CIBSE | NEWS Obituary: David Russell, CIBS President 1980-81 D avid Russell, the last surviving past president of the Chartered Institution of Building Services (CIBS), died in early April, aged 95. He served as President in 1980-81, just four years after the merger of the Institute of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (IHVE) with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and the move from Cadogan Square to Balham. As he noted at the start of his Presidential address, the 1970s were a time of fundamental changes for the Institution. David Russell was unusual as a CIBS President in coming from a contracting background. He was the third generation to manage the family firm, Rosser and Russell, which was very supportive of the IHVE and, subsequently, CIBSE, and of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA), now BESA. In 1980, the Finniston Report David Russell into the future of engineering had been published, with proposals for an engineering authority and statutory regulation of the profession, as well as various measures to redress the shortage of engineers and technicians. The Institution supported the report, but, sadly, it was a victim of being commissioned by one party and delivered after the 1979 election. The incoming government adopted a noninterventionist approach to the challenges identified. After much industry debate in which CIBS, through the work of David and then deputy secretary Andrew Ramsey, played a full part the Engineering Council was formed in place of statutory regulation. This development precipitated the transition of the CIBS to CIBSE in 1986. July 1980 was the start of a severe recession. The incoming President chaired his first Council meeting against a backdrop of financial pressures and the prospect of the CIBS needing an overdraft. An EGM was held to approve subscription rises of 30% for Fellows and 25% for members. David was a forward-looking President and keen to promote collaborative working, which was the key theme of his summer meeting that year. It was a time of growing CIBS cooperation with the RIBA, HVCA and ASHRAE, where David was ably supported by Richard Rooley. He was a pioneer of computers in construction, noting in his Presidential address that our industry has been slow to make use of computers, but can no longer ignore their potential. He foresaw computer-aided design, noting that the main obstacle was the provision of suitable software. The third topic that was also foreseen as shaping the future was energy conservation. As with digitalisation of construction, we have made progress since 1980, but there is still some way to go. David left two other legacies to the CIBS. Under his leadership, Patrons were established, with an initial 21 companies subscribing to the scheme to provide company support to CIBS. Under his stewardship, CIBS also acquired its first computer to support membership and finance, at a cost of 20,000. We offer our sincere condolences to his daughter Sarah Delany MCIBSE and all the family. New members, fellows and associates FELLOWS Cashmore, John Sandwell, United Kingdom Dominguez Moreno, Daniel Chelmsford, United Kingdom Green, David Bryan Edmonton, Canada Hughes, David John Trowbridge, United Kingdom Plant, Mark Plymouth, United Kingdom MEMBER Ali, Zohab Leeds, United Kingdom Antalova, Martina Ashton-under-Lyne, United Kingdom Barry, Patrick Business Bay, United Arab Emirates Figan, Magdalena Grazyna Greenhithe, United Kingdom Moodie, Stuart Dubai, United Arab Emirates Szeto, Wai Kit Woking, United Kingdom Gao, Hongwen Hornsby, Australia Ng, Wa Hei To Kwa Wan, Hong Kong Tang, Vinh Prospect, Australia Gkarliaridis, Dimitrios Leigh, United Kingdom Ng, Pui Shan Kowloon, Hong Kong Hart, David London, United Kingdom OCallaghan, Joe Cork, Ireland Hipwell, Graham Gloucester, United Kingdom Ho, Po Cheong Kowloon, Hong Kong Hui, Michael Kin Hei Fanling, Hong Kong Hui, Kin Lun Hong Kong, Hong Kong Ke, Chi Ho Fanling, Hong Kong Osman, Zakria Slough, United Kingdom Pang, Chun Ming Kowloon, Hong Kong Poon, Ka Fai Hong Kong, Hong Kong Rajasekaran, Pradeep Ashfield, Australia Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage, Anura Kumara Rathnayaka Homagama, Sri Lanka Cabrini, Alessandra London, United Kingdom Kwong, Ying Yeung Willie Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Chiu, Ho Kin Jeffery Hong Kong, Hong Kong Li, Po Ki Lai Chi Kok, Hong Kong Sherif, Mariem Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Chorafa, Marguerita London, United Kingdom Lubkowska, Joanna London, United Kingdom Siamopoulos, Eleftherios London, United Kingdom Chow, Kin Keung Hong Kong, Hong Kong Mak, Wai Ho Jonathan Tuen Mun, Hong Kong So, Sheung Kwan Yuen Long, Hong Kong Choy, Kwok Fai Tsing Yi, Hong Kong Monteiro, Ashley Constancio Savio Sydney, Australia Sun, Chung Kei Southsea, United Kingdom Tang, Sher Kin Kelvin Tseung Kwan, Hong Kong White, Alan Hugh Glasgow, United Kingdom Williamson, Martin Dubai, United Arab Emirates Wu, Wing Hong Fanling, Hong Kong Yapa Bandara, Ridma Hashantha Etul Kotte, Sri Lanka ASSOCIATE Carey, Christy Ennis, Ireland LICENTIATE Ahern, Daniel Kieran Liam Croydon, United Kingdom Bishop, Corie Scott Mansfield, United Kingdom Globe, Matthew William Sheffield, United Kingdom Studholme, Robert James Leeds, United Kingdom Sylvester, Harry Hull, United Kingdom 12 June 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE June 22 pp10-12 CIBSE News.indd 12 10/06/2022 13:03