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Further reading ⇓

□ Overview □ Alvey □ Central Computing Committee Review Working Party Report □ Lighthill Report □ Roberts □ IKBS RARM □ STI Report □ Gillan □ UI Architecture □ UIMS/GKS □ Targets □ Mural □ DGXII Plan □ Think Parallel □ COSINE 1989 □ SE Projects □ RAL 1990s □ Interaction □ Graphics Workstations □ Pioneering Images □ ARGOSI □ GKS Tutorial □ TMI Lecture □ ISPRA visit □ RAL Bulletin □ Fairclough Review □ ERCIM EDGE □ ERCIM HPC □ Mgmt EPSRC/PPARC □ UMIST CFD □ CCD/INF Merger

RAL Bulletin News

1990-1991

Some of the computer related items in RAL Bulletins in the period 1990-1991.

September 1990

Bryan Colyer retired from Informatics Department in May, having been with the Laboratory since 1961, when he transferred to NIRNS from Harwell. Bryan started work on the National Hydrogen Bubble Chamber, and progressed rapidly through the engineering grades. At the time of his retirement, he was in a unique position at RAL and SERC, being the only Grade VI Individual Merit Engineer, a promotion awarded to him in July 1978.

One of Bryan's major achievements was his design work for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). He was also the pioneer of RAL's involvement in the European ESPRIT programme, being involved in an early project on Product Data Exchange.

Making the presentation, Director Paul Williams said that throughout his career Bryan had been one of our best engineers. As a memento of his time at RAL, Bryan was given the first ever hand held electronic calculator purchased by the Lab, which he had bought, mounted on a picture of the JCMT. He had asked that any collection was to be given as a donation to charity, and so Dr Williams presented Bryan with a cheque for £115.

October 1990

Congratulations on David Duce's Individual Merit Promotion to Grade 6 as a result of this year's Individual Merit Promotion Review for the Research Councils.

David Duce of Informatics Department is the first computer professional to achieve such a promotion. His research field is the formal specification of computer graphics systems, which has enabled him to play a leading role in the definition of International Standards for computer graphics.

March 1991

Peking University has conferred an honorary professorship on Dr Mike Russell in recognition of his contribution to the physics of particle track detectors, particle accelerators and HEP targets.

He has also been appointed Visiting Professor of Physics and Technology at Peking University, to research layered structures, phase-change in the solid-state and surface phenomena. The University ceremonies will take place in early summer this year.

August 1991

Audrey Foster, Computing Divisions' and later Director's Secretary, retires.

An essential role for the Director's secretary is to be the first point of contact for many visitors to the Laboratory. Inevitably this means living 'in the limelight'. Audrey has done this superbly generating an image of elegant efficiency that immediately begins to colour a visitor's impression of the whole Laboratory. It may therefore seem surprising to many people who contributed to her leaving present that she asked for, and got, a very private presentation on the thirteenth of June in my office. This is just what we expected because Audrey disliked 'a fuss'.

Although few words were said, it was an important event. Few people can truly appreciate the way in which Audrey has lightened my load over the years we have worked together; this was a real partnership.

I want to take this opportunity publicly to say thank you to Audrey from all of us who have worked closely with her during the many years she has been in RAL. Have a long and happy retirement; what is that address in Spain so we can come for our hols?

Paul Williams

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