J. S. Clarke
Dr. J. S. Clarke ( -1969)
1940 Industrial Research Laboratories, City of Birmingham Gas Department
1969 Obituary [1]
Dr J. S. Clarke, OBE (Fellow) died on the 29th June.
After serving an apprenticeship at the English Electric Co. at Rugby he entered Birmingham University where he obtained a PhD for work carried out under Prof. F. W. Burstall.
At the outbreak of the 1939-45 war he was seconded to Joseph Lucas Ltd, Birmingham and later to Burnley where a laboratory was set up under his direction. While at Burnley Dr Clarke was also responsible for the design of the combustion systems of the majority of the leading gas turbine manufacturers and it was for his early work on gas turbines that he received his OBE.
Dr Clarke returned to Birmingham as Head of Research and in 1959 became Chief Engineer of the Lucas Group. He retired on medical advice in 1967.
He took a very active interest in Institution affairs serving on the Council of the Automobile Division and was elected Chairman in 1964.
A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Member of the SAE and AS ME, Dr Clark was the author of many papers and was awarded the Institution's Starley Premium in 1963.
He was an indefatigable worker who not only worked hard himself but was able to inspire his staff and colleagues and endeared himself to them by his personal and human qualities.