Dr Robert Johnson BSc(Eng) CEng FIET, 1930 – 2020
Published: Mon 16 Nov 2020
Bob Johnson was educated from 1939 to 1948 at Redditch County High School, Worcestershire where he was awarded the Oxford School Certificate and Northern Universities Higher School Certificate.
A keen sportsman he represented the school in cricket, football and athletics.
He subsequently joined the RAF in 1948 as part of his National Service and following initial training at Cranwell was stationed in Malta working on air traffic control guiding civil and military aircraft to Luca and other Maltese airports.
Whilst in the RAF he continued his interest in cricket and other sports, winning several awards.
After leaving the RAF, he attended Birmingham College of Advanced Technology completing an external degree under the auspices of the University of London.
Following graduation in 1954, he started working as a Graduate Apprentice for English Electric, joining the then IEE a year later in 1955.
Following training with English Electric, he continued to work with them on the design and commissioning of control systems, mainly for the steel industry.
During this time, he undertook some part-time teaching at Stafford Technical College.
In 1958, Bob left English Electric and joined the academic staff at Birmingham College of Advanced Technology which subsequently became Aston University in 1966.
His interest in control systems continued and he completed his PhD on Control System modelling in 1969.
During his time at Aston, he performed various senior roles becoming department Senior Tutor which included responsibility for undergraduate courses.
He supported numerous research projects and was a lifelong member of the IEE.
In 1983 he was awarded the IEE South Midland Electronics and Control Section award for his contribution for bringing up to date control techniques to local industries.
His research activities mainly concentrated on high-speed drives for the improvement of manufacturing processes and remotely piloted vehicles (drones).
He contributed to work at Aston until his retirement in 1999.
Outside of work, he was a keen badminton player and upon retirement took up golf.
He would play every weekday getting up early to enjoy either 9 or 18 holes arriving back reasonably early so he could spend the rest of the day at home.
In his early years of retirement, he also acted as an IEE / IET Membership adviser.
He died peacefully on 18 October 2020 and is survived by his wife, two children and one grandchild.
He will be sorely missed.