100MW power station (the manager event was popular for many years, and I near to the sea – rowing had not been on of which I later discovered to be a Guilds feel sad that the event was discontinued a the agenda.) So I lost no time in turning graduate), together with a 33kv connection decade or more ago. But when I attended, up at Putney to become a novice oarsman! to the National Grid, drawing another if a student joined the OCs before the From being a complete beginner, I managed 240MW or so, and an extensive high- reception, there would be a free bus ride to to progress reasonably well, and taking part the Livery Hall venue (I remember it being in the ‘Head of the River’ race – initially the Carpenters’ Hall when I participated). I starting towards the tail end of the 300 or don’t actually remember whether I was one so crews taking part, began to excite one’s of those who joined the OCs just to beneft interest in competition. And after two years from the free ride, or whether I’d already of steady improvement I was more than joined, but I did join at about that time, and delighted, in my third year, to be given a have remained a member ever since. place in the Imperial College Second Eight. In those days there were regional ‘branches’ During 1960-61 we took part in a number of the OCs in several parts of the UK, and of contests and regattas up and down the when Gill and I were living in Cheshire some Tames, with one or two wins, and in July years later, there was a branch in Manchester. 1961 represented the college at Henley Tis branch held a monthly gathering at a Royal Regatta – an unforgettable experience. pub in Sale, but sadly – mainly due to work After graduating and starting work I was and family commitments – I never managed able to do some more rowing with clubs near to get to any of those, although I did attend where I lived, but within a few years started one annual dinner, held at UMIST. It was to experience back trouble, so decided not some years later, when I had moved to work Photo: Ziyuan Mao Photo: to continue. Having said that, I’ve always Gill and Chris at CGCA’s 2017 Annual in London after 1975, that I re-connected retained an afnity for the water and even Dinner with the Old Centralians. Te OCs were

10 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES then holding ‘monthly luncheons’ at the well as giving concerts locally, we sang in a I believe you’re an Honorary member of Eccleston Hotel in Victoria, with a topical number of Ernest Read concerts for children CGLI? speaker, and I did manage to get to quite a held at the Royal Festival Hall and in the Well, yes, some 15 years or so ago I few of those, although as a relatively junior Barbican. We also sang at the Royal Albert received a letter from the City and Guilds member of staf I sometimes needed to be Hall in several major works, including the of London Institute, completely ‘out of the imaginative in explaining why I’d been away Britten War Requiem and Verdi Requiem, blue’, inviting me to become an Honorary from the ofce for so long! organised by the British Council for the Member. I accepted of course, and was sent Prevention of Blindness to raise serious an impressive Certifcate. Tis does mean You joined the Old Centralians’ General amounts of money for their work. In that I am invited to attend the Institute’s Committee in 1977, and the OC Trust Board 1995 I sang in another performance of ‘Yearly Meetings’, held in one or other of the in 1987. Since then you’ve been variously the War Requiem at the RAH, as a guest City Livery Halls. Since the Institute was so Exec Committee Secretary (1990-2006), singer with Bartholomew’s Hospital Choral closely involved with the birth of Imperial, CGCA Hon Sec (2006-2011), Membership Society. Te list goes on, but one of my and has remained closely involved ever since, Secretary (2011-2018), and Chair of the OC greatest pleasures has been as a guest singer it’s very pleasing to have this connection. Trust Board since 1999. Now you’re stepping with the Goldsmiths’ Choral Union, at the down as OC Trust Chair at the next CGCA Royal Albert Hall, in over twenty separate Tere have been a number of photographs of AGM, but you’re still going to be involved performances of Te Messiah, accompanied you in Imperial ENGINEER over the years, supporting your successor, Peter Chase? by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as at various events. We have reproduced a Yes, having reached my ninth decade, it part of the ‘Christmas Festival’ staged by couple in this article. But I don’t think I’ve seems reasonable to stand to one side and the impresario Raymond Gubbay. Since seen any of you in Bo? let others take on the responsibility. But of 2018 the Raymand Gubbay organisation has I’m pleased to have had several rides in Bo, course, after being involved for so long, there somehow fallen from favour at the RAH, so mostly over the past decade or two. One was is a lot of detail in my mind of how the Trust for the 2018 and 2019 performances we sang when the students brought Bo to Putney to operates, so I certainly hope I can provide in the Royal Festival Hall instead – but it’s join in the ‘wake’ for Rogers Knight in 2015 some support to Peter as he works into the enormous fun wherever it’s performed. – a very poignant occasion since Rogers had role. Apart from singing, I enjoy photography, been a close friend of John Garland who and have had a lot of fun with my latest originally bought Bo in 1934. I don’t know You’ll have become known to many students camera – a Nikon Coolpix B700, with a of any pictures that include me, although I through the years because of the help and 60x Zoom lens. Also, for the last 15 years myself have taken a number of pictures of support that the OC Trust has provided, or so I’ve been largely responsible for the Bo over the years, including one of Rogers whether in times of hardship or supporting maintenance of our church which is a riding in Bo on his 95th birthday in 2010. activities like expeditions, and it’s often been 100-year-old red-brick building, with a very It’s also very pleasing that the Trust is able you that has been able to provide the good high roof, heated partly by oil and partly by to help the ‘Bo Team’ of past Bo drivers news to them. Is that the best part of the gas, and always needing something to be and enthusiasts provide ongoing gift-aided role? managed – at the moment we’re trying to get fnancial support. It is certainly satisfying to be able to pass on somebody to mend the roof. Fortunately the the good news. But overall I feel that I’ve church treasurer is helping quite a lot, so I Have you enjoyed your active involvement been very fortunate to be in a position to do don’t have to shoulder it all myself now. in CGCA and the OC Trust over the last 45 this work on behalf of all the alumni who’ve And, as any other grandparents will years or so? given money to the Trust. Not just those who appreciate, we gain enormous pleasure from If I hadn’t enjoyed it, I don’t think I’d have have left considerable legacies, like Professor watching our eight grandchildren grow and been doing it! But we do also have much Peter Lindsay, Jessel Rosen and Jack Fenton, develop, including the youngest – six-year- cause to be very grateful to people such as but also the many members who have given old twins! Roger Venables and Barry Brooks who’ve more modest donations or bequests, ranging really supported CGCA when it’s been in a from a few pounds to £10,000 or more. Have any of your children or grandchildren difcult position and subject to change. I do Teir sole purpose in doing so has been to followed you into engineering? Any been to, feel that I’ve been able to make a signifcant support those students who follow behind or aiming for Imperial? contribution over the years into the running them, and we in the Trust believe this gives Yes as regards children. Te youngest of our of the Association, helping to keep it going us an overriding duty to ensure that their four ofspring, Catherine, went to Edinburgh and providing some continuity. I feel very wishes are complied with. University (Imperial was ‘too close to home’) gratifed about that. My one regret is that where she studied Mechanical Engineering, CGCA has not managed, over the years, You said that you retired from work in graduating in 2004. She went on to work to attract a higher proportion of ‘Guilds’ 2004, but ever since I’ve known you through with Arup, with whom she’d enjoyed a graduates into membership. Imperial ENGINEER you’re always really placement during a ‘year out’ before going to busy working for CGCA and the OC Trust. Edinburgh, and had also worked on vacation Tanks Chris. Do you get time to do other things? placements with them. On graduating she I mentioned having sung at school, and was successful in applying for a permanent having left the Imperial College choir after position, and worked in Building Services, one term. But some eight years after leaving achieving MIMechE and CEng in 2008. college I went back to singing when I joined But, having married in 2004, she had the Runcorn and Widnes Orpheus Choir, and by that time become a mother, and after have been singing almost continuously ever juggling work and family for a year or two, is since – until the lock-down, that is! Whilst currently taking a career break. Meanwhile, living in Northamptonshire I spent nearly our eldest grandchild is currently in the three years singing with the Northampton lower sixth – he’s very interested in science Philharmonic Choir, and then on moving to and computing, but up to now has not Berkhamsted joined a choir which met in the shown any strong interest in Engineering. town, but in 1979 joined the Aeolian Singers We shall just have to wait and see what he in Hemel Hempstead. Te conductor of the and the others decide to do! “Where’s that bird gone?” Chris with an Aeolians had some good connections, and as Arctic Tern in Iceland in 2017

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 11 FEATURES

Richard Gundersen (Elec Eng 1973-76), has been worrying about a lack of students pursuing education and subsequent careers in STEM. So he instigated the STEMulator – an online initiative of professional STEM societies in South Africa, designed to stimulate an interest in STEM among young people. The goal: Ensuring a youthful pipeline of STEM practitioners and professionals.

It’s a world-wide phenomenon. Te talent pool I graduated from Imperial, Elec. Eng. in for STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology 1976. Tis is professional ‘pay-back’ time. Te and Mathematics) is shrinking. Youngsters STEMulator evolved from a careers guidance are being lured into ‘glamorous’ professions; poster used by professional engineers at careers scientifc subjects are being dropped at school guidance fairs for schools. Te Covid period at a dangerous age, prematurely; irrecoverable, has provided the impetus to take this into the career-limiting decisions. Dreams of wealth on-line environment. cloud the pursuit of a passion. Rôle models are Te project is the initiative of the professional no longer professional friends and neighbours, STEM societies of South Africa. One of its but a select few successful public fgures. aims is to sow STEM seeds in remote areas, Lego and Meccano are great, but the for which purpose the STEMulator is also frontiers of science and technology have long- available on stand-alone server-router hubs since advanced from our back yard into the for multiple users in schools and a compact micro and macro worlds of laboratories and version is available on USB memory sticks. the universe. Taking things to pieces is not so Te content is selected from readily easy. available material and fully acknowledged. Te Imagine a virtual world where every object thrill is in the layout and connectivity within additional content – succinct, compact reveals its inner self – from throbbing hearts the virtual world. Visuals and animations animations – appetisers to attract youngsters pumping life blood through our veins to are the priority, text is at a minimum for into the exciting STEM world and to swell rockets powering spacecraft into interplanetary literacy considerations. Te STEMulator is an the pipeline. With time and increasing public transport. And into the natural world, where appetiser, hyperlinks connect to detailed on- awareness it is hoped the STEMulator will sunfowers and peanuts convert water into oil line material. attract content from contributors on its own and little critters repair the damage inficted • Te milk in the fridge leads you to the merits. by humans. And where microwaves can cook cow in the feld – or vice versa – with Ten there is an advisory group comprising food or transmit intelligent signals. notes on dieticians, farmers, agriculturists, ‘Friends of the STEMulator’ – like-minded Welcome to the STEMulator, an on-line, microbiologists… philanthropic individuals and professionals free-to-all, virtual XplorITory, designed to • Te cell phone in your hand leads you sharing a passion for kindling the STEM captivate and stimulate the imagination of to satellites and telecoms – electronic fame. Te search is on for new contacts to youngsters, “Te Hidden World Revealed”, engineers, digital networks… swell the STEMulator’s circle of friends. “Explore > Discover > Learn”, bursting with • Te clouds in the sky lead you to weather Lastly, it is hoped the STEMulator will animated content, exploded diagrams, things systems and global warming to the water in attract additional funding. Te development we cannot see, places we cannot reach. your tap – meteorology, chemistry… of the prototype and the current programme Most signifcantly, laid out for an inquisitive Did I mention the olive-harvesting machine have been funded from a trust fund belonging mind to explore at will, hopping from object I spotted a few weeks ago? Now where did I to the professional societies as well as a grant to object, at the click of a mouse, pursuing a see it? Not to worry, in the STEMulator you’ll from Te Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation, self-guided voyage of discovery, at leisure, at fnd it where it belongs, in the farm, in the and a few private donations. one’s own pace. At the same time presenting an orchard, in the olive grove. Te STEMulator needs YOU! You can insight into related careers and study courses. A school has been added to the landscape make a diference. Together we can boost the and will soon contain country-specifc fow of new talent into the STEM pipeline for curriculum-relevant content, including a better world. Follow the STEMulator on scientifc experiments. social media and help us spread the word: So, where are we at? Te prototype has been launched and is freely available at @TeSTEMulator https://stemulator.org. Te STEMulator has been registered as a not-for-proft organisation. @the_stemulator It has an identity on the major social platforms. Tis article is, unashamedly, part of a world- STEMulator wide public-awareness campaign. Tink of the STEMulator as a visual @STEMulator1 Wikipedia. Currently, the search is on for

12 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES How does STEMulator work? An explorer enters the STEMulator world through the master landscape, displaying a variety of clickable areas, representing many felds of interest such as human physiology, agriculture, transport, energy, hospitals, the natural environment, mining and construction – even space. Click on any one of these areas and it unpacks to reveal a selection of elements, clickable objects that open up and display diagrams of inner structures and animations of working parts. Most of these ‘pages’ contain hyperlinks to video clips providing a further depth of understanding. Information in the STEMulator assists learners to understand the STEM world, to enhance school projects and suggest relevant career options.

What does STEMulator do? Te STEMulator is a unique instrument where youngsters can Explore > Discover > Learn. It Reveals the Hidden World and demonstrates, describes and gives career guidance of the many exciting possibilities that the world of STEM provides. Choosing a career can be daunting for young people. Te STEMulator presents the many careers in STEM clearly, concisely and in context.

E-learning and teacher support Working on-line, of-line and Include your work and brand in Te STEMulator enhances e-learning by remotely the STEMulator presenting the world of STEM to users As the world becomes increasingly digital, As a non-proft company, the STEMulator wherever they are – whether to the teacher more so in the context of Covid-19, online is open to collaborate through collective in the classroom or to the learner studying teaching and learning has shown signifcant efort with any individual or organisation. at home. It boasts a virtual school which is growth. Te internet allows anyone to fnd Contributions of visual material are called populated with curriculum-related content. literally anything, making personal and for. Any virtual contributions of the STEM Teachers can fnd everything STEM in one professional development as easy as clicking. environment can be hosted on the platform. place and can use the STEMulator in lessons Te STEMulator provides a landscape to If you or your organisation are passionate and teachings. It assists the educator as a access this information visually, in context, about helping young minds reach the stars, source of information when preparing for available to learners, teachers and the get involved in the STEMulator project. By teaching and sourcing learning material. community at large. With each layer of the contributing to the STEMulator you will Tis type of learning can revolutionise the STEMulator, one is able to visually dive a little help stimulate that initial curiosity of the education system, providing young minds deeper into every object in the fascinating young mind and encourage maths and science with the technology and information they world of STEM. In addition to the full on-line education/learning leading to careers in need to spark future brilliance in STEM version, the STEMulator is available on USB STEM. disciplines. memory sticks and server-routers to reach and function in even the most remote areas.

Big dreams need big support – there are multiple ways for contributors to grow the STEMulator world. We welcome new ideas, feedback, suggestions and content contributions. Te NSTF proSET sector is looking forward to hearing your great ideas. Tell us by e-mailing: [email protected] or call the Project Leader, Mr Richard Gundersen at +27 (0)82 654 6476.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 13 FEATURES 40 years of iteration innovation

After a year of chaos, IDE alumna Raakhi Chotai refects on the legacy of the Innovation Design Engineering MA/MSc during its 40th anniversary year, and looks forward to what the future holds.

It’s hard not to feel somewhat optimistic, to adapt. Even its name, formerly Industrial “Te power of IDE comes coming out of the world’s most devastating Design, then Industrial Design Engineering, pandemic of the last 100 years. Tere’s a and today Innovation Design Engineering, from the synergy of the talent, global sense of cautious hope, as vaccines are has shifted to refect changing times. From contexts and processes that deployed, as fatalities fall and as (for some) a cohort of just 7 in 1980, the course has life can begin to return to normal. One can’t expanded to host around 50 new students constitute our output.” help but feel we are on the brink of some new, each year. Initially just designers and exciting era. engineers, IDE now recruits from across the Tis global post-pandemic context will academic spectrum, including humanities Dr Stephen Green undoubtedly change the face of innovation such as journalism, business and social Joint Head of Programme forever. As humanity is faced with growing sciences. It has changed locations, from the for Innovation Design Engineering challenges that require collaborative, culturally original studio space on Level 3 of the RCA’s sensitive responses, the need for creative, Darwin building, to an ex-painting studio on technical thinking is crucial. From fake news the ground foor, and now to (when COVID to climate change, food insecurity and public restrictions allow) its current home in the health, Innovation Design Engineering has Stevens building alongside use of the Dyson been moulding minds to solve exactly those Design Engineering building at Imperial. IDE Te constant, then, is curiosity. Fuelled by problems for the last 40 years. has embraced cutting edge technologies, new its inquisitive cohort, IDE has a knack for Founded in the late 70s, Professors Misha approaches to design, and an ever-shifting fnding minds who seek. While methods vary Black and Frank Height conceived of IDE understanding of how to apply creativity. It’s from the analytic to the artistic, every student with a vision: to forge a creative partnership fair to say that change is at the heart of IDE. of IDE retains that unique je ne sais quoi, between designers and engineers. Working at that inexplicable quality that bonds members the intersection of art and science, IDE is the of the IDE family. Dr Stephen Green, joint result of a pioneering collaboration between Head of Programme for Innovation Design Imperial College and the Royal College of Art, Engineering charmingly refers to it as the ‘IDE celebrating the importance of transdisciplinary alchemy’. ‘Te power of IDE,’ he says, ‘comes innovation. from the synergy of the talent, contexts and On Monday 6 October 1980, after six years “It will continue to be the processes that constitute our output.’ of planning, the course that would become Call it what you will, its impact is undeniable. the IDE we know today was launched at the place where design, science, IDE has birthed countless startups, product RCA. And at its core, embedded into its values technology, sustainability, innovations and technologies. But perhaps was a unique culture of experimentation and more importantly, it has unlocked the potential creativity. Te course took advantage of the ethics and social evolution of more than 700 students, great minds, all skills and cultures of a predominantly technical intersect” of whom have survived the enthralling (and, university (Imperial) and a college of art and admittedly, sometimes gruelling) halls of IDE. design (RCA), efectively combining the rigor Savina Torissi As an alumna myself, I am humbled to be and precision of science and engineering with RCA Head of Programme and counted among such company. IDE is not for the inspirational and creative aspects of design. IDE Senior Tutor the faint-hearted; and for those brave enough If the last 40 years has shown us anything, to embark on the journey, I ofer this advice: the resilience of IDE comes from its ability Be bold. Tere is no other place where you will be allowed such creative freedom, with such little risk. You will never regret taking advantage of it. As I refect on the history of this institution A hybrid writer and strategist constantly and on my own personal experience, I’m fascinated by the overlap between the two excited by the future of IDE. ‘It will continue disciplines, Raakhi Chotai graduated from to be the place where design, science, the with a frst class technology, sustainability, ethics and social honours in Economics and Politics in 2012. evolution intersect,’ explains Savina Torissi, She trained as a journalist, covering trends acting Head of Programme for the RCA and in design, technology, business strategy and Senior Tutor for IDE. ‘It will be where we innovation, before joining the Innovation make sense of the complexity of the present Design Engineering MA/MSc at the Royal and the hyper-complexity of the future.’ And College of Art and Imperial College London. if 2020 showed us anything, it’s that the speed Since her graduation in 2018, she has been of change and innovation is going to have working as Strategic Senior Writer at design to accelerate, in step with the world. As the and innovation agency R/GA. course plays host to new, more diverse classes, https://www.rga.com/ I’m eager to see what’s to come.

14 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES As we look forward to the future of IDE, it’s important to remember the people and projects who have contributed to its success so far. Below and over the next two pages, we are featuring just a few highlights from the IDE family.

Apple World Food Programme SafetyNet Technologies Duncan Kerr (IDE 1987) Elena Figus (IDE 2010) Dan Watson (IDE 2011), Larissa Kunstel- After leaving IDE, Kerr worked as a product Elena Figus left her ‘bean counter’ job in the Tabet, Aran Dasan (IDE 2012) designer for fve years, before returning to city to join the IDE course in a move she the fold to teach the course. Following a four describes as a momentous gamble. Drawn year stint on staf, he moved to California, towards roles with a clear social impact, since frst joining IDEO, and then the Industrial graduating she has worked at the World Design team at Apple in 1999. Kerr’s name Agroforestry Centre and more recently, the appears on patents for the original iPhone’s World Food Program, which was awarded the design, the design of the MacBook Air and Nobel Peace Prize this year for its eforts to more. combat hunger in confict-afected areas. developer.apple.com/design wfp.org Photo: Courtesy of Safety Net Technologies Courtesy Net of Safety Photo: 16m tons of fsh are wasted every year, contributing to huge environmental, economic, and ecological damage to our oceans. SafetyNet Technologies changes that, using light emitting devices to help fshermen catch the right fsh, avoiding excessive bycatch. Te enterprise has attracted more than £2.5 million funding in VC funding, Photo: Courtesy of Royal College of Art College of Courtesy of Royal Photo:

Photo: Courtesy of Royal College of Art College of Courtesy of Royal Photo: grants and innovation prize money, and has Image: Elena in the workshops in 2010 been deployed globally. Image: concept work whilst at IDEO sntech.co.uk

Te Polyfoss Factory Emile De Visscher, Nick Paget, Christophe Machet, Audrey Gaulard (IDE 2012) Te Polyfoss Factory is a new manufacturing process inspired by candy-foss, which recycles thermoplastics into fbres for insulation, packaging and textile production. Te company is currently working with young entrepreneurs in Madagascar to develop recycling facilities, as well as Engineers without Borders Norway and the Red Cross to develop recycling techniques and insulation for emergency shelters in refugee camps. thepolyfossfactory.com Photo: Courtesy of Christophe Machet Photo:

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 15 FEATURES

Gravity Sketch Oluwaseyi Sosanya, Daniela Paredes (IDE 2014) Gravity Sketch was developed with the vision to revolutionise the way physical products are designed, developed, and brought to market, Te product consists of an intuitive 3D design platform for cross-disciplinary teams to create and collaborate in an entirely new way. Today, the company is a leading innovator in the digital design industry, a market worth an estimated €8.4 billion by 2022. gravitysketch.com Photo: Courtesy of Innovate UK, Women in Innovation campaign in Innovation Women Courtesy UK, of Innovate Photo:

Charco Lucy Jung (IDE 2015) Charco Neurotech’s lead device, CUE1, is a simple, elegant device designed to improve a wide range of motor dysfunction symptoms for people sufering from Parkinsons. It attaches to the sternum using medical adhesive and produces controlled vibrations which have been shown to help patients walk, move their hands and use tools more quickly and easily in testing. charconeurotech.com Photo: Courtesy of Charco Neurotech Courtesy of Charco Photo:

Quell Lorenzo Spreafco, Cameron Brookhouse (IDE 2019) Designed to make exercise more enjoyable, Quell is an immersive ftness game where users get ft by fghting their way through a fantasy world, via a lightweight wearable and smart resistance bands. Since its founding, this scrappy start-up has sold £500,000+ worth of pre-orders, raised $3m in seed funding, and been part of prestigious accelerator Y-Combinator. quell.tech Photo: Courtesy of Lorenzo Spreafco Courtesy of Lorenzo Photo:

16 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES

Shellworks Amir Afshar, Insiya Jaferjee, Ed Jones (IDE 2019) Shellworks creates compostable materials from seafood waste, which can be used for packaging products in lieu of plastics. Te team uses a biopolymer called ‘chitin,’ extracted from waste crustacean shells in its manufacturing process, and can manipulate the appearance and properties of its products to suit diferent commercial needs. theshellworks.com Photo: Courtesy of Shellworks Photo:

SaltyCo Nelly Taheri, Julian Ellis Brown, Antonia Jara-Contreras, Finn Duncan (IDE 2020) Often an overlooked environment, salt- marshes are highly ecologically signifcant, acting as protection from fooding and as carbon sinks for pollution. By planting and harvesting salt-tolerant plants, SaltyCo aims to create a sustainable alternative to plastic fbre fll for apparel and other applications. Using a unique fbre extraction process, the company promises its textiles are planet-positive at the point of delivery. saltyco.uk Photo: Courtesy of Salty Co Photo:

Te Tyre Collective Hanson Cheng, Hugo Richardson, Deepak Mallya, Siobhan Anderson (IDE 2020) Te Tyre Collective is a startup with a mission to reduce tyre wear emissions – the second- largest source of microplastic pollution in our air and water – with a wheel-ftted device that uses electrostatics to collect particles as they are emitted. Tey are currently working with some of the largest tyre and vehicle manufacturers to develop their technology further. thetyrecollective.com Photo: Courtesy of The Tyre Collective Tyre The Courtesy of Photo:

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 17 FEATURES Mountaineering in the

The Old Centralians’ Trust agreed to support several expeditions that were due to take place over the summer of 2020. Due to the COVID pandemic, some were abandoned, while others were postponed until 2021 in the hope that the virus will have been brought under control by then. Only one of the expeditions actually went ahead, although they did have to change their plans due to the restrictions imposed to deal with the coronavirus. This article is based on their report.

Tis is an overview of an alpine tour Background the major challenges of the Spaghetti Tour conducted in the Monte Rosa massif in Monte Rosa are dealing with the typical phenomena of August 2020, supported by the Exploration Te Monte Rosa mountain massif is set in the great heights, technical ice and rock climbing, Board of Imperial College London and the Swiss-Italian border region and is part of the crossing of glaciers and walking on narrow Old Centralians’ Trust. Te common interest Pennine Alps. Te peaks of the Monte Rosa ridges. of our team was to take our frst steps in high- are among the highest and most challenging Te start and end point of the tour is the altitude mountaineering. We were also keen peaks in the Alps. Te highest summit is the alpine village of Zermatt, in Switzerland. Te to explore how the adverse environmental Dufourspitze, rising 4634m above sea level. frst half of the tour leads from west to east, impact of such a trip may be minimised Te region is known for its glaciers and steep crossing the Swiss-Italian border several times. through choices made at the planning stage. east walls which are adventurous playgrounds Te second part of the U-shaped route runs Te report covers preparatory work, an alpine for well-trained and appropriately equipped from east to west in the heart of the Pennine training course in the Scottish Cairngorms mountaineers. One of the alpine huts located in Alps, where summits are higher and closer and details of the tour in the Swiss and Italian Monte Rosa, the Capanna Regina Margherita, together than anywhere else in the Alps. alps taking in several peaks above 4000m. holds the record of being the highest hut in Te personal requirements to successfully the entire Alps. It is also known as ‘headache master this tour involve both physical and Aims box’ due to its remarkable altitude and the fact mental ftness, as mountaineers must be able • Train mountaineering skills that the international centre for high-altitude to climb over 1500m of altitude a day, in • Summit more than ten peaks above research is based in the refuge. regions with decreased oxygen levels, for as 4000m in one week long as nine hours a day. Besides professional • Minimise environmental impact ‘Spaghetti Tour’ equipment, basic technical skills in handling Te so-called Spaghetti Tour gets its name from ice axes and crampons are required. Te the Italian huts along this iconic route. Te difculty of the Spaghetti Tour is classifed as cuisine which is served here seems to impress easy to moderate on the scale for high-altitude the mountaineers as much as the spectacular expeditions of the German Alpine Club scenery. It is a six-day high-altitude alpine tour (DAV). including more than ten peaks over 4000m. As most of the tour is spent above 3500m,

18 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES Monte Rosa Massif

Low Impact Travel mountaineering training before the lockdown It is important to learn about dealing with Our undertaking aims to show that it is started in March and could complete the tour alpine emergencies, but more important possible to enjoy a great adventure whilst in Switzerland and Italy once the international is avoiding them in the frst place. How trying to minimise adverse environmental travel restrictions were loosened in August. do you move safely in high-altitude alpine impact based on the choices we make at the Unfortunately, we largely had to buy conditions? How do you avoid poor weather planning stage. Te frst choice was to keep as equipment as the stores of alpine clubs were and avalanches? How do you minimise the risk close as possible; so we arranged for a tailored temporarily closed. of crevasse falls? During our three-day training alpine preparation course in the Scottish Further, reduced baggage services on the course, we covered the following areas. Cairngorms in winter, instead of training for Eurostar meant that it was impossible to • Assessing weather conditions and the necessary mountaineering skills in the alps transport crampons and ice axes, forcing us to avalanche risk in summer as we had initially thought to do. travel from London to Switzerland by car. • Moving in snowy and icy conditions with Concerning the alpine tour, we resisted the Schedule crampons and ice axe lure of heading to the Himalayas and sought • 6–10 March 2020 Mountaineering • Self-arrest out a tour in the alps that maximised our time training, Glenmore Lodge, Scotland • Moving in steep alpine terrain and placing at altitude. Secondly, we agreed not to travel • 5–16 August 2020 Spaghetti Tour, Monte protection by air and take the train where possible. And Rosa Massif, Switzerland and Italy, including • Building ice anchors / buried axe thirdly, we planned on hiring mountaineering contingency days before and after the tour • Navigating in alpine terrain equipment or sourcing it secondhand. • Moving in a rope Mountaineering training team Planning Itinerary • Crevasse rescue Given the coronavirus pandemic, the initial We set out to Scotland with a mindset of • Tour planning tour plan was slightly modifed. While some of wanting to learn about how to deal with alpine our earlier planning choices proved benefcial emergencies. How do you catch a fall? How to the new and dynamically changing do you navigate in a whiteout? How do you regulations, other aspects of the planning conduct a crevasse rescue? We learned about all had to be compromised. Te choice to these things, but we returned from our minimise distances saved training with a changed this project. We were able attitude. to travel to Scotland for Photo: Nicolas Felka Photo:

Laura and Jack ascending Vincent Pyramid as the sun rises

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 19 FEATURES Tour itinerary

Day 1: Taesch (1449m) to Domhuette (2940m) Tis hiking tour of moderate difculty took us up into breathtaking alpine landscapes north of Zermatt, spotting Edelweiss and marmots along the way. Sleeping at nearly 3000m was a crucial part of acclimatising in preparation of nights spent above 3000m and the many peaks above 4000m that were awaiting us in the following days.

Day 2: Domhuette to Taesch For further acclimatisation, we spent the morning on the Domhuette discussing our plans for the following days and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Following this, we descended to Taesch, crossing the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge at a length of 494m.

Day 3: Zermatt (1608m) to Rifugio Guide Nicolas Felka Photo: della Val d’Ayas (3425m) Night view of Zermatt and the Matterhorn from the Domhuette A series of cable cars transported us to the beginning of our tour. After climbing Breithorn Occidentale (4164m) and continuing along the ridge to Breithorn Centrale (4259m), we trekked over a glacier until we reached the Refuge Guide d’Ayas. Tis was the frst test of our newly acquired alpine skills, moving in two rope teams. We perceived how important our training had been, especially when one team member crashed through a snow bridge over a crevasse and got stuck waist deep, legs dangling freely in the void. It was also the frst day that altitude made itself noticeable and hydration, food and rest became increasingly important. Photo: Nicolas Felka Photo: Photo: Nicolas Felka Photo: Narrow ridge of Castor Ben arriving at the Rifugio D’Ayas hut

20 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES Photo: Nicolas Felka Photo:

Photo: Jack Morford Photo: Breathtaking scenes on the descent from Castor Laura risks a glance into the abyss

Day 4: Rifugio Guide della Val d’Ayas to Rifugio Quintino Sella al Felik (3585m) Backtracking our steps up the glacier, we proceeded to the peak of Castor (4223m) and onwards to the next hut. More technical than the previous day, one stage required the placement of ice screws for protection, followed by a hair-raising narrow ridge leading to the peak. Te scenery was spectacular and matched by the gorgeous food served in the Italian huts. By the end of day two we had witnessed two incidents on exposed ridges, where other teams had taken unnecessary risks leading to precarious situations saved by their rope teams.

Day 5: Rifugio Quintino Sella al Felik to Capanna Giovanni Gnifetti (3647m) Today’s challenge was to overcome the steep approach to il Naso del Lyskamm (4272m). Photo: Jack Morford Photo: Jack, the alpine technical lead, ascended frst and Laura in the morning sun on top of Vincent Pyramid placed ice screws for protection. Te remaining team was then belayed up until the slope of the face decreased to a safer angle. A hurried descent due to an incoming thunderstorm saw us clearing crevasse-infested ground to reach the Capanna Gnifetti in time for lunch.

Day 6: Capanna Giovanni Gnifetti to Capanna Regina Margherita (4554m) Cumulatively, we reached six peaks above 4000 metres in one day: Vincent Pyramid (4215m),

Balmenhorn (4167m), Schwarzhorn (4321m), Nicolas Felka Photo: Travelling over the Grenzgletscher to Ludwigshöhe (4341m), Parrotspitze (4432m) reach the Monte Rosa Hut and Signalkuppe (4554m). Tis terrain can suitably be described as a mountaineer’s Refections playground, boasting the highest density of Tis trip has developed us both individually peaks above 4000m anywhere in the alps. and as a team. We have acquired the skills Photo: Jack Morford Photo: Te last peak was home to Europe’s highest View of Lyskamm from the Regina necessary to manage and navigate through inhabited structure and our stopover for the Margherita Hut alpine risks. But we have also tested our night, the Capanna Regina Margherita. personal boundaries and strengthened our team spirit by supporting each other through Day 8: Monte Rosa Huette to Zermatt Day 7: Capanna Regina Margherita to the strenuous efects of altitude and unexpected Monte Rosa Huette (2883m) A long and exciting week came to a close fears of moving through extremely exposed After scaling Switzerland’s second highest after we crossed the Gornergletscher, climbed terrain. While we were not able to meet all mountain, the Zumsteinspitze (4563m), we up the Gornergrat and descended down into of our environmental targets, we would like followed the Grenzgletscher downhill until we Zermatt. Crossing glacier territory for one to encourage anyone who is planning an reached the futuristic and beautifully located last time, we were in awe of the beauty of the adventurous trip to think about how they can Monte Rosa hut. landscape that we were leaving behind us. minimise their environmental impact.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 21 FEATURES Te Team

Laura Braun Role: Expedition Leader Occupation: PhD Student, Imperial Age: 30

Laura researches technical interventions in the fght against neglected tropical diseases. Her passion for the outdoors manifests itself in the many hours spent climbing every week. Whenever London becomes too hectic, her touring bike quite literally becomes her escape. But often the downward facing dog, the warrior or child’s pose will also have the desired efect.

Benedict Krueger Role: Deputy expedition leader, med. ofcer Occupation: PhD Student, Imperial Age: 27 Photo: Nicolas Felka Photo: The team, from L to R: Laura Braun, Jack Morford, Benedict Krueger, Nicolas Felka Ben’s research focusses on exploring novel treatment technologies for human waste to improve sanitation in low- and middle-income countries. He spends his free time singing in a choir and playing sports. Every year he embarks on some form of outdoor adventure, from climbing snow-capped summits in the Atlas Mountains to trekking through beautifully rugged Icelandic landscapes.

Nicolas Felka Role: Logistics and treasurer Occupation: Pilot Age: 28

As a pilot, Nico specialises in propeller- driven aircraft, serving destinations in the alpine region. He enjoys an active lifestyle through cycling, football and mountaineering. Examples from his track record include the GR20 in Corsica and the Watzmann Ridge Traverse. He takes a particular interest in the research and preparation of adventurous tours, where fellow mountaineers beneft from his entertaining background knowledge en route.

Jack Morford Role: Alpine Technical Lead Occupation: Technical Project Manager Age: 30

Completing his doctorate in Astrophysics at the end of 2016, Jack turned to the world of ‘fntech start-ups’. A combination of Nicolas Felka Photo: The Capanna Regina Margherita hut can be seen on top of the Signalkuppe mountain indoor climbing and yoga keeps him focussed throughout the busy weeks. Weekends ofer escapes to UK crags to climb, or the hills of Surrey and Kent for on- (and of-) road Acknowledgements cycling. As an environmentalist and with a First and foremost, we would like to express Further thanks go to Nikwax, the Ordnance passion for the outdoors, his holidays revolve our gratitude towards Imperial’s Exploration Survey, Eat Natural, Huel and RXBAR for around the next climbing destination. Board and the Old Centralians’ Trust. We supplying us with water-proofng products, appreciate not only the generous fnancial maps and food supplies. support, but also the guidance during the planning phase.

22 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES Photo: Nicolas Felka Photo: Laura Braun Photo: Photo: Nicolas Felka Photo: Laura and Jack on top of Vincent Pyramid Ben descending from Lyskamm Nico on the ridge of Castor The new Monte Rosa Hut Te frst hut, Cabane Bétemps, was named after its donor François Bétemps who bequeathed funds in his will to the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) to construct the hut. Originally built in 1895, it was repeatedly expanded over the years. In 1939 a major renovation was undertaken and it was renamed the Monte Rosa Hütte. Further renovations and expansions were undertaken, including adding solar power, a pumping station for drinking water and a septic tank. By 2002 the hut was showing serious signs of ageing and a SAC report concluded that a full reconstruction was inevitable. Te Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, was looking for a major project for its 150th anniversary, and heard about the required reconstruction project. Te Architecture Department, under the direction of Professor Andrea Deplazes, worked with architecture students on the assignment and in an architectural competition that took place in 2004, a ‘Crystal Design’ for the new Monte Rosa Hut was selected. Te crystal-shaped building is designed with bands of windows to make sunlight spiral inside while redistributing thermal body heat from occupants to heat the lodge naturally. It combines a wooden interior with an aluminium and glass shell that not only allows amazing views of the Gorner Glacier, but refects the light and landscape of its high-altitude environment to be a dazzling sight in itself. Construction, which was only possible thanks to the support of numerous patrons and sponsors, commenced on site in 2009. Te method of construction and associated

new technologies were developed by students Jack Morford Photo: The hi-tech and very comfortable Monte Rosa Hut, with the Matterhorn visible behind at ETH Zurich, under Dr. Meinrad K. Eberle. Te construction materials and prefabricated Water is collected from melting glaciers and 120 beds, multiple showers, a fully equipped elements were transported by train to Zermatt stored in a large rock cavern reservoir 40 kitchen, and a spacious cafeteria with stunning and 3,000 helicopter trips were needed to take metres above the hut. A microflter plant views. 35 workers and the materials up to the glacier. uses bacteria to clean the wastewater and On 14 July 2011, the old Monte Rosa hut, Te six-storey polygonal building was built greywater which is reused for fushing the 100 metres below the new refuge, was blown on stainless steel foundations with a spiral toilets. Sophisticated energy management is up by the Swiss army as part of an exercise. interior made out of wood, the exterior being required for the hut to achieve such a high Permission for construction of the new hut covered with an aluminium shell. Tanks to level of energy self-sufciency as well as the had been granted on condition the old hut a photovoltaic system as well as thermal solar interplay of the individual components. ETH be removed, because there are supposed to be collectors integrated in the south façade of Zurich developed the software to manage no unused buildings in this highly sensitive the building, the hut obtains 90 percent of and monitor the technologies deployed in region around the Alps’ highest peaks. its power needs from the sun. Excess energy the building. Te hut is also used a research is stored in valve-regulated lead-acid battery station by students from the ETH Zurich. Watch a video of the construction of the new cells, which supply power when it is overcast. Te Hut opened in September 2009. It has Monte Rosa hut at: http://bit.ly/IE34-MRHut

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 23 FEATURES In pursuit of a

Peter Williamson has travelled a long way since graduating in Geology from Imperial College’s class of 2002. He cemented his career in quarrying and minerals extractives with a variety of roles, starting out straight from university as a graduate trainee with industry giant Hanson Aggregates. Having lived the life of a quarrying nomad, Peter subsequently crossed over from the aggregates sector to the world of civil engineering and is now settled in Hampshire, having achieved great things both in his career and as a volunteer trustee of the Institute of Quarrying.

After graduating with a BSc in Geology, continuing professional development (CPD). I quickly landed a fantastic trainee role CPD is vital; helping to run a growing business with one of the minerals extractive big fve. and working with technology means I have to Hanson Aggregates is right up there with be learning every day. Tarmac, Aggregates Industries, CEMEX and Alongside my own professional Breedon, who between them are estimated to development, I am a proud volunteer trustee have around 60 per cent of the UK sand and of the Institute of Quarrying (IQ), on the gravel market. Te other 40 per cent is divided Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Tat’s up between a raft of smaller, independent about giving something back to an industry operators spread across the UK. that has been kind to me, providing me Having read Geology at the Royal School of with a career and direction that has led me Mines, I was more interested in the commercial to where I am today. Te solid academic and engineering elements of extractive grounding and opportunities to grow as a industries than the academic or analytical courtesy of Knights Brown Photos: person that I received at Imperial College side and was keen to have a hands-on job. Peter Williamson have infuenced both my career and my own Quarry management ofered a really exciting on the planning and presentation of corporate personal development. Te industry rewards opportunity: heavy engineering, project away-days, and represented the company hard-workers and innovators from all walks management, people-management, budgeting at awards ceremonies and innovation of life. Te work we do is tangible; there’s a and fnance, commercials and even a bit of committees. Our next big collective task is to physical product with a practical and useful retail… and I didn’t have to wear a tie all day! bring about the changes required to tackle the application. Tere are countless job roles and My frst role was based out of a small sand climate-emergency. the door is never shut to moving from one area and gravel pit at Torington in Sufolk. I then Te importance of topping up my skills of expertise to another; just look at me! moved to a larger sand and gravel plant near and knowledge is something that I prioritise. On the subject of personal development, Cannock, where I got my frst experience as I did my DAPS (DAPS was the Doncaster Knights Brown is an advocate of creating an asphalt production supervisor. Like many Assisted Private Study course to achieve the opportunities and granting early responsibility of my migratory colleagues in the industry, IQ Professional quarrying qualifcation. It to individuals with a fair for our way of the opportunities to move with promotion has now been superseded by the Foundation doing business. We aim to provide the right are many, so my next stop was in Condover Degree in Mineral Extractives Technology at environment for our people to develop and near Shrewsbury for my frst role as a quarry the University of Derby), 2003-5; I loved it. realise their long-term career aspirations. manager, with additional responsibility for the I’ve had formal training in IOSH, business Currently, over 12% of our employees are Shrewsbury Concrete Plant. management and administration, business in graduate, trainee or apprenticeship roles. As Te next few years involved roles across analysis, fnance, project and programme most organisations aspire to 5%, we are pretty the East and West Midlands, including management and negotiation skills. I’m proud of that fgure. and Derbyshire, then onto the also continuously enhancing my skills with Cotswolds. I took on a full-time IT role and trained as a business analyst whilst working on a project to combine Heidelberg’s fnancials with Hanson Australia’s logistics. It was a fantastic opportunity. I was still frmly rooted in operations and logistics, but spent time all around the UK, in Australia and Heidelberg learning a huge amount about how business operations are supported by IT systems. I’ve been in my current role for over fve and half years now. Knights Brown is a privately owned medium-sized civil engineering and building contractor working all over the UK in a diverse range of sectors. Each member of the senior leadership team leads or works on a number of business change or improvement initiatives through the year. As well as the technology-based things you might expect, I’ve helped to re-brand the company, worked The Knights Brown team at the Cardiff Central Square site

24 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 FEATURES rock solid career

Moving utilities at the Cardiff Central Square project

We invest in our new entrants’ programme, which is critical to the business’s future success. We have a track record of taking on year in industry and summer placement students, and a high number return to take up graduate positions. I can recommend taking a look at the videos some of our graduates and Jermaine Perpetua, undertook an autumn placement with Knights Brown while undergraduates made recently, they’re available studying, and subsequently returned as a Graduate Civil Engineer. Here she’s working through the flm archive on our website. at the Cardiff Central Square project.

On the apprenticeship side, in collaboration with Fareham College, Knights Brown helped create a bespoke programme targetted at preparing young people and adults for careers in civil engineering occupations. Apprentices regularly join us from this scheme, which is proving an invaluable source of new skills, including our frst female apprentice groundworker. I consider construction well-placed as an industry to help young people get their careers back on track where they’ve been derailed by the pandemic. We have opportunities available through the Government’s Kickstart scheme and there’s information on our website about our graduate and apprenticeship schemes. Anyone is always welcome to drop a line to our HR team speculatively as well.

You can watch videos of both Jermaine and Joseph on the Knights Brown website, talking about their experience so far and their plans towards ICE qualifcation. https://www.knightsbrown.co.uk/

Alumni, tell us your news Joseph Tucker, undertook his year in industry at Knights Brown and, after graduation, returned as a Graduate Engineer. Here he can be seen working on a West Cheltenham See page 2 for contact details highways improvement project.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 25 FEATURES Illustrating climate change Our regular Canadian correspondent Nigel Fitzpatrick (Metallurgy 1962-65, 65-68) paid a visit to the Vancouver Maritime Museum and was reminded of how he once illustrated the effects of climate change.

Two decades after leaving Alcan it fell to my lot to give a keynote talk at an Energy Seminar in Dubai in September 2005. I wondered how to broach Climate Change where you walk with water in hand. Te graphic on top right of the closing slide was the opening i.e. the relative speeds of the frst east to west voyage through the NW passage and a re-enactment in 2000 – 58 years later. Te opening worked for me and was not questioned. With more time to stand this year I noticed a display at the Vancouver Maritime Museum and saw with surprise that the Alcan logo was on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrol boat Nadon at the time of its re-enactment as St. Roch II. Te Logo was confrmation that there was awareness of Climate Change at Alcan from the 1980s. Tis frm ground is now being built upon by Rio Tinto. In 2006, Alcan’s then CEO, Travis Engen, supported a Climate The closing slide of Nigel’s 2005 keynote speech Change Technology Conference in Ottawa and Alcan’s Simon Laddychuck was a speaker.

A very popular exhibit at the Vancouver Maritime Museum, the St. Roch (left) is open for visitors to climb board. Alongside (above) is a model of the Nadon, renamed St. Roch II for the re-enactment in 2000. The Nadon is now moored outside the museum in the Heritage Harbour (below). The photo of the Nadon in action accompanying the model (below left) includes the Alcan logo that surprised Photos: Nigel Fitzpatrick Photos: Nigel.

Te St. Roch was built in 1928 as a RCMP patrol vessel for Arctic service. On June 23, 1940, it left Vancouver under the command of Captain Henry Larsen, to make the frst- ever west-east journey through the Northwest Passage, arriving in Halifax Harbour on October 11 1942, having been frozen in Arctic ice through two winters. She subsequently went on circumnavigate North America via left Vancouver on a ‘Voyage of Rediscovery’, What had taken the St. Roch 27 months took the Panama Canal. to circumnavigate North America – recreating the St. Roch II one month. Skipper Sgt. Ken On July 1, 2000, the RCMP patrol vessel the epic voyage of the St. Roch. It arrived Burton said, “Concern should be registered Nadon, under the assumed name St. Roch II, back at Vancouver on December 16, 2000. with the fact that we didn’t see any ice.”

26 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS My Journeys through Life ‘Top Submerged Lancing’ Tony Brewis John Floyd RSM Mining 1949-52, post-grad year in Mineral Processing 1960-61 RSM 1966-70

Having joined a University of the the kind of place, he said, where I read with interest the report in smelting operations in many Tird Age* group called “Write they would saddle a horse just to the Imperial ENGINEER Issue countries. Te tin smelter for Your Life Story” I am shortly go down the road to post a letter. 33, Autumn 2020, of the visit by Minsur at Pisco was built by due to have my efort in that Tey naturally provided him with a group of students from RSM Ausmelt and started up in 1996. respect published. Being a bit a horse for the twenty-two mile and other institutions to Central Te story of this technology is long-winded, I am told it will round trip. However, he found and Southern Peru. I thought that told in the paper “Converting an run to three volumes, covering the saddle was not suited to his the students might be interested Idea into a Worldwide Business as it does my earliest years during middle-aged spread, and found it to know that there is a connection Commercializing Smelting which, aged 16½, I wrote in most uncomfortable. Being used between Imperial College and the Technology.” Metallurgical and my diary “I will be a mining to hiking miles across the Scottish Funsur smelter at Pisco that they Materials Transactions B, Volume engineer”; through to my times Highlands, he said, after they had visited on 4 September 2019. 36B, October 2005, pp 557- at the RSM. From there, it is gone about a mile, that if they As an MSc graduate from Te 575. My involvement with the tunnelling in Gibraltar, mining didn’t mind he would rather walk. University of Melbourne, I rode company continued as a director copper underground in India, So he dismounted and went on a motorbike overland to England until it was taken over by the large iron ore in an open pit in Sierra foot for the rest of the journey, in 1966 to carry out a PhD on Finnish metallurgical company, Leone, and later spells with leading his horse ten miles there oxygen difusion in solid oxide Outotec, in 2010. Outotec was consultants Atkins, including and eleven miles back. Such a electrolytes, under the supervision taken over by the even larger 3½ years in Mexico designing thing was so unheard of, that of Dr Brian Steele in Te Nufeld Finnish company, Metso, this and constructing an iron ore word went around like wildfre, Research Group of Professor F D year, who now operate the concentrator. Before switching to and everyone in town got drunk Richardson at RSM. business as Metso Outotec, which editing the Mining Magazine from that night. After completing my PhD and continues to provide Ausmelt 1979 to 1996, with overseas trips On another occasion, he was a post-doctoral year, I returned technology to the worldwide to many places to describe their guest of honour at a dinner given to Melbourne (overland by mining, metallurgical and waste mines. Finally, after retirement, a by a geological society in some Austin Mini van with my wife) processing industries from the spell 2013-2016 as a STEMNET city in Texas. Te man called and started work in CSIRO on same base in Melbourne, with “Ambassador” going into schools upon to give the fnal speech of a novel smelting technology many of the same staf of Ausmelt trying to get teenagers to think of the evening in response to the that I thought might improve Ltd. careers in the minerals industry. toast for Te Guests was the the efciency, costs and Te technology uses a lance An excerpt from the text head of the geological society in environmental performance lowered vertically into the slag describes a memorable meeting another city, the two societies of tin smelting operations. layer of a furnace to provide of the De La Beche Club (now being great rivals. He rose to his After ten years in CSIRO, heat, chemical reactions and known as the Imperial College feet and startled his audience by despite a successful installation intense mixing of various regions Geological Society) … beginning with an admission they at Associated Tin Smelters in of the bath of liquid materials “At the beginning of my fnal had never expected to hear. Sydney and with good results held in the furnace. I named it year, I had joined the De La Beche “Ladies and gentlemen, it gives in developments for production Sirosmelt in CSIRO and then Club, an informal group which me great pleasure to be here in your of other non-ferrous metals, the it became Ausmelt, after the met every now and then to hear glorious city tonight. It is a unique CSIRO terminated my project. company providing it. In 1989, a talk on some geological theme. city!...” I resigned from CSIRO another Australian company was H. H. Read gave an account of a At this point his words were cut and founded the company provided with the rights to the tour he had made that summer short by thunderous applause. Ausmelt to further develop and original lance patent I took out in the southern U.S.A. where, What an admission, from such commercialise the technology. in CSIRO. Tis resulted in yet as guest of one after another of a man! When the clapping Te company expanded and another trade name – Isasmelt. To the local geological societies, subsided, the speaker continued: developed the technology and avoid confusion, the technology he sounded to have had a great “And we all know the derivation of applications to include lead, has been given the generic name time. At one location in Utah, the word unique. It comes from the copper, nickel, secondary metals “Top Submerged Lancing” which he told us, they wanted to show – unus, one, equus, a horse!” and waste processing and became is the name used in your article. him a famous phenomenon just With nothing more to say, he a public company in 1994. Te above might be of interest eleven miles out of town. It was sat down. Ausmelt carried out marketing, to your students. design and supply of commercial Sincerely, plants and plant upgrades for John Floyd * University of the Third Age

Founded in 1982, University of the Third Age (u3a) is a UK-wide movement of locally-run interest groups that provide a wide range of opportunities to come together to learn for fun. Members explore new ideas, skills and activities together. u3a has members who draw upon their knowledge and experience to teach and learn from each other, but there are no qualifcations to pass – it is just for pleasure. Learning is its own reward. It’s all voluntary; a typical u3a will be home to many activity groups covering hundreds of different subjects - from art to zoology and everything in between. Formed over 35 years ago, there are now over 1,050 u3as across the UK, with thousands of interest groups between them and more than 450,000 members nationally. The u3a national body – the Third Age Trust - looks after all the u3as in the UK, providing educational and administrative support. The Trust is overseen by a Board of Directors, to which any u3a member may be elected. Photo: courtesy of Imperial SEG Student Chapter Photo: Pisco Funsur tin smelter

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 27 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS 52nd Triode meeting 8th January 2021 With Covid rampant and London George (Jorge) Gabrielczyk in lockdown there was no way we George said that although world could meet as usual at the George. affairs passed them by, thankfully, So, instead, 21 Triodes met via the down-to-earth problems of Zoom (see picture); it was the frst tractor failure persecuted him time so many Triodes had actually through 2020. His little 50hp Zetor met together, albeit virtually, since failed to revive in spring despite 1973! Many thanks to Paul Cheung a relatively mild winter. After new who allowed us to use his Zoom cylinder liners, pistons and rings it account. We had participants from was back in service; this was just as all over the world who joined well, as the 70hp Zetor then fried what became a mammoth session! its engine. This engine rebuild was Peter Cheung gave us an update a bigger job, including a crankshaft on Imperial; what amazed us all was regrind, and unfortunately, at the the ingenuity shown by Peter and his Top L to R: David Mansfeld, Paul Cheung, Martyn Hart, Nick Hiscock, Peter same time, the front axle fell off the team in getting a test and measuring Cheung; 2nd: Martin Clemow, Steve Glenn, Richard Lewis, Phil Harris, Tim 100hp Massey Ferguson. So its whole set out to all his students, who Dye; 3rd: Alice Spain, Tony Godber, Hugh Culverhouse, Sid Seth, Addy Adesara; axle case assembly had to be rebuilt (because of Covid) are having to 4th: Graham Castellano, Hari Singh (video), John Harding, Hari Singh (audio), (with much cursing and swearing, as Peter Wright; bottom: Peter Marlow, Jorge Gabrielczyk (video), Jorge (audio) work from home. Not just because the tractor weighs 5 tons) and the he managed to provide them with knee joint replaced in February; it’s but is looking forward to a second machine is currently performing electronic goodies plus a multimeter been a total success and he’s fully grandson coming in 2021. well. Finally, the aircon failed on the and single-channel oscilloscope (all recovered. Because of Covid, both Hari Singh 140hp Massey Ferguson; but George for around £30) but that he managed Deb and Tony lived and worked in Like the rest of us, Hari and family doesn’t include that in the tally, as it to source it from Hong Kong (via Karratha from April. Tropical cyclone have been locked in most of the time. fails every year when needed! Paul of course!) and have it delivered Damien passed through Karratha in They returned from their annual trip All Triodes are welcome to visit to the students even when Covid February causing signifcant damage; to India in the last week of January him at Jelenino, only 200 km from had cut out most international Tony lost a mango tree but also 2020, just before governments Berlin airport, but currently you delivery services. International gained a new and much better roof. started stopping international must bring your own bedding! Imperial Innovation! He is still working part-time for Rio fights! Golf was intermittent due Martin Clemow The next Triode reunion will be a Tinto Iron Ore, but has now changed to lockdowns and his annual golf Martin says that he is lucky to live in summer bash on Friday 16th July at career from signalling to future trips to and Portugal had to an area of the country, in Somerset The George, Fleet Street, from 7pm. energy strategy (i.e. stopping using be cancelled. The only bright spot just south of Bristol, where the levels The following year’s reunion will be diesel for trains) and has completed was that they did manage to have a of Covid are relatively low. It is a rural on Friday 7th January 2022. Then of a Graduate Diploma Degree on week’s holiday away in August with area with a low population density course there will be our actual 50th the subject! They have joined the his daughter and sons’ families. and it is not unusual for him to walk year, in 2023. ranks of Triode grandparents with Hugh Culverhouse his dog for forty minutes or more Those that Zoomed the arrival of their frst grandchild Superman Hugh forgot that the without meeting another person. Addy Adesara in November (Audrey, daughter to word ‘boredom’ exists in the English He says “goodness knows”what he Addy spent Christmas without son, Justin, and Lauren). Finally, in language and had a very busy year has done during the last year but he children as his doctor daughters are the interests of reducing their own in 2020, although he did greatly hasn’t had much time to relax! In fact, working in London on the Covid carbon footprint they have replaced miss being able to meet up with he only managed to get over to his front line so they couldn’t be with the air conditioning in the Karratha friends at regular intervals thanks to house in France for a total of two him. His younger daughter is also house from a central ducted system Coronavirus! The year started with and a half days which was defnitely quite active in politics, especially to individual split systems in each the completion of his fat renovation not enough to prepare it for sale. He in the media about protecting room, making around 40% reduction following water damage in 2018; hopes to achieve more in 2021. the NHS, so look out for her. He in electricity consumption. a new bathroom was fnished just Of his children, two, Simon and is still working at Vodafone, de- Dave Mansfeld before the frst lockdown and Elisabeth, are both working from commissioning systems he built 20 Dave looked well and told us parquet renovation followed. As home, helping with home schooling years ago! In 2020, he had a new hip; how he and his wife Liz had just spring came, some new ideas were their children and only going into he is getting better all the time and managed (after two years) to sell implemented in the garden. His feet work when absolutely necessary; expects to be playing hockey soon. their property in France, the day of many racing bikes was updated or/ David is managing to continue Alice Spain before total lockdown! His son is and renovated and the tandem was working as a cabinet maker, being in a Due to Covid, Alice spent many still working at the UN for the FCO sadly sold. He ftted in two short large workshop with only one other happy hours in 2020 on things she but of course they haven’t seen hiking holidays during the relaxation person; and Philip has returned to would not normally have had time him for some time because of the of restrictions in Germany over the Imperial College as a Senior Teaching for. The birth of her frst grandchild, restrictions. Dave is now looking summer. In autumn, it was time to Fellow in the ABB Digital Energy Jude, prompted her to crochet a forward to getting the vaccine so he get going again (after a long break) Demonstrator in the Energy Futures huge play mat made of 108 3-D can get out and about! on the family tree. It’s an activity Lab and has contact with Peter animal squares sewn onto a double Graham Castellano which he started as a child and Cheung. bed mattress protector; she showed Graham told us that it had been a which will continue for years to Nick and Sue Hiscock us it over Zoom! Her four-acre quiet year. He retired for the second come, as will work on his history 2020 started on a high note as garden has kept her from going stir- time (after 10 years working) but it book of the Plessey Company. Of their younger daughter, Pippa, was crazy during restrictions and she was more of a year for things not course throughout the year sport married at the end of January; they has found a couple of lovely walks happening. He did get away to Italy has remained central to Hugh’s life; then entered a series of low notes from home to exercise her two fat- for a week and had some time in cycling (over 15,000 km in the year) as Covid got ever closer and then coat retrievers and this has helped the Cotswolds. Luckily, he lives near and running (over 1200 km in the hit. Nick became beleaguered at his her keep ft. She also says she did Southsea beach so he can get out for year) alternating over the year. He sailing club; as Rear Commodore, it six thousand fewer miles in her car walks there. He is just doing small has not missed a day’s training since fell to Nick to make, and then keep, than usual during 2020! But she’s jobs around the house but realises 3rd June 2017! That’s why we think of the clubhouses, jetties and 1500 expecting a busy 2021! that his rental properties need him as Superman! members Covid secure, as the rules Tony Godber work. With both parents still alive, John Harding vacillated between various stages Tony was relaxing after a 43ºC day he is spending more time looking John gave us an update and wished of lockdown and recovery. He also in Perth! He told us he had his right after them. He has missed sailing, us all well. had to keep essential maintenance

28 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS and repair going, not easy when Peter Marlow wedding planned for June in the is looking very tidy and she has fnally contractors were also locked Peter and wife Sally managed an UK. They just managed to get back got round to sorting out some of the down; novel engineering solutions excellent city break to Lisbon in before the frst Covid lockdown. boxes of papers (dating back to the were required more than once. February before Covid kicked off, Unfortunately the wedding had to be 1930s) which she inherited from her Meanwhile, Sue found that she could especially enjoying the old trams postponed to June 2021. Meanwhile parents. She has found quite a few help her old veterinary practice and elevators. In August, they had a he says he is working on a couple gems, including a letter her father by forgetting she was retired and staycation in Western Scotland and of ideas using the latest technology. wrote to her maternal grandfather taking on-phone consultations from had surprisingly good weather! They He is amazed at the pace of change asking to marry her mother! home. Mathematician daughter, are looking forward to becoming of new technology and how others Chris and Daphne Giles Pippa, carried on working as a grandparents for the second time have beaten him to the market. He Although retired from real consultant but now from home and in February. Peter continues to says he will not give up, but keeps his work, Chris is now ‘Engineer in Chemistry Reader daughter, Jenny, work with PM4NGOs, a non-proft projects secret until success! Residence’ at Analog Paradigm, a focused on keeping her research organisation that promotes and Tim Dye German company which builds team working effectively and getting sustains the professionalisation Tim said that, although retired, he analogue computers; although ‘Out papers published. Nick thinks both of project management in the was missing the buzz of a TV studio of Residence’ would be a more daughters, like the rest of us, found international development sector. so he has been working occasionally accurate description for 2020! He living and working a real struggle. Peter Wright as a camera operator at EPIC Studios is also currently designing a large Paul Cheung Peter is still spending a lot of his Norwich, flming wrestling, boxing, off-grid electrical installation for a Paul retired from the University of time with his local Scout District as music gigs, etc. to be live-streamed remote farm. Hong Kong (HKU) in July 2018 and Secretary, Webmaster and various pay per view (sometimes) to fans. Patrick Mason is enjoying the retirement stage of other roles including lead interviewer But with the lockdowns they Patrick missed the call but he reports life in good health. He and his wife, and handyman. Covid has hit them couldn’t allow the 600 or so crowd that he is still heavily involved Jane, still live in Hong Kong where, hard; with no income or activities, into the studio any more so the with the internet international much like the rest of China, he Zoom is keeping them alive. The studio boss bought two OB vans. payments company he co-founded says they have handled the Covid control of his racing lawn mower has The twist was that he asked Tim to (GlobalWebPay.com). To his delight, pandemic reasonably well! Although now been upgraded with an Arduino get them up to scratch! After ten the pandemic didn’t damage business; they had just about got through and Adafruit development which will years away from TV engineering it indeed they managed to still grow their Third Wave and their daily make it world beating, he says! stretched his old brain a bit as now 30%! He is close to implementing a local new cases are in single digits, Phil Harris it’s all HD. But he got them into a totally new software system for the the whole population of Hong Kong As for many, 2020 was a ‘missing’ reasonable state for a curious company; it’s a project that has taken is still very cautious and most are year for Phil; missing hugging his event: drive-in kick-boxing! On the three years and increased his grey observing the guidelines to guard grandchildren (and children), missing hottest day of the year, on a large hairs! against the pandemic. They still holidays and missing social activities country estate, a ring was set up When not working he enjoys: his have meeting restriction of 2-4 like his dancing club and U3A trips. with a mammoth TV screen behind. role as a grandfather, now to two persons (depending on the wave of On the positive side, Phil and wife, Audio commentary was sent to grandchildren as his granddaughter pandemic!). Jane and he now spend Lina, did not catch Covid (he assumes the audience in their cars via an FM has a new brother (born in more time with each other at home that at their age they wouldn’t transmitter and it was a great success. December); lots of country walking than at any other period in their four be asymptomatic if they had) and Since then he has also covered an in Sussex; playing some tennis decades-plus being together! Paul they’ve kept in touch with the family outdoor pop gig on (almost) the (lockdowns permitting!); and wine still serves as Honorary Professor by Zoom and distanced meetings coldest and wettest days of last tasting which lockdown does permit! at HKU and also runs a Pen Makers when permitted. He has kept himself year; so at least the systems have He is still running his local wine Workshop teaching people how to occupied with redecorating some passed their thermal-range tests! tasting society; the society’s visit to make pens (which will restart after rooms in their house but still has Martyn Hart vineyards in Chablis in April 2020 the pandemic). Their son, Timothy, more to do in 2021! Martyn stills works two days a week was of course cancelled but he’s is working at NYU in New York as Richard Lewis (often four or fve!) in the public planning a return in the autumn of a researcher in Parkinson’s disease, Richard managed to make some trips sector, mainly in the commercial area 2021 if at all possible. Of course, he’s while their daughter, Celeste, is in 2020 at times of rules relaxation. on large outsourcing/framework hoping for the vaccine asap! working from home in London as a Over Zoom he showed us slides contracts. He is a Parish Councillor Rut Patel Research Project Manager and mum from visits to France and Northern for his village (Ingatestone) and also Rut was unable to join as he was to her frst child, Tina, who is now 15 Ireland in January/February before the business rep for village businesses supporting his two grandsons’ months old. Covid really got going and another within the local Borough Council. He remote learning; however he Peter Cheung French trip during the summer lull is still cycling, photographing, etc. and reported that earlier in the year Peter says he was supposed to (they did have to self-isolate for two has also been busy redecorating the he had a successful kidney stone retire about the same time as Paul weeks on their return then). Triangle House . procedure. Unfortunately, after a few but he was asked to take up the He was quizzed about using Those that couldn’t make it days he had problems which resulted job of Head of the Dyson School his Tesla on long journeys and he Geoff Banks in being admitted to hospital with of Design Engineering at Imperial answered that, because of Elon Geoff was sorry to miss the reunion sepsis. This was in mid-March just and is back working (more than) full Musk’s foresight in establishing in but health issues meant he was when lockdown began and because time! More than full time because advance a network of high-speed waiting on consultant calls that he had a high temperature they he is still teaching (see introduction) charge points, you’re never far away afternoon. He is still undergoing suspected that he had Covid. So he and tutoring students. He too has from a Supercharger as long as you hormone therapy for prostate was quarantined and allowed no a granddaughter and he showed us stay on major roads. Most charging cancer which was diagnosed in 2019. visitors! He had the Covid swab test an amazingly carved full size rocking stops are only 20 minutes so the Radiation treatment is proposed for but they refused to allow him home horse he has made for her – fantastic! 11,000 miles they did last year were the coming year and he hopes to while they waited for the test results, Steve Glenn not signifcantly lengthened by the make it to the George in July 2021 even though he had recovered from Steve retired in December 2019, charging breaks. In fact rather the or January 2022. sepsis. After a couple of days they just in time to enjoy Christmas and opposite, on several occasions they Joan Clemow decided to release him even though then go into lockdown! So he has wanted a longer break and so had to Joan couldn’t make it but wished they hadn’t got the results; they said not had much time to travel or see move the car once it had charged! us all a Happy New Year. She said that the assumption was negative. his family including his grandchildren, Hobby-wise Richard is using her report was very short as her Rut was certainly relieved to get out aged between 2 and 8, two girls and modern day components to re- volunteering and other activities of hospital! His holidays in April and four boys. He has started part-time create a Sinclair X20 amplifer. have mostly been cancelled! She has May were cancelled and he also had study for a degree in History with Sid Seth spent a lot of time with her daughter tickets for the UEFA Euro football at the OU, with the aim of ultimately Sid gave us a rapid fre report; in and her family and, when she was Wembley but hopes he might be able doing a PhD, and he is also still doing March, he and his wife went to India able to, her other children. As she has to go in 2021 instead. voluntary work. to get apparel for his daughter’s been at home a lot more, the garden Martyn, Arch Triode

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 29 OBITUARIES Student leader, renowned civil engineer and diplomat

At the student residence, of Mr and Mrs Lowry few.” (‘Profle’ in , 1953) representation of his country. Despite his mainly scientifc Philip returned to British Guiana in studies, Philip’s knowledge of Latin, October 1954 and was immediately and interest in history and culture appointed as Construction Engineer, also served him as the Editor of where he was the frst to introduce Guilds Engineer, the City and Guilds scientifc methods of road design student magazine. in , and became the frst PHILIP ANDERSON DESMOND oratory skills, which may well have Philip obtained a Bachelor’s Guyanese in the country’s history to ALLSOPP (Civil Eng 1949-54) contributed to his being proposed, degree in Civil Engineering with hold the post of Chief Engineer. Born on 8 August, 1926, in British then elected, as President of the Honours and was awarded the He went on to serve thirty Guiana (subsequently called Guyana City and Guilds Student Union. He Unwin Prize for the student who three years of civil service in since independence), Philip aspired at was the frst foreign student (from had excelled both academically and Works and Hydraulics, where he an early age to become an engineer. a British colony) to be elected to in others areas of university life. was responsible for the planning Observing the need for better this position. The secretary of the His engineering and personal of all roadways and coastal sea roads in his hometown at that time student union at the time was Brian experience was broadened while at defences. He was responsible (1930s), he decided then he wanted Walker. University with public works stints for the establishment of the frst to become a road and soils engineer. Philip’s ease with people and in Holland, Denmark and Norway. Engineering Laboratory in the Public People laughed at him because, in sociability, observed in the student During his student life, one of the Works Department, and the frst British Guiana at the time, improving magazine of the time may well have professors he greatly admired and Roads Laboratory in Guyana. the stone and sandy brick roads was accounted for his appreciation by his who infuenced his approach to life A decade later, in 1978, Philip not considered a priority. He also peers: was Sir Roderic Hill, a visionary of retired from the Guyana Civil recalled being inspired by a picture “The considerable variety and the university. Philip also had deep Service and became a managing of the Waterloo Bridge, a beautiful balance of his activities is refected respect for Prof Pippard, who was partner in an engineering and structure, and said he “wanted to in his character. Philip inclines to very supportive of him in his early planning frm. build something like that in Guyana be quiet and retiring rather than days as he adapted to student life in Due to his infuence and one day.” pushful, but he is not a man of few unchartered territory. experience in international In 1949, Philip was awarded a words. He can talk for whole Union The Unwin scholarship allowed affairs, Philip was invited to Victory Engineering Scholarship meetings on any subject without Philip to pursue a master’s degree serve as Guyana’s Deputy High to pursue civil engineering at notes, and without digression. He in civil engineering and he graduated Commissioner in London, in 1988, the Imperial College of Science does not actively force discussion from Imperial College in 1954 with and later as the Ambassador to and Technology, in London. His towards his own set opinion, but he an MSc. with a specialisation in Brazil, from 1990 until 1992. Over university life was marked with uses his soft, inexhaustible voice to ‘Stabilisation of a Tropical Clay for the years, he was honored for his distinction. He met and socialised great effect in making a point clear Highway Construction’. Although outstanding service: with students of all walks of life against the happy hecklers in the he was offered a very prestigious • In 1977, National award, the and was appreciated for his fair Guilds’. Philip will lead the College position in London, after graduation, Golden Arrow of Achievement for vision of society. A keen member anywhere, anytime, provided he is Philip chose to return to his dedicated service in the feld of of the debating society since his persuaded that the majority really beloved homeland where he lived engineering. youth, he earned respect from his want to go that way, and that he is and worked for the rest of his life, • In 1992, the Order of Rio Branco peers with his personable wit and not just listening to the agitating punctuated with stints abroad in the from Brazil, for distinction in diplomatic activity. • In honour of his immense contribution in mapping the way to Lethem in Guyana, the road junction linking the interior road to the country’s coast, was named Allsopp Point, after him. Apart from his academic and professional achievements Philip will also be remembered for his high social conscience and moral standings, giving frequent talks on the radio’s “Viewpoint” where he shared his stand on the values of our society, as well as the morals and ethics that he felt important to share and uphold. Philip was married to O’Donna, his wife of 63 years. They leave four Pictured here in London, in 1952, Philip leads the inaugural procession as the newly elected children. president of the City and Guilds Student body.

30 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 OBITUARIES Innovative leadership Award-winning research and design also achieved a spin-out success Prof PETER JOHN BELL in 1978 with Domino Printing CLARRICOATS, CBE, FREng, FRS Sciences, a business set up to exploit (Elec Eng 1950-53) inkjet technology which went from Peter was born in Southgate, strength to strength and was bought North London, on 6 April, 1932, and by Brother for over £1 billion. came to City & Guilds in 1950 to In 1983, Paul moved from Deputy study Electrical Engineering. Upon to be the CEO of Cambridge graduating, in 1953, he went on to Consultants, and, over the next study for a higher degree and was ffteen years, he led the transition awarded a University of London towards commercial lines of PhD in 1958. He commenced business. his academic career at Queens A former senior colleague of University, Belfast, subsequently Paul’s has observed of this period: taking up a professorship at Leeds in JOHN PAUL AUTON (Elec Eng “He encouraged working practices 1963, his main area of interest being 1958-62) that have been woven into the DNA microwave engineering. Paul was born on 29 February, of the key Cambridge technology In 1967 he was appointed to 1940 and came to City & Guilds in consultancies – all of which are a chair at Queen Mary College, 1958 to study Electrical Engineering, destinations for other businesses London, where he founded a vice-president of the Institution but a health setback meant that he from around the world seeking department for Electromagnetics of Electrical Engineers from 1989 was not able to graduate until 1962. innovation”. and Antennae. In addition to being to 1991, and was elected to After graduating, he joined Amongst the various spinouts responsible for a large number Fellowship of the Royal Society, the Marconi but, seven years later, took spawned under Paul’s leadership of developments concerning Royal Academy of Engineering, the up employment with Cambridge were Cambridge Silicon Radio, microwave antennae, he also carried Institute of Electrical and Electronics Consultants, which was then just Xaar, Inca and many others. After out much work on optical fbres, Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution nine years old and based in Bar relinquishing the CEO position, Paul from 1976 onwards, establishing of Engineering and Technology (IET). Hill. The business was not doing all served as Chairman for three years the theory of electromagnetic In 1996 he was awarded the CBE. that well fnancially, and three years before taking retirement in 2001. propagation on dielectric and After retiring from full-time later was acquired by the American In 2014, Cambridge Consultants ferrite structures, which has since work, in 1997, Peter continued to Arthur D Little management unveiled a new £6 million extension been widely used in the context of supervise research and to design consultancy. At this point, Paul was of its facilities at Cambridge Science optical fbres and elsewhere. His new antennae for satellites and taken onto the Board. Park, and Paul was invited to unveil designs for microwave antennae are spacecraft. In 2015, he was awarded During the 1970s, the frm a plaque, naming it the ‘Auton now used throughout the world for the Sir Frank Whittle medal of the expanded considerably, gaining Building’. satellite communications, including Royal Academy of Engineering, one stability and a sound asset base, Paul died on 9 July 2020, and in spacecraft. of that body’s highest accolades. and was carrying out a signifcant is survived by his wife, Colette, Peter received many awards for Peter died on 17 January 2020, amount of government work. It daughter, Martine, and son, Stéphane. his work over a 40-year career, was after a short illness.

‘Offering encouragement, never criticism’

REGINALD NOEL SHIELD worked was closed down and, still management of the Devonport were worth many tens of millions of (Aeronautics 1954-57) with Vickers, he moved to Eastleigh dockyard from the Ministry of pounds and provided important jobs Reginald Noel Shield (Reg) in Hampshire as a director of the Defence, requiring a great deal of and experience, both in Devonport was born in Peterborough on 16 Special Projects Group, which work to renegotiate all the ongoing and later Appledore in north Devon. January, 1936. He was educated at designed and delivered one-off contracts in a short space of time. As Reg fnally retired in 2001, at the age Hookergate Grammar School near engineering projects into the the workforce was cut, Reg became of 65. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he aerospace, defence, nuclear and focused on supplementing a rapidly A capable engineer and met Laureen, who would become high-end civil markets. A colleague reducing workload. businessman at work, at home he his wife. He studied aeronautical from that time described Reg as: Sales of ex-RN warships to foreign was a skilled craftsman, building engineering at City & Guilds College “Very much a people person, always governments were an area that Reg intricate and authentic model in 1954. open for discussion and offering and his team pursued vigorously: at boats, planes and baroque musical Whilst at university, Reg joined encouragement, never criticism, one stage, Reg’s claim to fame could instruments, many of which he the Imperial College Motor Club even when we were really up against have been that he had turned the also played. He enjoyed a glass of and became a Bo driver, taking it.” dockyard company into a global top fne wine, travelling in France and Boanerges around the streets of the Reg won a contract for Vickers 40 naval force. The company literally spending time on the English canals capital and causing traffc to come to provide some unique sub-sea owned two Leander Class frigates on his narrowboat, Debdale. to a standstill as passers-by admired equipment for use in the North and a couple of Oberon Class A sudden and catastrophic illness the vehicle. Sea, which required a great deal submarines while overseas buyers in July 2014 left Reg with signifcant After leaving university, Reg of time being spent in the USA. were sought. A major theme that disabilities. He was nursed with worked for English Electric, Consequently, he and Laureen Reg initiated and followed up was dedication by Laureen, his wife building aeroplanes at Wharton in moved to Dallas for six months in the super-yacht market. The cachet of sixty years, and he fought hard Lancashire, including work on the 1982, living in a hotel and working of a Royal Dockyard working on an to recover, defying the doctors’ Lightning and the ill-fated TSR-2. in a cramped portacabin. Laureen owner’s yacht proved to be a sound expectations. During this time, he and Laureen provided secretarial support, marketing angle. However, his many illnesses fnally had two children, Christine and without pay, to fll her time. As Reg approached retirement, got the better of him and Reg passed Ian. In 1966, Reg returned to his In 1987, came one fnal move, the business grew and his initiatives away peacefully at home, on 3 July, native Tyneside to work as a Project to Plymouth and Devonport resulted in a number of extremely 2018. Manager for Parsons, later moving Management Ltd (DML), where challenging ‘design and build’ to Vickers as a Commercial Manager. Reg became Commercial Director. contracts for some very demanding With thanks to Reg’s wife, Laureen, In 1980, the building where Reg DML took over the commercial owners. These one-off contracts and their daughter

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 31 OBITUARIES TV pioneer – Senior engineer to John Logie Baird

PAUL VERNON REVELEY (Elec Eng a number in North Borneo – and 1928-31) CGCA’s records indicate that in Paul Reveley, whose death on 1990 he was based in Kota Kinabalu, 12 March, 2017, at the age of 105, Sabah. This work continued from has only recently come to our the Late 1940s right through until notice, was a personal technical the early 1990s, and he was in his assistant, and subsequently senior 80s when he retired and returned engineer to the television pioneer, to the UK. John Logie Baird, and thus played an It has been said that, during important part in the development retirement, Paul retained an of television. exceptional memory and enthusiasm Paul was born in North London for – and keen knowledge of – on 29 July 1911, and studied at current affairs, recalling events in City & Guilds College between the 1930s as if they happened only 1928 and 1931. After graduating in played a key role in the design and the television systems involved. recently. This would have been light-current electrical engineering demonstration of Baird’s television In 1938, aged 27, he joined the evident to anyone who saw him in at the age of 20, he started work projection systems, which by 1938 UK’s Colonial Service, and became the BBC4 documentary, ‘Television’s with Baird early in 1932. One of his were capable of demonstrating an assistant radio engineer in Hong Opening Night: How the Box was frst assignments was to assist in live closed-circuit colour television Kong. This meant that in late 1941, Born’, that was shown in November what was only Logie Baird’s second in another London theatre. It is when Hong Kong was overrun by 2016 (and after which Paul was major live outside broadcast for said that his scanner for colour the Japanese, he was amongst the interviewed on Newsnight). the BBC, which was to cover the projection television rotated so many government employees who Friends said of him that, in 1932 ‘Derby’ horse race at Epsom, fast (17,500rpm) that the scanning were imprisoned at the Stanley conversation, Paul could transport using simultaneous vision and sound mirrors experienced 6,000 times Internment Camp there. During you to that pioneering television era, radio transmissions. Paul recounted the force of gravity, travelling at this time, he was responsible for providing frst-hand accounts of his how this was also fed by cable to over 200mph. The main parts of the organising food rations amongst work as the engineer who had spent a London cinema – the Metropole system that was used now form part the prisoners, who were obliged to the longest time working directly for – where a special video projection of the displays in the London Science survive on just 340g of rice per day. Baird, and that his near-perfect recall system that he himself had built and Museum, whilst the scanner itself is After the end of WW2, meant that discussion with him was installed was used to show the race now at the National Science and Paul moved on to become an an ‘uncanny experience’. to the cinema audience. Media Museum in Bradford. During independent contractor, and was Paul died on 12 March, 2017, in Paul subsequently spent fve more this period of rapid development involved in installing, running and King’s Lynn and was survived by one years working directly for Logie of broadcast technology, Paul was managing electricity services for daughter. Baird as his senior engineer, and thus credited with fve patents relating to many remote communities, including A generous benefactor to the Old Centralian’s Trust PETER ANTHONY SLANN (Aero a lecturer for some years, but later a Chemical Engineer, who studied recordings of the 1962 gathering Eng 1951-54) as a self-employed consultant, based between 1959 and 1964, as having to the organisers of its 50th Peter was born on 26 May, 1928, at Godalming, Surrey. been a very personable and helpful Anniversary Conference. and studied at City & Guilds College In retirement, Peter lived in graduate teaching assistant in the Peter was a life member of in the 1950s and 60s. Lochgilphead, Argyll, where he early 1960s. CGCA and, after his death, on 3 May, After a frst degree in owned land and was active in In 1962, as a lecturer, Peter was 2018 – about three weeks short Aeronautics, he studied for a DIC community affairs, playing a part in involved in organising the frst of his 90th birthday – his will was in Civil Engineering, from which he a group formed to oppose the re- meeting of the Design Research found to include a generous bequest graduated in about 1967. introduction of badgers. Society, and, in 2016, was able to of £10,000 to the Old Centralians’ He is believed to have worked as Peter has been remembered, by provide some reel-to-reel tape Trust.

Peter (4th from the right) amongst DDR Group, circa 1965

32 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 OBITUARIES ‘Talented, charismatic, optimistic and courageous’

S.C.C. (STEVE) BARNETT for Billiton Nickel, and then BHP (Metallurgy 1972-76) Billiton Stainless Steel Materials, Born in 1954, Steve Barnett before joining the Nickel Institute. would go on to have a distinguished He was President of the Nickel career in the metals sector, spanning Institute during challenging times over forty years. (2006-2010), and was later both an After achieving an MSc in industry consultant and an active Metallurgy from Imperial College, member of MinSouth. in 1976, and stints at Davy Process Steve enjoyed mentoring Technology (UK) and JCI (South younger professionals. He was truly Africa), Steve joined what became international, talented, charismatic, BHP Billiton, in 1981. There, he optimistic, able and courageous, commissioned the Cerro Matoso and remained so, until his untimely ferro nickel plant in Columbia and passing on 4 November 2020, in worked on numerous other base Brisbane. metals projects. Steve will be deeply missed by Steve spent time in mergers his family: wife, Jane, of 43 years; and acquisitions in the Hague and daughter, Sarah; son, Andrew; and Johannesburg. 3 grandchildren; and by numerous In 1998, he moved to Brisbane to friends and colleagues around the lead project development and HSEC globe A sense of adventure and love of travel CHRISTOPHER JEFFREY ALLEN adventure and travelled all over the MIND, where he used his expertise in which he became very profcient. (Elec Eng 1973-76) world for work and for pleasure. to set up good IT and mobile In 2018, he submitted a print to the Chris was born in Chatham on 3 In 1973, Chris came to City & phone infrastructure – a legacy summer exhibition at the Royal January, 1953, moving to Plymouth Guilds College to study for his which proved invaluable during the Academy. and then Birmingham in his teens. degree in Electrical Engineering, COVID-19 pandemic. Chris died in September, 2019. He He was very actively involved in graduating in 1976. As part of a full and active social had maintained the scouting ideal of scouting at this time and achieved He spent most of his working life life, Chris enjoyed diving, sailing, service to others throughout his the Chief Scout’s Award in 1968. In with the Ministry of Defence, where walking and photography. Whilst life, always ready to help his family, 1970 he went for the Explorer Belt, he made a signifcant contribution at college, he was a member of friends and the wider community. for which he spent one week with to defence engineering, science the Imperial College Underwater He was a long-term member of the a partner, trekking across , and technology over a long and Club, and continued to meet up Old Centralians and CGCA. meeting and staying with the local distinguished career. After retiring with friends from there throughout population. from the MoD in 2011, he worked at his life. Latterly, he developed an With thanks to Dorothy Froude, Chris never lost his sense of Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich interest in art, especially printmaking, Chris’ sister Enthusiast Circumnavigated Great Britain for roads of Cape Town and moved In 1979, Ken and the family moved CHARLES STUART BRINDLEY to England, working as to Maidenhead, where he was invited (Civil Eng 1953-59 and 1977-78) an engineer for Taylor to become a Director of Ove Arup Charles was brought up in South Woodrow, FJ Samuel & & Partners in London, responsible Africa, where he was born on 27 Partners and then Richard for a multi-disciplinary group of December, 1932. He came to study Costain. Taking a year out, engineers, designing buildings in the Civil Engineering at City & Guilds Ken took a post graduate UK and the Middle East. College in 1953. Graduating in 1959. course in Concrete Ken was an active member of he became a life member of CGCA. Technology at Imperial various professional bodies, with After working for one or two College. He then joined various publications to his name. He companies in the UK, he decided Ove Arup and Partners, was made a Fellow of the Institution to move overseas, enjoying the with whom he was to of Civil Engineers, a Fellow of the chance to operate ‘away from all the spend the remainder of his Institution of Structural Engineers bureaucracy’. His particular interest career. During this time, and a Fellow of the Royal Society and specialism was in road-building, Ken met Sue. They were of Arts. He also won a number of and he, ‘loved nothing more than married in 1956. awards, including the British Steel searching a new route for a road, In 1957, Ken joined Award, and the Structural Steel by striding through the bush on his the East Africa division of Design Award. Ken retired in 1991, own, mainly in Africa but later also Ove Arup and Partners as but continued to work as an expert in S.E.Asia’. In 1977, he returned to an Associate Partner. In witness for several years. South Kensington, to study for his 1958, his wife joined him, In retirement, Ken kept busy MSc and DIC in Civil Engineering. after giving birth to their with his various hobbies, including: After an unsuccessful frst KENNETH WILLIAM SHAW (Civil daughter. They had two boys while gardening, bee-keeping, croquet, marriage, Charles met his second Eng 1955-56) in Kenya but left in 1963, following and furniture restoration. His wife, Sue, in Tanzania, and they On 6 July, 2017, Ken Shaw, a Kenya’s independence. Ken was main passion was sailing and he shared many happy years together. former Director of Ove Arup and then invited by Fraser Anderson circumnavigated Great Britain. Ken Following his retirement they Partners, passed peacefully away at to join Ove Arup & Partners in is survived by his wife of 60 years returned to the UK, fnding his home in Maidenhead, at the age Edinburgh. After 4 years, Poul Ahm and his two sons. an agreeable place to live in of 86. Ken was born on 3 July, 1931, asked him to set up the Newcastle Cambridgeshire, where Charles died in Paarl, South Africa. He studied Offce as a Founder Associate, and With thanks to Ken’s son, Graeme. in March 2020, at the age of 87. civil engineering at the University subsequently Director.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 33 OBITUARIES ‘Oxford was not for him’ Guildsman who invented PETER GORDON HINES (Civil Eng 340,000-tonne concrete base the Computer Mouse! 1965-68) structure for the Ninian Central Peter Hines and his twin sister platform. In 1977, after a brief spell Deborah were born in Tanganyika on as an engineer supervising work on 28 October, 1944. Their accountant a coffer dam in the River Thames as father, David Gordon Hines, was a part of the Thames Barrier project, Captain in the King’s African Rifes. his chosen profession then took him After the war ended, the family to the Far East. moved to Dar-es-Salaam, the capital Over the next 20 years, he of Tanganyika at that time, where worked on projects in Hong Kong, David was involved in developing Thailand and Indonesia, mainly as farming co-operatives in Tanganyika a consultant on bridge works, but and Uganda in the post-war years. also on food control measures The twins’ childhood was therefore and highway upgrades. Whilst not spent mostly in a suburb of Dar- professing to be a linguist, he had es-Salaam called Oyster Bay, which learned to speak Swahili as a child, Peter recalled as “an absolutely and this seems to have given him fabulous place to grow up … as we the ability, later in life, to become were totally free!” fuent in Romanian, and to speak From the age of 13, Peter was Bahasa Indonesia with confdence. educated in Britain at his father’s He also achieved a useful level of Prof RALPH BENJAMIN, CB, FREng, Director at GCHQ, where he stayed old school, Blundell’s, in Devon, from ability in Cantonese and Thai, all FIET, FRSA (Elec Eng 1941-44) until 1982. He was responsible for where he continued to Hertford of which greatly aided local work Ralph Benjamin was born in fast-track Research, Development, College, Oxford. However, despite negotiations. Darmstadt, Germany, in 1922. Procurement, and Deployment, becoming an expert punter, Peter At school, Peter had excelled He attended in and for the use of equipment and decided that Oxford was not for him at sport, captaining rugby and Switzerland from 1937, and was sent techniques for Signals Intelligence. and gained a place at City & Guilds cricket teams. He was also a keen to England in 1939 as a refugee. He During most of this time, he was College to read Civil Engineering skier, frstly in the Alps and later in studied at Ellesmere College and also Chief Scientifc Advisor to the from 1965, graduating in 1968. Scandinavia. When in the Far East, at City & Guilds College, where he Intelligence Services and national Peter started his career with he sailed – for some time owning graduated with a 1st class Honours Co-ordinator Intelligence R&D. At Taylor Woodrow, working on the a third of a Ruffan sailing boat in degree in Electronic Engineering. GCHQ, he also played an important construction of tower blocks and Hong Kong – and twice crewed in Sadly, both of his parents had died role in the original development of a bus station at Anderston Cross, the 565-mile South China Yacht in Auschwitz. “non-secret cryptography” (albeit in Glasgow. He was then assigned Races. He also skippered annually – Ralph joined the Royal Naval later independently discovered by to Nigeria to work on an earth- ten or so times engaging in bareboat Scientifc Service in 1944, beginning others): ‘public-key cryptography’. satellite communication centre and sailing with friends in the Cyclades his career at the Admiralty Surface He also taught as a visiting a chain of microwave towers. Peter and elsewhere. He fully enjoyed Weapons Establishment (ASWE). Professor at the worked next in Romania, building the social side of being an ‘ex-pat’ in Between 1947 and 1957, he between 1972 and 1978, and here he an irrigation system, before moving exotic locations. developed the frst force-wide helped to start the Surrey University on to the northern part of Western On retiring, at the age of 52, he integrated Command and Control mini-satellite programme. Australia, with temperatures returned to the UK and – having System. This included patenting Following retirement from the sometimes reaching 140°F or so, never married – took up residence the use of an interlaced cursor civil service, he became Head to work on repairs to the 265-mile in the home of his elder sister, not controlled by a tracker ball to link of Communications Techniques long Mount Newman Railway line, far from the Thames, using this as a displays to stored digital information, & Networks at the Supreme which carried iron-ore trains of up base for his love of playing both golf the frst ever digital compression Headquarters Allied Powers Europe to a mile or more in length. He and bridge, whilst enjoying the social of video data, and the creation of (SHAPE) Technical Centre, from recalled the sheep here being ‘as big life available in local pubs. the Navy’s frst digital data link and 1982 to 1987. He graduated from as donkeys’. Just before Christmas 2020, Peter network which is still in use NATO- the NATO Staff College in 1983. Peter then moved back to Europe, became ill with a health condition wide as “Link 11”. His tracker ball On his return to England, Ralph becoming involved in the Offshore for which doctors sent him to system for cursor control has led became a visiting Research Professor Oil industry, in Scotland and Kingston Hospital. Unfortunately, to him being widely hailed as the at University College, London, and, Scandinavia, on steel and concrete whilst there, he caught Covid-19, inventor of the Computer Mouse. from 1993, at Bristol University. jackets for deep-water platforms. from which he died on 10 January, From 1961 to 1964, he was He was also a visiting Professor One of these was the massive 2021, at the age of 76. Head of Research and Deputy at Imperial College, the Open Director of the Admiralty Surface University, and the Royal Military Weapons Establishment, then in College of Science, also serving 1964 he became Chief Scientist as a Member of Court at Brunel Admiralty Underwater Weapons University. He was awarded an Establishment (AUWE), combined honorary DEng by Bristol University with Director, AUWE, and MoD in 2000, won the IET Heinrich Hertz Director Underwater Weapons premium twice, also the Marconi R&D – posts he held until 1971. premium and the Clarke Maxwell Original publications during this time premium. In 2006, he was given the resulted in a DSc and he published Achievement in Electronics Award a textbook on “Modulation, and, also in 2006, the Oliver Lodge Resolution and Signal processing” Medal for IT. that was later unoffcially translated In his seventies, Ralph wrote an into Russian. He also trained as a autobiography, which he called ‘Five navy diver to better understand Lives in One’; this was published in some of the challenges faced by the 1996. Ralph died on 7 May 2019, at Royal Navy. the age of 96. In 1971, he became Chief Scientist, IEEE Oral History interview at: Peter with his twin sister, Deborah Ogilvie, at their 40th birthday party Chief Engineer and Superintending http://bit.ly/IE34-Benjamin

34 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2021 OBITUARIES A lifetime of volunteering to help his community ERNEST A HARVEY (Chem Eng City & Guilds College in 1952, to regarded engineering consultancy throughout his life, and this 1952-55 and 1955-58) study for a BSc(Eng) and PhD in in the pulp and paper industry – S J was demonstrated through his Chemical Engineering. In June 1954, Baisch Associates Inc. support and affliations with the he married Joan Ashmore, and they Throughout his life, Ernie sought St. Norbert College, where he and went on to raise two daughters and out opportunities to better the Joan endowed a generous, enduring two sons. communities in which he lived annual scholarship to emphasise For much of his career, Ernie lived and worked by volunteering his and reward community leadership and worked in the United States, leadership skills, particularly for within the student body. for the past several decades living in groups and activities for which In his spare time, Ernie greatly Green Bay, Wisconsin. he had innate interest. He loved enjoyed listening to the sounds of His son records that Ernie and excelled at two of his native brass bands. In 2005, he organised developed a passion for the paper England’s most popular sports, Rugby and sponsored a concert in Green making industry early in his career, and Soccer, and his involvement Bay that brought a prominent brass quietly distinguishing himself through over more than 20 years of band from England to play in a his knowledge and benevolent coaching, refereeing, advocating and concert series. leadership, earning executive and leading were instrumental in the Ernie died in Punta Gorda at the ownership positions in pulp and development and growth of these age of 85 on 25 August, 2020. He is paper processing, production and sports in Wisconsin. survived by his wife of 66 years, his “Ernie” was born in London consulting. He served as a Principal Ernie maintained a strong four children, fourteen grandchildren on 10 November, 1934, coming to Partner and Director of a highly commitment to higher education and seven great-grandchildren.

“Golf courses are in beautiful places” Collaborative researcher in combustion, this time on Prof PETER (PETE) BETTESS, FREng computations for Rolls-Royce (Civil Eng 1964-67, 67-68) in Bristol, John returned to the Peter was born on 17 June 1945, United States in 1979, to become a and arrived at City & Guilds College Professor of Mechanical Engineering in October 1964 to study Civil at Virginia Tech, settling permanently Engineering. He obtained a BSc(Eng) in Ellett Valley, east of Blacksburg. in 1967, with First Class Honours. His teaching and research continued, He returned to the College for including the analysis of rocket a year from October 1967, as a pumps, both for the French (SEP) postgraduate student following and for NASA. He lectured at many the advanced course in structural professional development short engineering, in the department of courses in both Europe and the Civil Engineering, obtaining an MSc in U.S., being awarded the ASME IGTI January 1969 and DIC in May 1969. Education Committee’s ‘Best Paper’ Peter joined the Old Centralians, Award, in 1996. and was a life member of CGCA. John’s passion for golf started with After launching into an academic his grandfather shortening and giving career, Peter became interested him a 5-iron on his 4th birthday, and in fnite element analysis and in adult life he would often say, “golf collaborated with Professor Oligerd courses are in beautiful places.” He (‘Olek’) Zienkiewicz (Civil Eng also greatly enjoyed hiking in the 1942-45), a pioneer of the method, mountains: in Wales, near where he in over twenty academic papers on grew up; in the Pyrenees, whilst at this topic between 1976 and 1985. college; in New Hampshire, whilst at Peter’s Career took him to Durham MIT; and, ultimately, right outside his University, where he became a door in Ellett Valley. Professor. His wife, Dr Jacqueline Prof JOHN MOORE (Mech Eng innovative computations explaining Taking early retirement from (Jackie) Bettess, was Assistant 1962-65) the fow in a rotating passage. Virginia Tech in the late 1990s, John Director of the Computer Centre John Moore, a life member of After 4 years working with a became president of the Blacksburg at Durham, and they also worked CGCA, was born on the Wirral combustion group at the General Country Club Homeowners’ together on fnite analysis. In 1999, peninsula of North West England, Electric Research Laboratory in Association. To celebrate the year Peter was awarded a DSc(Eng) and raised in Bebington by his Niskayuna, NY, John returned to 2000, he decided to research the for work in the feld of numerical grandparents, Samuel and Mary England in 1973 to take a 5-year early settlers of Ellett Valley, and methods in engineering, and in July Payne. He attended the elite teaching position at Cambridge this turned into a passion for local 2000 he was elected as a Fellow of Birkenhead School, on a County University. Assigned to teach history. He was well-known for the Royal Academy of Engineering. Council scholarship. He studied at Thermodynamics, he added this to regaling his neighbours with stories In 2005, Peter and Jackie moved City & Guilds College for a degree his fuid fow expertise to develop of the early settlers and the great to live in Kentmere, not far from in Mechanical Engineering, and then (now also with the aid of his wife food that occurred in the 1700s. Windermere in the Lake District, for his Masters and Doctorate Joan) computational methods John and Joan also went on many where they played an active part in from the Institute of that could predict performance of family history trips, researching both campaigning to have fast broadband Technology, where he met his wife, centrifugal impellers in the classic his and Joan’s family history. delivered by Openreach, an Joan, in the Gas Turbine Laboratory. form of a temperature-entropy Sadly, John was preceded in death objective that was achieved in May John’s technical passion was diagram. This was applied by the by his son, David Moore, but was 2018. Sadly, Peter died on 7 March, three-dimensional fuid fow in Rolls-Royce large engine division to survived by Joan (after 52 years of 2020, so will only have been able to turbomachinery. He received the signifcantly improve the turbine in marriage), by his step-son Stephen derive beneft from the fbre service ASME Gas Turbine Power Award their RB211 jet engine. Kukolich, Stephen’s wife Linda, and for a limited time. for his doctoral experiments and After another year working by their two children.

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