Obituary: David Speake

George David Speake OBE MA(Cantab) FIET: 2nd June 1919 - 8th January 2014

George David Speake OBE, Past President

George David Speake who has died aged 94 was a prominent member of CSES.

In 1938, David, as he was known to all his colleagues, a gifted pupil of Adams Grammar School, Newport, Shropshire, won an open scholarship to St. Catharine's College, Cambridge and in 1941 he achieved a First Class Honours in Natural Sciences (Physics). On graduating he was recruited into the Ministry of Aircraft Production to work on the vital area of the RAF’s emerging ground based radar programme.

In 1942 he was commissioned into the RAF as a Flight Lieutenant in the Technical Branch and joined the ground radar group working on OBOE (bombing aid) and the GEE (navigation aid). In 1945, he was posted to Italy as GEE chain commander for Northern Italy.

In 1950 David joined Marconi’s Wireless and Telegraph Company Limited for the start of, what was to be, a distinguished career spanning some 38 years. He quickly rose through the organisation to be the Chief of Research at The Marconi Research Laboratory, Great Baddow, and by 1965, Director of Research of The Marconi Company overseeing research work across the whole organisation.

During this period he served on the Council of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and on many Government and Industry bodies, leading to his being awarded an OBE in 1975. He was an active member of the Chelmsford Engineering Society and President first in 1963/64 and again in 1981/82. He always attended the Society's Annual Dinner and, being the true scholar that he was, always gave the Grace in Latin.

David had a long and productive professional life. David was a gentleman in every sense of the word and his calming advice when sought was invaluable.

George David Speake OBE MA(Cantab) FIET
2nd June 1919 — 8th January 2014

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