Tomlin, Donald Hugh, 1918 - 2013
Dates
- Existence: 1918 - 2013
Biography
Donald Hugh Tomlin (1918-2013) was born in Sheffield and educated at the Central Secondary School for Boys. He showed an early interest in Radio, helping to form and acting as Secretary of a Sheffield `Short Wave Club´. He graduated in Physics at Sheffield University in 1940, and during his studies proposed, as a potential postgraduate, investigating Radio reflections. His early interest in Radio led to his obtaining an Artificial Aerial Transmitting Licence, which was cancelled with the outbreak of war; however, he was directed by the Joint Recruiting Board to complete his degree, and was then sent to join the ADEE (Air Defence Experimental Establishment) at Christchurch, Hampshire, where work was in progress on experimental RDF (Radio Direction Finding) equipment. In 1941 the establishment was renamed the Air Defence Research and Development Establishment (further changes of name and organisation were to follow over the years), and in 1942, following a successful British raid on a German Radar installation on the Channel coast the Establishment was ordered to evacuate to Malvern, Worcestershire. From November 1940 for the duration of the war he worked on the new magnetron systems, and then on the development of a new 10cm. RDF set, the Anti Aircraft Gun Laying Set, which developed various other applications such as meteorological, mortar location and aircraft `talk you down´ functions. In 1946 work began on an Army requirement for early warning Radar to provide information to gun batteries guarding defended areas. This work later found application as Air Traffic Control Radar for military aircraft. From 1960 he became involved with a future RAF Air Defence System and the production of a new generation of high powered Radar sets, becoming generally responsible for Ministry of Defence coordination of multi-equipment contracts for the development and production of major Air Defence Systems, and an MOD representative with NATO on a new Radar Control System. After his retirement in 1978 he acted as a consultant, and also as a historian of the early development of Army, and, from 1953, of RAF Defence Radar.
As a Sheffield graduate, Donald Tomlin took an interest in the Sheffield University Association, and was an Executive Committee member of Convocation from 1985, and a member of the University Court from 1997. He died in December 2013.