Dr Bryan C Lindley CBE, August 1932 – August 2021
Published: Thu 2 Sep 2021
Dr Lindley was born in Suffolk on 30 August 1932, near where his father was serving the Royal Air Force (he joined up in 1922 and retired in 1954).
Postings led to eleven moves to new schools, finishing at Reading School at which he was awarded a State Scholarship.
His choice was to read Mechanical Engineering at University College London, gaining a First Class Honours Degree and later being appointed a Fellow of the College.
He Continued at UCL, to be awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree for an investigation related to aero gas turbines through a Research Fellowship at the National Gas Turbine Establishment.
His career developed initially to Hawker Siddeley Nuclear Power Company, in nuclear power and aerospace, leading advanced projects for nuclear reactors, rocket and satellite technology.
He contributed extensively to the British Space Development Company when space exploitation was in its infancy.
Nuclear skills were advanced at the Harwell Reactor Course, an in-depth experience.
He also attended the Harvard Advanced Management Programme.
Next was a move to C A Parsons Nuclear Research Centre, reformed under Sir Monty FInniston as International Research and Development Company Ltd (IRD), leading many new areas of technology including closed-cycle MPD (magnetplasmadynamic) power generation and large-scale applications of superconductors, some enabled by contracts from the US Department of Defence Advanced Research Projects and National Research Development Corporation.
When Parsons acquired the GEC turbine generator business Dr Lindley was invited to become Manager of the combined research and development operation, reorganising this as an effective contributor to the company’s business in large scale team turbine-generators, transformers and ancillary equipment.
Dr Lindley then was appointed as the Director of Electrical Research Association which he soon reformed as ERA Technology Ltd and became Chief Executive and Managing Director, extending the scope to include many new technologies in communications and digital electronics now commonplace in the 21st century.
Following a successful eleven years in contract engineering, the next move was as Director of Technology worldwide for the Dunlop Group of companies.
Here was what he christened a “British Empire Company” trading of its past glories and neglecting jewels of innovation.
Responsible for a global wide-ranging activity he was the only Director to have visited all the businesses.
An innovation was to appoint a General Manager, Military and Defence Business, which successfully exploited unexposed capabilities.
Following Dunlop’s acquisition by Sumitomo and BTR, Dr Lindley was appointed Director of Technology and Planning of BICC Cables Ltd, where he was instrumental in a reorganisation from twenty-seven operating companies to five divisions, manpower reduction from 9000 t0 5000 and a return to profitability.
He was also Chairman of Optical Fibres, a joint venture with the US Corning Glass and the largest optical fibre and hugely profitable producer in Europe for this new communication technology.
Reorganising the wide geographical spread of cable manufacture (BICC was another British Empire company) and the new facilities of the world wide web be initiated a network throughout the group to share information and technology across the various companies.
Also a BICC-appointed Director of Thomas Bolton and Johnson, he was a Member of the London Metals Exchange.
Parting with BICC Dr Lindley became Chief Executive and Managing Director of a start-up company in advance robotics, part financed by the Department of Trade and Industry.
This was very advanced technology, not mindless on production lines but involving sight and other sensors inputting to artificial intelligence and control circuitry.
The company was formally opened by the Duke of Edinburgh.
After recruiting a high-calibre team and creating a powerful programmed of robotics activities, Dr Lindley formed an MBI (management buy-in) team intent upon acquiring a business with expansion potential, focusing upon an industrial electronics component of Ferranti.
He was Chairman of Wetheriggs Pottery Ltd near his home in Penrith, Cumbria.
In the wave of formation of NHS Trusts he became Chairman of North Lakeland Healthcare NHS Trust (an appointment by the Secretary of State for Health), providing quality community and mental health services in North and East Cumbria embodying the Garlands Hospital in Carlisle, the Carlisle Central Clinic, and the five Community Hospitals of Brampton, Alston, Penrith, Keswick and Wigton.
He retired on completion of a four-year term, successful in performing immaculately as compared with others in Cumbria and nationally, before further major changes in the organisation of the NHS.
In parallel with career appointments Dr Lindley undertook many official tasks for the Government in power.
These included: Visiting Professor of Electrical Engineering and Electronics. University of Liverpool; Chairman of DTI Materials, Chemicals and Vehicles Requirements Board, investing £400M annually in industrial research and development projects; Member of the Cabinet Office Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development, which reported to the Prime Minister; Deputy Chairman, Watt Committee on Energy; Chairman, Science, Education and Management Division of the IEE; Member, Committee of Inquiry into the Engineering Profession; Member, Advisory Committee for the Safety of Nuclear Installations; Member, Design Council; Member, CBI Research and Technology Committee; and Deputy Chairman of Neighbourhood Watch for East Cumbria.
He was appointed CBE in the 1982 New Years Honours List.
Leisure time reflected a passion for motor cars and aircraft, many years sailing from Ullswater Yacht Club and in the Mediterranean, skiing extensively at European and American resorts, cycling including many tours in Europe, photography, music and books, playing bridge, design and building “Lindenthwaite” (home since 1995), Penrith Civic Society Chairman President, Executive Committee of the Friends of the Lake District and Deputy Chairman of the Wine Appreciation Society of Penrith.
His autobiography is an illustrate hardbacked book entitled “Nomad – a life story” and covers 1932 until 2012. In collaboration with his wife Dr Judith Heyworth, a retired NHS Consultant Radiologist, they have published “Penrith through Time”, an illustrated book comparing the historical town of around 1900 or earlier with the built environment up to 2012, much changed since the millennium year.
Dr Lindley is survived by his wife and son, Julian from an earlier marriage.