Retiring from engineering

David Middleton from the Division of Mechanical Engineering will retire this August, after more than 36 years at the University and over 48 years of working in Engineering.

David started an engineering apprenticeship at the Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Company and Veeder-Root Ltd, Dundee, in 1956, before going on to study at the Royal College of Science and Technology (now Strathclyde University) and then the University of Birmingham. Professional work followed at BP Chemicals and then the National Engineering Laboratory in East Kilbride before he joined the University in 1968.

After a few years teaching Thermodynamics, David has concentrated on Engineering Design. His research interests were mainly in Tribology and Mechanical Engineering Design, with many of his projects carried out in conjunction with industry. David worked closely with NCR between 1986 and 1999 and several postgraduate students were supported by the significant income produced for the University through that collaboration. He served on the local and Scottish committees of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and has played an active part in maintaining an accredited Mechanical Engineering degree at the University.

Professor Eric Abel, Head of the Division of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics said, "David is devoted to the discipline of Mechanical Engineering. Both staff and students have had the highest respect for his professionalism and knowledge of the subject and we thank him that we still have Mechanical Engineering at this University. We shall all miss David and wish him a very happy retirement."