Professor Charles P. Sandbank (DIC Electrical and Electronic Engineering 1956)

Provided by Mrs Audrey Sandbank

OBITUARY OF
PROFESSOR CHARLES P. SANDBANK
FREEng. Bsc. DIC HonDUniv FinstP  FIET FRSA
Educated at Bromley Grammar School and London University

Professor Charles Sandbank started his long connection with Imperial College when he was sponsored by his employer STC to do a DIC in Electrical Engineering which included attendance at LSE where he widened his sphere of interests.

He started his career with STC where he developed some of the first semi-conductor integrated circuits to be produced in Europe.  He later became  head of the Electron Devices  Laboratory at STL in Harlow and in 1968 became Manager of the STL Communications Division.  He was responsible for the team that pioneered  the use of Optical Fibres  for communications and in 1976 built the world’s first wideband digital optical fibres communications system.  In 1978 he took up the post of Head of Research and Development with the BBC Research Department where he was a breath of fresh air.

‘Call me Charlie’ he said when referred to as ‘Sir’.   Whilst there he was instrumental in the setting up of the BBC Micro project, one of the earliest computers, and its introduction into schools throughout the country.  He exploited Nicam Stereo sound for television which became the world’s first digital broadcasting system and realised the potential of  HD TV.  He became the first Chair of the EBU’s  HDTV Committee.  He was instrumental in the introduction of Digital Television and has written one of the seminal works on the subject. His generous personality and enthusiasm for projects was vital in persuading politicians and organisations to invest in new technologies and he developed the digital audio broadcast system DAB.

It is a little known fact that the reason drivers  can continue to listen to BBC programmes as they travel through the Dartford Tunnel is because Sandbank  was instrumental in persuading the BBC and the builders of the tunnel to work together in installing the necessary equipment.

After leaving the BBC he became Broadcasting Technology Advisor  to what was then The Department of Trade and Industry advising on radio standards, frequency bands and their standardisation, chairing international committees where he had a talent  for getting agreement between members whilst remaining a popular contributor. Prof Sandbank was actively involved in international standards bodies such as the ITU and ETSI.  He was a member of several academic advisory bodies.  He had a high reputation in SMPTE of which he was a Fellow, RTS, BKSTS, EBU and ABU.

In 2001 he became founding co-chairman of the European Digital Cinema Forum lobbying government backed bodies, including  the UK Film Council, to invest in electronic digital projectors for cinemas throughout the UK.  He was enthusiastic about the development of 3D Cinema.

From  1982 until his death he was the Royal Academy Visiting Professor in the Principles of Information Systems Design at Bradford University who awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering.

He was on the Court of Surrey University, who also awarded him an  Honorary Doctorate in 1994, as well as the Court of Imperial College where he was an enthusiastic attendee at student degree ceremonies and similar events.

He has served as  member or Chairman of several SRC, SERC and EPSRC panels.  In addition to his two books on Optical Fibres and Digital Television, he is author or co-author of over 100 papers and a similar number of patents.

Charlie’s engaging personality and breadth of knowledge and interests made him a much sought after speaker and lecturer.  He predicted many of the advances in technology that we now take for granted and some that have yet to have their day!  His sense of humour was legendary.

In spite of his busy lifestyle he always made time for his family and was a devoted grandfather to his eight grandchildren, a loving husband of over fifty years and caring father to his son and two daughters.  His son Barry followed in his father’s footsteps becoming an alumnus of Imperial College and achieving his first degree in Physics.  The family connection continues with his son-in-law Paul Robinson who is a reader in the Aeronautics Department.