Legendary metal pioneer dies

A legendary pioneer whose work developing high strength steels revolutionised car and aeroplane safety has died at the age of 86.

Dr Eric Duckworth OBE, of Church Lane, Stoke Poges, was largely responsible for bringing steel back into widespread industrial use after it had been increasingly overtaken by concrete.

His metallurgy division on the British Iron and Steel Research Association helped develop the high strength low alloy steels used in most modern cars. For this he received his PhD in1968 from Cambridge.

With colleague Geoff Hoyle he pioneered the high strength steels now used for aircraft undercarriages, making the problem of metal fatigue a thing of the past.

He joined the board of the Fulmer Research Institute, transforming it from a small government-supported institute in Stoke Poges to an international organisation for pioneering industrial research with operations in USA, Singapore and South Africa.

In 1975 he was president of the Institution of Metallurgists and secured its royal charter. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1980, being appointed OBE in 1991 on his retirement.

Dr Duckworth lived in Church Lane, Stoke Poges for more than 35 years and was a regular member of the congregation at St Giles Church. He married his wife Emma in 1950 and is survived by their son Stephen and granddaughter Rebecca.

Stephen said his dad was often away for months at a time with his work. But he has happy memories of his childhood.

He said: "I thought it was perfectly normal to have a rocket scientist from NASA to chat with about space flight at dinner.

"Famous people were always coming to dinner. My mum would complain about the short notice and then whip up a wonderful meal.

"Like so many brilliant people Dad could be absent minded too. He once sent me back to school a week late because he got the date wrong and had to apologise to the headmaster."

A service to celebrate Dr Duckworth's life is being held at St Giles on Monday at noon. Donations, if required, to Worldshare, Bawtry Hall, Bawtry, Doncaster DN10 6JH.

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