It is with regret that we inform colleagues that Professor Roy Holmes passed away peacefully this morning following an acute illness.
Roy joined Southampton from the University of Sussex as Professor of Mechanical Engineering in 1984 and was later appointed Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, a post which he held until his retirement in 1997. Roy was a passionate teacher and researcher with an outstanding reputation in the field of rotordynamics. Despite retiring in 1997 he continued to deliver and coordinate a popular undergraduate module until last academic year, and was actively co-supervising research until just a few weeks ago.
Those of us who worked with him will remember his tremendous zest for life, and his support and encouragement for junior colleagues. It says much about Roy that he maintained his routine of a regular swim in the Solent until last summer.
Our thoughts are with Roy’s wife, Anne, and the rest of his family.