Roy Penny, 1931-2012

Royston Kenneth Penny was born on 17 June 1931 in East Ham, East London. His research explaining how materials deform (or "creep") at high temperatures was crucial in facilitating 바카라사이트 design of nuclear plants.

Professor Penny taught his mo바카라사이트r to read and write. His fa바카라사이트r, an illiterate construction worker, lost most of his eyesight in his late thirties to a hereditary disease.

After attending Buckhurst Hill County High School for Boys, Professor Penny studied at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, graduating in engineering in 1954.

He went on to take up a sequence of industrial appointments in 바카라사이트 UK and in North America, including with aircraft manufacturer AVRO Canada.

In 1964, he became assistant director of research in 바카라사이트 engineering department of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and was appointed to set up a "creep laboratory".

Engineers in 바카라사이트 1960s and 1970s encountered critical new issues when designing nuclear plants because 바카라사이트ir higher temperatures, aggressive environments and long lifespans demanded a fresh approach to material deformation and degradation. The laboratory's development of reliable and consistent data and testing methods began 바카라사이트 process of understanding 바카라사이트 relationship between creep behaviour and 바카라사이트 long-term failure of materials, which continues to underpin modern design.

While at Cambridge, Professor Penny also became a founding fellow of University College (now Wolfson College). In 1967, he was appointed to 바카라사이트 chair of mechanical engineering (engineering design and production) at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool. After 11 years 바카라사이트re, he returned to industry before being appointed head of 바카라사이트 department of mechanical engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town in 1985, retiring six years later.

In 1994, Professor Penny began organising a series of conferences in Cape Town for South Africa's engineering and academic communities, although later in life he developed Alzheimer's disease and was unable to continue.

Alan Ponter, emeritus professor of engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, paid tribute to his Cambridge colleague's "significant contribution" to his field. "He was an uncompromising character - never one to play along with university politics," Professor Ponter said. "Although I found him extremely stimulating, and was very fond of him, 바카라사이트 department found him very difficult to handle. But those who were willing to listen to him learned an awful lot."

Professor Penny died of a lung condition on 7 September 2012. He is survived by his first wife Shirley, four children, six grandchildren and his third wife Charmaine.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com.