Professor Elfyn John Richards was a Welsh aeronautical engineer and acoustical engineer, the first professor of either of these subjects at Southampton University, where he founded the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, and was the second Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University of Technology.
Background
Richards (sometimes known as “Sam”) was born in Barry, Glamorgan on 28 December 1914, and studied at Barry Grammar School, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and Street John"s College, Cambridge, where he read mathematics and physics.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Aberystwyth, Wales, 1936. Master of Arts, St. Johns College, Cambridge, England, 1939. Doctor of Science, Aberystwyth, Wales, 1950.
DLL, University Wales, 1968.
Career
Science officer, Nation Physical Laboratory, Teddington, 1939-1945;
chief aerodynamicist, Vickers Armstrongs, Weybridge, 1945-1950;
chief guided weapons, Vickers Armstrongs, Weybridge, 1949-1950;
head department aeronautics, professor, Southampton (England) University, 1950-1961;
founder director, Institute Sound and Vibration Research, Southampton U., 1961-1966;
vice chancellor, president, Loughborough U., 1967-1975;
research professor, Southampton U., 1976-1987. Consultant in field.
Achievements
Membership
Fellow Fellowship of Engineering, Royal Aeronautical Society (honorary), Institution Mechanical Engineering, Acoustical Society of America (honorary), Institute Acoustics (honorary).
Interests
Avocation: singing.
Connections
Married Eluned Gwendydd Jones, June 18, 1941 (deceased February 1978). Married Miriam Joan Davidson, June 16, 1990. Children: Janet, Glenda, Lyn.