OBE, MA, PhD, HonDMet, FREng, FIMMM, FWeldI
A tribute to the distinguished career of TWI's director of research upon his retirement
As I am sure you are now all aware, Richard retired from TWI on Friday 4 July 2003. He joined TWI (then the British Welding Research Association) in 1965 and has made his mark ever since. BWRA was his fourth employer after periods with Alcan, GEC and Her Majesty (two years National Service!).
Richard began his welding career working on metallurgical aspects of HAZ toughness of pressure vessel steels, and then jointly led the Institute's pioneering studies into lamellar tearing.
He subsequently became Deputy Head and then Head of the Materials Department, before handing over the reins to Trevor Gooch and Peter Hart. Richard was then promoted to the post of Associate Director, Research, in charge of the administration of the Group Sponsored Projects, and assisting Peter Houldcroft with the administration of the Core Research Programme. On Peter's retirement in 1985 Richard was promoted as Director, Research & Technology, and assumed responsibility for the development of TWI's technical direction, innovation and operations. Richard has been a very hard working enthusiast for the peer review process, encouraging each of the Research Board Committee Members to give TWI the benefit of their expertise to enhance our reputation in all fields of materials joining.
Richard has been a very strong Member of TWI's executive team bringing his own special brand of knowledge, reasoning and logic to all policy areas for the business, where his many contributions have helped shape TWI as we know it today.
Richard has also shared his knowledge and experience with his many appointments on external advisory committees, including the UK Technical Advisory Committee for Structural Integrity of Nuclear Plant, the Materials Board of the UK Defence Scientific Advisory Council, and various DTI Committees, as well as the Council of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. His support for the international welding community is further evidenced by his past roles as a Vice President of the IIW, as Chairman of the IIW Technical Management Board, and as Chairman of the IIW Research Strategy Group.
In recognition of his many achievements Richard was elected a Fellow of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering in 1987 and given a National Honour of the Order of the British Empire in 2000. He is a past winner of the Brooker Medal of The Welding Institute and the Bessemer Gold Medal of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in the UK for contributions to the steel industry. He delivered the prestigious Hatfield Lecture in 1997. He is being awarded the 2003 IIW Arata Prize for contributions to the science of welding and joining in July.
Richard is a keen golfer (a bandit some might add!) playing off a handicap of 16 at the moment. One of his major activities in retirement will be treading the green sward at Newmarket. I am sure he will be only too willing to look for a sporting challenge, so don't forget his telephone number!
We understand Richard is also getting his eye in with a cricket bat - we hear he was last heard of limbering up for the TWI/MEPC friendly on our Open Day.
It is also confirmed that Richard is about to purchase a magnificent keyboard and will soon be joining the happy band of TWI people with musical talent. We look forward to him displaying his newly acquired talents on some future occasion.
A staff presentation was made to Richard in the Ramsay Moon Conference Centre on Friday 4 July, 2003. Richard was accompanied by his wife and family. We all wish him well.
Bob John
