Alumni profile - Simon Mills
My Engineering degree has meant that I have ended up in locations that resemble those found in a James Bond movie. I have visited places like CERN, and a power station in Scotland that s ¼ of a mile underneath a mountain with giant hydroelectric turbines - both seem like being in a villain’s lair!
Published:
12 April 2021
Why did you decide to study Mechanical Engineering at Queen Mary College (as it was known in 1968)?
I was good at mathematics and my uncle, who was an engineer, and my father, who was a watchmaker and thus dealt with very small engineering masterpieces, also helped sway my decision. I secured my place at Queen Mary College (QMC) via clearing and looking back I realise how fortunate I was. Initially when I found out I didn’t get the grades for my top choices my heart dropped, but when QMC offered me a place, it lifted back up again.
Captain Martin Howard, Naval pilot who went on to found a school in India – obituary
After a career flying the Sea Vixen he built a house near Delhi and realised his vision of providing an education for local children
Martin Howard with his wife Annie
Captain Martin Howard, who has died aged 84, was a naval test pilot and retired naval adviser at the British High Commission in New Delhi who decided to stay on in India, where he built a rambling, Lutyens-style luxury guesthouse and founded a school for village children.
In 1984-87, while a student at the National Defence College in Delhi and while attached to the High Commission, Howard fell in love with India. So, after a brief retirement in London, he joined Rolls-Royce as its representative on the subcontinent. When he retired from this job he decided to pursue his dream of building a bungalow and farming the land.
Captain Martin Howard, Naval pilot who went on to found a school in India – obituary msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Is Devonport dodgy? Locals have their say on the area s notoriety
It s known for many things, but are any of the infamous Devonport tales still true today?
Updated
The video will auto-play soon8Cancel
Play now
Never miss a big story in Plymouth again with our daily newslettersInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Sign me up!
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Captain John Bowen, naval engineer who designed new types of flight-deck catapult – obituary
Bowen oversaw the French navy’s installation of a catapult system and some of his designs were sold to the US Navy
14 February 2021 • 8:26pm
Bowen, left, showing the latest steam catapult at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, the Royal Navy’s flightdeck development facility, in 1964
Captain John Bowen, who has died aged 88, was an expert in the steam catapult and a renowned nautical surveyor.
In 1957-59 Bowen gained his boiler-room watchkeeping ticket, a requirement for all engineers in the age of steam, in the carrier Ark Royal, the first ship to be constructed with an angled flight deck, hydraulic arrester gear, and steam-driven catapults.