Bernard Halliwell CEng MIET, June 1938 - July 2020
Published: Mon 24 Aug 2020
Bernard Halliwell was born into a modest hard-working family in Mossley, Lancashire. Both his parents were involved in the local cotton mill industry.
As a bright boy, he won a scholarship to study at St. Bede’s Grammar School in Manchester. The scholarship included free rail travel to and from home and this constant travel in and around Manchester with steam power still to the fore undoubtedly left a strong impression.
Bernard went on to study at Oldham Technical College.
His first job was as an apprentice with Ferranti Ltd at Chadderton. Bernard was fascinated by electronics and worked on a number of exciting projects at Ferranti, including high flash rate stroboscopes, cathode ray tubes for air traffic control displays, specialist valves and early computers. Whilst at Ferranti he was afforded the opportunity to study for a degree in Electrical Engineering at The Royal College of Advanced Technology, Salford.
Bernard was a member of the IET for over 50 years and made numerous contributions across a range of fields. He was also Honorary Secretary and Committee Member of the Manchester Retired Members’ Section for nine years.
Whilst excited by technology he probably found his true passion when he made the move to a post as Lecturer at the Electrical Engineering Department of what was then Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University). Taking a keen interest in student development he frequently travelled the country to follow the progress of students at industrial placements, sometimes with his family in tow.
The furthest his work travels took him was to Yarmouk University in Jordan where the Polytechnic had been invited to advise on the creation of a sandwich course. I remember the car journey back from the airport as Bernard excitedly told us all the details about what was obviously a very welcoming but exotic country.
Bernard was a very practical man and the kind of engineer who had an intrinsic understanding across many concepts. He could seeming to turn his hand to anything. I remember as a boy being fascinated when he built an extension to our house, did his own car maintenance, installed a home-made ventilation system, fitted a sound system into the bath, helped us to program home computers and built me my own train set.
Trains and steam were very much Bernard’s passion, along with his family, education and the outdoors. As a younger man, he often travelled the country on cycling or climbing holidays, his intimate knowledge of railway timetables serving him well. After retirement, he took up a leading role in the preservation of the large steam engine at Ellenroad Mill, Milnrow, where his incredible knowledge of steam and seemingly all facets of mechanical engineering made him an invaluable team member. He ended up being awarded the honour of life president.
Bernard was also fantastically knowledgeable about industrial archaeology and was a keen member of the Railway and Canal Historical Society, often making convoluted journeys on public transport to delve into the past. In his spare time, he enjoyed music and made numerous trips to Manchester to see the Hallé or to take in an opera. He was equally at home watching brass bands at the annual contest around Saddleworth.
A knowledgeable, modest man, Bernard Halliwell dedicated his life to his family, to the education of others and to the understanding and preservation of the north of England’s great industrial heritage. He died after a short illness and will be greatly missed by wife Alison, his brother Richard, three children and two grandchildren.