Mr Bernard C. North (1960)

Provided by Mrs Judith North

BERNARD CECIL NORTH  Bsc(Eng) MSc ACGI CEng FIMechE MIMgt MIBC RCNC
 
Bernard was born in Gravesend, Kent  on 13 March 1936.  He served an apprenticeship at Chatham Dockyard as an Engine Fitter and became inspired academically by the teachers at the Dockyard School resulting in gaining a place in 1957 to read Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College.
 
After graduating in 1960, Bernard joined a firm of combustion engineers in Portchester, Hants as Personal Assistant to the Managing Director.  Three years later he decided to return to his preferred world of Royal Naval ship and submarine repair, refit and design, etc, by  joining the newly formed Mechanical Division of the Admiralty Engineering Service, which eventually merged with the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors to become one organisation.  Over the next 24 years life was to become a moveable feast with wide ranging positions at Haslar Fuel Experimental Station, Gosport and Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Foxhill, Bath followed by posts as Nuclear Power Director at Rosyth Dockyard and Personnel Director at Chatham Dockyard during the latter's closure.  He ended his MOD career in the late 1980's as Production and Deputy Managing Director of the then 13000 workforce at Devonport Dockyard.
 
This whole period was interspersed with further spells of academic study.  A year was spent at the Royal Naval College, Greewich, 1967/8, on the Nuclear Advanced Course from which Bernard gained an MSc in Nuclear Science and Technology, followed by a three month Nuclear Submarine Operator's Training Course at Dounreay,  Scotland.  In 1974 he had the rare honour to be chosen as one of ten civilians along with 90 Armed Forces Officers on that year's National Defence Course at Latimer, Bucks.  Finally in 1983 a few months were spent at Templeton Business College, Oxford.  All these experiences were immensely enjoyed by Bernard not only for the chance to stretch his brain but also for the opportunity to meet and remain friends with such a wide range of interesting colleagues.
 
The early 1990's were spent running his own  Management Consultancy  Business from his home in Plymouth, before a gentle run down into retirement and the chance to indulge in his favourite hobbies, not least walking the majestic North Coast of Cornwall.  His cancer was diagnosed on Christmas Eve 2004 and for three years he fought the illness courageously with his usual positive attitude.  He died on 5 December 2007 aged 71 years.
 
All his life Bernard retained an avid interest in all aspects of Imperial College and in appreciation of its huge effect on his life and the hope of helping someone  to gain a similar experience, he left a bequest in his will to the Student Opportunities Fund.
 
During his first employment after University, Bernard met and married Judith in Fareham ,Hants.  Sadly their son died in 2002, but Bernard will be sorely missed by his wife, daughter, three grandchildren and his many friends and relatives.