We are saddened by the news of the death of Professor Brian Clarkson, earlier this month. The University flag will fly at half mast today, in his memory.
Brian Clarkson started his career as an aeronautical engineer at the de Havilland Aircraft Company. In 1957 he joined the Aeronautics Department at the University of Southampton as a Research Fellow after a PhD at Leeds, before being appointed Lecturer. He transferred from Aeronautics to become a founder member of the ISVR, becoming Professor of Vibration Studies in 1966 and succeeding Professor Richards as Director of the ISVR in 1967.
Brian was Dean of Engineering from 1978 to 1980 and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton from 1980 to 1982. He was also President of the Institute of Acoustics from 1980 to 1982. In 1982, he was appointed Principal of the University of Wales, Swansea.
He was awarded numerous honorary DSc and LLD degrees including from the Universities of Leeds (1984), Southampton (1987), and the University of Wales (1996).
He was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1963 for his contributions and pioneering research on Acoustic Fatigue. He was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1986. In his later years he made significant contributions to Experimental Statistical Energy Analysis before retiring from Swansea in 1994. He is warmly remembered and respected by his previous colleagues for his friendly and positive encouragement, which reflected his straightforward and honest approach.
He retired from Swansea in 1994 and had a happy and long retirement in South Wales. He is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Carol and sons Stephen, John and Paul.