Military College of Science, Shrivenham: Sir Reginald Stradling, C.B., F.R.S

Abstract

SIR REGINALD STBADLING, whose appointment as dean of the Military College of Science, Shrivenham, has been announced, is notable for his work in applying science to the problems of the building industry. He was trained as an engineer and, after the interruption of the First World War, during which he (served in the Royal Engineers and gained the M.C., he became a lecturer in civil engineering at the University of Birmingham, and then head of the Building Department at Bradford Technical College. In 1924 he became director of the then young Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Inaustaril “Research, and remained there up to the start of the Second World War. Under his control the Station developed rapidly and won recognition from the traditional industry which it was created to serve. In 1939 he undertook the duties of chief adviser on research and experiment to the Air Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office, which afterwards became the Ministry of Home Security. As this organisation developed under the stress of war, he built up a considerable scientific staff to investigate the problems of civil defence. Here again much pioneer work had to be done, and some of the methods of investigation which were developed were ultimately used with excellent effect in building up the Allied offensive. In 1944 he became chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Works, where he was responsible for bringing the results of research to bear on problems of post-war building, and particularly on non-traditional house construction. In addition, he organised research into sociological and economic problems of building which were not being investigated elsewhere. Unfortunately, a breakdown in health early this year made it necessary for Sir Reginald to transfer his activities to a less arduous post, which his half-time appointment at Shrivenham should prove to be. His many friends will be delighted to know that he is now able to return to work in a position in which his knowledge and experience will still be available to the public service, while he himself will be able to continue working in his chosen fields of research.