September 30, 2015
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FOUR SCOTS JOIN THESCOTTISH ENGINEERING HALL OF FAME
Four Scottish engineers have been added to the IESIS Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame, including Sir Donald Miller, the man responsible for creating a highly respected efficient and reliable electricity supply system in Scotland.
Donald Millerwas inducted at last night’s James Watt dinner - held in Glasgow - alongside three other notable Scottish Engineers: John Logie Baird,the inventor of mechanical television and pioneer of televised images,Henry Dyer,the father of engineering education in Japan and Sir George Bruce, the pioneering genius who created a sophisticated 16th century mining complex in Culross that predated the Industrial Revolution.
Gordon Masterton, Chairman of Judges for the Hall of Fame, said: "This new group of inductees extends the breadth and scope of the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame from the 16th Century to the present day. Scotland can rightly claim to be one of the most important seed beds of great engineering accomplishments over that entire period. It has also been a great exporter of skills and expertise, as exemplified by Henry Dyer, the father of engineering education in Japan, an early example of the Scottish engineering diaspora.”
Collectively, the twenty-three membersin the Hall of Fame now tell a story of450 years of world-beating engineering innovation that has led to massive improvements in our quality of life and benefits to the economy of Scotland and the United Kingdom.”
Bryan Buchan, Chief Executive of Scottish Engineering, said:“This is another great night of celebrating engineering in Scotland and a fitting tribute to the huge contribution made by Sir Donald Miller when Chief Engineer of the Hydro Board,the South of Scotland Electricity Board, later the first Chairman of Scottish Power plc. He made important strategic decisions between 1966 and 1992that developed the reliable electricity supply we enjoy today. We hope his life example encourages young people into engineering to share the excitement of being part of securing a resilient and sustainableinfrastructure.”
The Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame was launched in 2011 by The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland (IESIS), and is supported by engineering institutions, museums and trade bodies in Scotland, including Scottish Engineering.
Contacts:
(IESIS): Gordon Masterton / (Scottish Engineering):/ Email:
07770 851747 / Phone: 0141 221 3181
Notes to the Editor
Website:
The James Watt Dinner is the annual dinner of IESIS, Scotland's multi-disciplinary engineering institution founded in 1857. Each year it features the announcements of the latest inductees to the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame, established by Gordon Masterton, then President of IESIS, in 2011.This tells the story of Scotland’sengineering contribution to our civilisation through the achievements and lives of the,now, twenty-three members of the Hall of Fame.
About the Inductees
Sir Donald Miller (b. 1927)
Donald John Miller was brought up on a farm in Kincardineshire, educated at Banchory Academy and studied engineering at the University of Aberdeen. In 1966 he was appointed Chief Engineer of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and became responsible for the design and construction of new pumped-storage and thermal generating stations.
In 1974, he became Director of Engineering at the South of Scotland Electricity Board where he took responsibility for all engineering operations including construction of Hunterston B Nuclear and Inverkip Oil-Fired Generating Stations. He was appointed General Manager in 1977, Deputy Chairman in 1980 and Chairman two years later. As such, he was closely involved with Torness Nuclear Station Project using the best in British nuclear technology. In 1990, the SSEB became Scottish Power plc, and he was appointed the Company's first Chairman. He retired in 1992.
Donald Miller had a central role in the development of the Scottish electricity system that has been a reliable and cost effective resource for the people of Scotland for over 50 years. It was recognised from outside Scotland that the management of its electricity system resulted in better productivity and hence lower cost. Sir Donald’s leadership for innovation and excellence was very important in this achievement.
He was, and remains, the foremost power systems engineer of his generation.
John Logie Baird (1888-1946)
Baird was born in Helensburgh, and educated at Larchfield Academy, the Royal Technical College and the University of Glasgow.
John Logie Baird was the first person to televise objects in motion.
He produced televised images in outline in 1924, transmitted recognisable human faces in 1925 and demonstrated the televising of moving objects in 1926 at the Royal Institution.He demonstrated colour television in 1928.On 30 September 1929 the BBC transmitted, using the Baird 30-line system, its first experimental television broadcast. Later, on 22 August 1932, the first public (in the UK), 30-line television service was inaugurated by the BBC.
When the BBC’s London television service began in 1936, his system was in competition with one promoted by Marconi Electrical and Musical Instruments (EMI), and in February 1937 the BBC adopted the Marconi EMI system exclusively.The last BBC transmission using the Baird system was sent out on 30 January 1937. Despite this, Baird continued to innovate and ultimately held 178 patents. He demonstrated 3-D television in 1942.
Although Baird's system was not the one that was finally chosen by the BBC, it was Baird who led the way in television, and Baird who had the courage, imagination and determination to bring about its success. He created the spark and had the vision to predict the huge impact that television would have on the world. He is regularly cited as one of the world’s great innovators and inventors. His name is synonymous with Scottish ingenuity and perseverance in engineering.
Henry Dyer(1848-1918)
Henry Dyer was born in the village of Muirmaden (now incorporated in Bellshill), Lanarkshire.He was educated at Anderson’s College, Glasgow and from 1868-73 at the University of Glasgow.
On the recommendation of Professor W J M Rankine, of the University of Glasgow, Henry Dyer was offered the posts of Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering and founding Principal of the Imperial College of Engineering, in Tokyo, designed to train the first generation of modern engineers for the newly opened Japan.He had just completed his studies and was 25 years old.
In April 1873 Dyer left Southampton by sea for Japan. His time on the voyage was mainly spent in writing the Calendar for the College which, on his arrival in Japan, was accepted without change. Dyer invented a revolutionary concept for educating engineers in the course of that voyage. The academic curricula which he compiled were based on a combination of classroom teaching, laboratory work, and practical experience.
He returned to Glasgow in 1883, having been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun (3rd Class) by the Japanese Government in recognition of his achievement in establishing a scheme of engineering education in Tokyo. (the highest order of its kind given to any foreigner up to that time). He then concentrated on developing engineering education at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, which ultimately became the University of Strathclyde.
His collected works, edited and published in Japan, run to 2000 pages in five volumes.
Sir George Bruce(c1550-1625)
George Bruce was the third son of Sir Edward Bruce of Blairhall, near Dunfermline.In 1575 Bruce was allowed to become the lessee of the former monastic coalworks at Culross ‘for his great knowledge and skill in machinery such like as no other man has in these days; and for his being the likeliest person to re-establish again the Colliery of Culross’. At the age of 25, hebecame an innovator in coal mining techniques, introducing undersea mining with use of new drainage technology. He hit upon the idea of draining the mine at Culross by fitting an Egyptian wheel and chain of buckets. The wheel was driven by three horses and consisted of an endless chain of 36 buckets. The experiment was a complete success.In their day, Bruce’s mines and salt works were the most technically advanced such enterprise in the UK.
Mining authorities flocked to Culross from all parts of the UK to inspect George Bruce’s great undertakings, and wheels on the same model were erected at many collieries.
King James VI visited the works in 1617 and Sir George Bruce invited the King to visit one of his mines which tunnelled down beneath the sea bed. King James ventured into the tunnel and found himself at a shaft where the coal was loaded onto ships. Alarmed to find himself surrounded by water at the top of the shaft, James accused Sir George of an attempt on his life and declared that the whole affair was an act of treason. It was only after Sir George pointed out the rowing boat and explained that one could either use that or return by the tunnel that James relaxed again – and took the option of the boat journey.
Bruce built a mansion house in Culross, using materials from his foreign trading. This building has subsequently become known as Culross Palace. He lavishly decorated the palace and the stunning painted ceilings, ornate features and panelling can still be seen today.
ENDS