Page 50 - Gi June/July 2019

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OBITUARIES

RUSSELL WALTERS igem.org.uk
GRADE: Chartered Member facebook.com/IGEMpage
SECTION: London, Southern & Eastern twitter.com/IGEMGi
AGE: 89

DAVID MATTHEWS JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTION OF
GRADE: Fellow
SECTION: London, Southern & Eastern GAS ENGINEERS AND MANAGERS
AGE: 79

ARTHUR NEWTON DIGEST
‘Do it now’: UK must set zero-
carbon target for 2050, say
GRADE: Chartered Member UKRI allocates £30m for smart
official advisers
energy systems innovation
SECTION: Midlands JUNE/JULY 2019 UK oil and gas industry needs
25,000 new workers within six
years, says skills report
AGE: 83 CONNECTED
WORLD
NORMAN BLACKER Are you ready for the next industrial revolution?
GRADE: Companion
FOUNDED 1863
SECTION: London, Southern & Eastern ROYAL CHARTER 1929
AGE: 80
WILLIAM ‘BILL’ JOHN WALTERS OBE FRENG
20 OCTOBER 1926 – 1 MARCH 2019 Covers.indd 1 16/05/2019 15:44
IN THE 1950S, the industry was much concerned with PATRON PRODUCED AND DESIGNED
reducing its dependence on coal through new processes and Her Majesty The Queen BY SYON MEDIA
feedstocks. Denis Rooke, not yet knighted for his service to PRESIDENT + 44 (0) 203 900 0145
E: gi@syonmedia.com
the gas industry, had the Gas Council’s approval for a trial Steve Edwards www.syonmedia.com
to transport an amount of LNG by sea to Canvey Island. The BSc MIGEM
converted ship, the Methane Pioneer, was launched in 1959 ©
and, in order to unload its cargo and arrange for it to be used PRESIDENT ELECT
with the existing town gas system, it was necessary to design Antony Green
CEng FIGEM CWEM FCIWEM
and build the associated storage and pipework. MIW
Following the success of the trial, a construction team Published by IGEM
was appointed to build a permanent LNG terminal and Bill VICE-PRESIDENT T: +44(0)1509 678 159
Walters was made Project Engineer. By 1964, the work was Duncan Wong E: general@igem.org.uk
CEng MIGEM
completed and in October that year, the first 12,000 tonne IGEM House,
cargo of liquid methane, the coldest cargo in the world, HONORARY SECRETARY 26 & 28 High Street, Kegworth
arrived at the Canvey Terminal from Arzew, in North Africa. Gordon Davies Derby
For the UK gas industry, the 1960s was a period of rapid CEng FIGEM DE74 2DA.
growth, mainly due to increased demand for domestic heat. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Registered Charity No. 214011
In 1967, natural gas from the first North Sea field, West Sole, Neil Atkinson
was brought ashore at Theddlethorpe, soon followed by gas CEng FIChemE HonFSE ISSN 1755-5477
from more fields, which was landed at Bacton. It was clear that
a coordinated approach was needed within the industry and EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: It is believed that the
Sharon Baker-Hallam
statements made in this
Bill was appointed Assistant Director of Engineering Planning. BA Hons AIGEM publication are based
In 1970, Bill established a new engineering planning T: +44(0)1509 678 186 on accurate and reliable
group within the Gas Council. This group would liaise closely E: sharon@igem.org.uk information. The views
with engineers in each area board and those within the Gas ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES expressed are not necessarily
Council itself, plus others. Ian James those of the publisher. No
liability can be accepted for
Friend and Fellow of IGEM Bob Hackett paid tribute to T: +44(0)20 3900 0147 any error or omission.
Bill, saying: “The part that Bill played in the UK gas industry E: gi@syonmedia.com
was especially important during this period of rapid growth
and the change to a natural supply of gas. Because he was SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES
Jane Murphy
personally involved in the Canvey LNG trial, he was one T: +44(0)1442 820 580
of a small number of people that contributed to the very E: subs@webscribe.co.uk
beginnings of the world’s present LNG market.”
In 1977, the Queen honoured Bill with an OBE. Bill, SUBSCRIPTION RATES
husband of Joyce and father of John and David, died UK: £129.99 per annum
Overseas: £169.99 ($266)
peacefully on 1 March 2019, aged 92 years, at Addenbrookes per annum
Hospital, Cambridge.

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