Career
In 1936 he co-wrote the standard textbook Heating and air conditioning of Buildings with Oscar Faber. He also wrote the entry on heating, ventilation and air conditioning for the Encyclopaedia Britannica. He was responsible for the building services design for the Bank of England, including on site electricity generation with waste heat recovery and the (12 acre) Earls Court Exhibition Centre, notably the special ventilating jet nozzles (International Heating and Ventilation Engineering (IHVE) Journal, March 1938).
He also designed the air conditioning for the rebuilt House of Commons (1943 – 1950), and the heating systems for numerous notable buildings including Street Paul"s Cathedral and Street Albans Cathedral.
Rob Kell lived in Street Albans and was educated at Street Albans School. He had a long association with Street Albans Cathedral, which he served for many years in various volunteer capacities, and has the unusual distinction (shared with Robert Runcie) of having his bust carved in stone among the Abbey"s roof gargoyles.