Mr William E. Foster (Civil and Environmental Engineering 1965)

Provided by Brian Hardcastle (Civil and Environmental Engineering 1942, DIC 1964)

William Edward Foster, always known as Eddie, was born in Walsall, Staffordshire. He was the second child of George, a headmaster and Ada, a teacher. He missed a lot of schooling through illness but after taking his school certificate he obtained his professional qualifications the hard way. He was articled to the Engineer to the Aldridge District Council and took evening classes and correspondence courses. He became a Member of the Institution of Municipal Engineers and a Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.

During the early years of WWII, Eddie's municipal work included civil defence and involved rescue work and the shoring up of buildings. He was called up in 1942 and underwent basic sapper training in the Royal Engineers. During this time he met John Lucas. In 1943, on completion of their training they were both assigned to special duties in London. They were billeted in the basement of the Institution of Civil Engineers and were involved in gathering intelligence in preparation for the allied invasion of Europe. This involved them in searching the Institution's library and other London sources, for details of continental ports, harbours and Inland Waterways. As a result they were known as 'the ferrets'! Here Eddie and John met Colonel H.C. Bowen. After the war, Colonel Bowen returned to his pre war employer, the Thames Conservancy, and recruited both Eddie and John in 1946.

Eddie first worked as an Assistant Engineer on the outside staff in the Reading area which covered the Thames from Wallingford to Maidenhead and all the tributaries which joined that part of the Thames. Soon he was promoted into the drawing office and became involved in the design of river improvement schemes for land drainage, flood alleviation schemes and the reconstruction of weirs and locks for the navigation of the Thames. During these early years he found time to design his own house, and supervised its construction by contractors, in Upper Basildon in the Berkshire Downs.
 
He introduced the drawing office to prestressed concrete design, and encouraged the use of modern techniques for the design of sheet steel piled retaining walls. As a result of his innovative but sound design skills, he progressed by promotion to become its Head. In 1965, the Thames Conservancy became a River Authority and in preparation for the new responsibilities involved, Eddie attended the Imperial College postgraduate course on Civil Engineering Hydrology which involved study tours in Holland, France and Switzerland. Subsequently he was promoted to become the Thames Conservancy's Deputy Chief Engineer.

In 1974 the Thames Conservancy ceased to exist as a separate body and became a division of Thames Water. As a result of this reorganisation, all senior staff had to apply for the new posts and Eddie was appointed Assistant Manager, Engineering, a post for which he was eminently suited and which he filled with distinction until his retirement in 1981.
 
In 1959 Eddie was co-author with the Thames Conservancy's Chief Engineer, Colonel RC. Bowen, of a paper entitled Some Post-War Works of the Thames Conservancy. This was presented at the Institution of Civil Engineers and described many of the works which Eddie had designed up to that date.

Eddie was responsible for many flood alleviation schemes during his long career. The largest of these was that for the lower reaches of the river Mole to protect parts of East Molesey and Esher. This is described in a paper presented to the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1988 entitled Flood Alleviation Scheme for Lower River Mole and which he co-authored with W.B. Harris of C.R. Dobbie and Partners.

Eddie's church, St. Stephens, Upper Basildon, played a very important part in his life and he served it loyally, for many years, being one of its church wardens. He was a very kindly Christian man and was always very helpful to every one and especially to staff and colleagues. When I first joined the Thames Conservancy to work on the outside staff, Eddie was there to help me to 'find my feet'. Later when I joined the drawing office, again Eddie was there, to 'show me the ropes'. He was a true mend and loyal colleague.

Eddie married Lily Bradbury in 1943 and for most of their lives they lived in Upper Basildon, enjoying their participation in the life of the village with their children and grandchildren. In 1995, Lilly suffered the first of a series of strokes. Eddie lovingly nursed her at home for many years. When eventually Lily had to go into a nursing home at Moulsford, Eddie moved to Streatley to be on a bus route so that he could visit Lily every afternoon, even when he had to give up driving. Sadly Lily died in 2001, aged 84.

Eddie died peacefully after a short illness having reached the age of 90. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth, his son Anthony and grandchildren, Thomas, Polly and Samantha.