Celebrating Jack Neale as he turns 100

As Jack Neale marks his 100th birthday, we are delighted to celebrate a man whose quiet dedication, kindness and good humour has left a lasting impression on generations of students and staff in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Jack Neale, a long-serving former member of staff, joined Imperial in 1948.  He began his career in the workshop and machine shop before moving into the Structures Section as a laboratory assistant. At a time when belt-driven lathes and very basic equipment were the norm, he developed a deep practical understanding of engineering that would underpin more than four decades of service to the Department.

From 1958 until his retirement in 1990, Jack was Senior Supervisor of the Structures Laboratory. Working closely with academic colleagues and students, he helped set up experiments to test the strength and loading of bridges, ships, dams and buildings, playing a vital role in the hands-on education of countless civil engineers. Ever modest, Jack rarely spoke about his own achievements, but his work contributed to major projects including the Thames Barrier and box girder bridges, and he held advisory roles overseas, including time spent at Delhi University and work in Ghana.

Hands-on engineering 

Those who know Jack remember not only his technical expertise, but the calm, reassuring presence he brought to the laboratory. He took great pride in supporting students through their projects, often going well beyond what was required of him. International students, many far from home, found in Jack someone who took a genuine interest in their wellbeing as well as their work. He and his family regularly welcomed students and their families into their home, sharing meals, conversation and cultural traditions that left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Jack’s daughter Susan recalls a childhood shaped by these encounters, from hosting overseas students in their Surrey village to Christmas celebrations featuring traditional Japanese singing, dancing and tea ceremonies.

We were often to host many overseas students and their families at our home, learning about their home life and cultural customs. Susan Neale-Lamerton Daughter of Jack Neale

“My father is a very modest, kind man with a great, if not quirky, sense of humour,” she says. “He would do anything he could to assist people and put them at their ease. We were often to host many overseas students and their families at our home, learning about their home life and cultural customs. I remember meeting one student who was a Nigerian Prince, which made quite an impression on me and my friends in the 1970s.”

Jack’s calm nature and ability to connect with people from all backgrounds has had a lasting impact on the family. “The invitations to eat with students in their homes while they were staying in the UK gave us many experiences that I think helped me in my future career in nursing. He would learn to say hello in the many different languages he came across to put his colleagues at ease.”

Within the Department, Jack enjoyed the camaraderie of the laboratory staff and the close working relationships with academic colleagues, including long-standing friendships with figures such as Professor Patrick Dowling. A favourite memory from later years is Jack calling across the mezzanine level of the lab with a cheerful “Woof, woof!” to get attention, a habit born of an earlier shared joke and one that became part of his unmistakable character.

A legacy built on kindness, humour and commitment

Jack loved working at Imperial. He speaks with enormous affection about the students he supported, many of whom went on to academic and professional careers around the world. His wife Joan was also part of this extended community, often typing up students’ theses at home. For Jack, Imperial was not just a place of work but a community he lived and breathed, and he carries many happy memories from his time here.

His career also marked quiet milestones. He was the first non-academic member of staff to be granted day release to study for a Higher National Diploma, and later one of the first to be awarded an Associateship, presented to him at the Royal Albert Hall. These moments are significant not just for Jack, but for what they represent about recognising the contribution of technical and laboratory staff.

In retirement, Jack has continued to live a life of service and curiosity, volunteering, travelling to visit former students around the world, and staying connected with colleagues and friends. Now living in Whitstable with his family and wife Joan, he will celebrate his 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends and the children of former colleagues.

As we mark this remarkable milestone, we celebrate not only Jack Neale’s long life, but the enduring impact of his generosity, humour and dedication. His story is a reminder that the strength of our Department has always rested on the people who care deeply about their work, and about one another.

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Special thanks to Jack, Joan, and Andrew Neale, and Susan Neale-Lamerton.