James L Gray
Encyclopedia
James Laird Gray FREng (1926–2010) was a leading light in the field of steam turbine
technology in the UK
.
Born in Glasgow
in 1926, he was educated in the early war
years and qualified for university entrance at the age of just 16. However, he was too young to be admitted, and took up an apprenticeship at Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd in Scotstoun
. This was not his first job, however; he had also spent two school summers lumberjacking near Castle Kennedy. At 17 he entered Glasgow University and three years later graduated with a Bachelor of Science
(First-Class Honours) in mechanical engineering
.
Leaving his native Scotland, he traveled south to begin a career in steam turbine
and power station
engineering with a post at English Electric
in Rugby
. In an article published at his retirement, he gave credit for this direction to the chief engineer of English Electric who said "forget naval turbines" and steered him towards power station steam turbines which were "the thing of the future."
Jim Gray married his wife Mary in 1954, and had three children, Alex (b. 1955), Susan (b. 1956) and John (b. 1964).
After English Electric, Gray joined the British Electricity Authority
, which later became the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
and then the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB)
, where he became head of the CEGB's Turbine Generator Design Branch. A move by the CEGB's Generation, Design and Construction department to Barnwood
required him to relocate to Gloucestershire
, but he was not happy with the move, and a couple of years later he left to become Manager of Generation, Design and Technical Services at the South of Scotland Electricity Board
(SSEB) in Glasgow
.
It was an exciting time, with new nuclear power stations coming into service, providing a large part of Scotland's non-fossil fuel generation capacity. He believed further modern nuclear generation capacity to be a key part of future energy supply, and regretted the loss of expertise and manufacturing capacity that has been lost in this sector since the end of new-build nuclear projects in the UK.
During his career, which spanned the entire nationalised electricity supply era in the UK, he received two prestigious awards from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers: the Thomas Hawksley
Medal for his investigative work into a major steam turbine failure at Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station
, and the James Clayton award for work on the ingress of seawater to a reactor at Hunterston B nuclear power station
. He was a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
(IMechE) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Jim Gray retired in the late 1980s, and lived with his wife in Garelochhead
, the family home since 1975. He stayed busy in retirement; he and wife were key figures in the renovation and management of a community centre, the Gibson Hall. He also maintained an active interest in public energy policy, particularly in Scotland; in 2008, he authored a pamphlet Electric Power in the New Scotland, which proposed a renewed commitment to nuclear power generation in Scotland, and which formed part of a submission he made to the Scottish Government Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee's Inquiry into Scotland's Energy Future].
Later in retirement he lost his sight as a result of glaucoma, and subsequently developed chest complaints. After a short period of deteriorating health he died in the family home on 2 August 2010.
Turbine
A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work.The simplest turbines have one moving part, a rotor assembly, which is a shaft or drum with blades attached. Moving fluid acts on the blades, or the blades react to the flow, so that they move and...
technology in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1926, he was educated in the early war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years and qualified for university entrance at the age of just 16. However, he was too young to be admitted, and took up an apprenticeship at Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd in Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
. This was not his first job, however; he had also spent two school summers lumberjacking near Castle Kennedy. At 17 he entered Glasgow University and three years later graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(First-Class Honours) in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
.
Leaving his native Scotland, he traveled south to begin a career in steam turbine
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
and power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
engineering with a post at English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
in Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
. In an article published at his retirement, he gave credit for this direction to the chief engineer of English Electric who said "forget naval turbines" and steered him towards power station steam turbines which were "the thing of the future."
Jim Gray married his wife Mary in 1954, and had three children, Alex (b. 1955), Susan (b. 1956) and John (b. 1964).
After English Electric, Gray joined the British Electricity Authority
British Electricity Authority
The British Electricity Authority was established in 1948 with the nationalisation of the Great Britain's electricity supply industry. It was created by means of the Electricity Act 1947...
, which later became the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
Central Electricity Authority (UK)
The Central Electricity Authority was a body that ran the electricity supply industry in England and Wales between 1954 and 1957. The CEA replaced the earlier British Electricity Authority as a result of the Electricity Reorganisation Act 1954, which moved responsibility for Scottish electricity...
and then the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB)
CEGB
The Central Electricity Generating Board was the cornerstone of the British electricity industry for almost 40 years; from 1957, to privatisation in the 1990s....
, where he became head of the CEGB's Turbine Generator Design Branch. A move by the CEGB's Generation, Design and Construction department to Barnwood
Barnwood
Barnwood, in Gloucestershire, England is situated on the old Roman road that connects the City of Gloucester with Hucclecote, Brockworth and Cirencester....
required him to relocate to Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, but he was not happy with the move, and a couple of years later he left to become Manager of Generation, Design and Technical Services at the South of Scotland Electricity Board
South of Scotland Electricity Board
The South of Scotland Electricity Board , was formed as a result of the Electricity Reorganisation Act 1954. On 1 April 1955, the two southern Scottish Area Electricity Boards were merged into the South of Scotland Electricity Board...
(SSEB) in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
It was an exciting time, with new nuclear power stations coming into service, providing a large part of Scotland's non-fossil fuel generation capacity. He believed further modern nuclear generation capacity to be a key part of future energy supply, and regretted the loss of expertise and manufacturing capacity that has been lost in this sector since the end of new-build nuclear projects in the UK.
During his career, which spanned the entire nationalised electricity supply era in the UK, he received two prestigious awards from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers: the Thomas Hawksley
Thomas Hawksley
Thomas Hawksley was an English civil engineer of the 19th century, particularly associated with water and gas engineering projects.The son of John Hawksley and Mary Whittle, and born in Arnold, near Nottingham on , Hawksley was largely self-taught from the age of 15 onwards, having at that point...
Medal for his investigative work into a major steam turbine failure at Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station
Hinkley Point B nuclear power station
Hinkley Point B is a nuclear power station near Bridgwater, Somerset, on the Bristol Channel coast of south west England.-History:The construction of Hinkley Point B, which was undertaken by a consortium known as The Nuclear Power Group , started in 1967. The reactors were supplied by TNPG and the...
, and the James Clayton award for work on the ingress of seawater to a reactor at Hunterston B nuclear power station
Hunterston B nuclear power station
Hunterston B Power Station is a nuclear power station in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located about 9 km south of Largs and about 4 km north-west of West Kilbride. It is operated by EDF Energy...
. He was a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
(IMechE) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Jim Gray retired in the late 1980s, and lived with his wife in Garelochhead
Garelochhead
Garelochhead is a small village on the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is the nearest village to the HMNB Clyde naval base.Garelochhead lies at the head of the Gare Loch, 7 miles northwest of Helensburgh. Loch Lomond is a few miles to the east, and Loch Long to the west...
, the family home since 1975. He stayed busy in retirement; he and wife were key figures in the renovation and management of a community centre, the Gibson Hall. He also maintained an active interest in public energy policy, particularly in Scotland; in 2008, he authored a pamphlet Electric Power in the New Scotland, which proposed a renewed commitment to nuclear power generation in Scotland, and which formed part of a submission he made to the Scottish Government Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee's Inquiry into Scotland's Energy Future].
Later in retirement he lost his sight as a result of glaucoma, and subsequently developed chest complaints. After a short period of deteriorating health he died in the family home on 2 August 2010.