Thomas Edward Edward Allibone

Background

Allibone, Thomas Edward was born on November 11, 1903 in Sheffield, England. Son of Henry James and Eliza (Kidger) Allibone.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Physics, University Sheffield, 1924. Doctor of Philosophy in Metallurgy, University Sheffield, 1926. Doctor of Science in Physics, University Sheffield, 1939.

Doctor of Engineering (honorary), University Sheffield, 1969. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, Cambridge (England) University, 1929. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Reading, England.

Doctor of Science (honorary), City University, London.

Career

He was educated at the Central School in Sheffield followed by a physics degree at Sheffield University. In 1925, Allibone was awarded a scholarship by the Metropolitan-Vickers company to study the properties of zirconium. He left Sheffield in 1926 to continue his postgraduate studies at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University.

At Cambridge, he worked in the prestigious Cavendish Laboratory, with eminent scientists such as Rutherford, Cockcroft, and Walton.

The use of high voltages to accelerate particles into each other became of particular interest to him. After gaining a first class honours degree in physics from Cambridge, Allibone returned to Metropolitan-Vickers, to take charge of their high-voltage research laboratory at Trafford Park, Manchester.

Allibone remained at Metropolitan Vickers throughout the 1930s and 1940s, publishing a number of scientific papers on subjects such as high voltage research, and X-ray tubes. During the Second World War, Allibone was involved in a number of research projects including radar equipment and the highly secretive Tube Alloys project

In 1944 Allibone formed part of a team of British scientists sent to the United States, to work on the Manhattan Project, which developed the world"s first atomic bomb.

In 1946, Allibone was appointed director of the Associated Electrical Industries research laboratories at Aldermaston Court. Whilst at Aldermaston Court, Allibone was involved in pioneering research into nuclear fusion and electron microscopes, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1948. In 1963, Allibone left Aldermaston Court to become the Central Electricity Generating Board"s chief scientist, a post he held until 1970.

He also became External Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Leeds in 1967.

Allibone wrote the obituary on Forrest, published by the Royal Society in 1994. In 1959 he presented both the Bernard Price Memorial Lecture in South Africa and the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.

Achievements

• Thomas Edward Allibone has been listed as a noteworthy Physics educator, researcher by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Governor Downe House School, Berkshire, England, 1959-1969, Shrivenham Royal Military Academy, 1958-1965. Chairman board governors Reading Technology College, 1958-1963. Trustee British Museum, London, 1968-1974.

Lord of manor of Aldermaston, since 1959. Member court Worshipful Company of Broderers, since 1967. Fellow Royal Society (honorary member Dining Club), Institution Electrical Engineers (honorary, president Benevolent Association), Royal Academy Engineering (founding).

Member Physical Society London (vice president), Institute Physics London (vice president 1953-1960), Royal Institution (vice president), Cybernetics Society (president 1964-1967).

Interests

• Reading, biographical writing, stamp collecting/philately, travel.

Connections

Married Dorothy Margery Boulden, February 14, 1931. Children: Daphne Mary, Noreen Elizabeth.

Father:

Henry James Allibone

Mother:

Eliza (Kidger) Allibone

Spouse:

Dorothy Margery Boulden

child:

Daphne Mary Allibone

child:

Noreen Elizabeth Allibone