Reginald Coates
Encyclopedia
Professor Reginald “Rex” Charles Coates (June 28, 1920 – November 22, 2004) was a British
civil engineer
, academic and the 114th president of the Institution of Civil Engineers
.
, Derbyshire
and was educated at New Mills Grammar School
, and the Herbert Strutt Grammar School
in Belper
. He was taken into articled pupilage, a form of apprenticeship
, by Mansfield
Borough Council and studied for a degree in Civil Engineering at University College Nottingham.
during the Second World War, being commissioned as a second lieutenant
on 16 August 1942, and was posted to North Africa
, Sicily
, Italy
and Austria
. In 1946 he took up a lecturing post at his alma mater
, now the University of Nottingham
, using the university’s facilities to undertake research for his doctorate. He retained his commission and was involved in the University Officers Training Corps
detachment. In 1958 he was appointed as the head of the School of Civil Engineering, taking over from Sir Joseph Pope.
When the Faculty of Engineering moved to new premises in the 1960s Coates was heavily involved in the planning of the new buildings. Under his leadership the school became recognized as one of the leading civil engineering research establishments in the country. He later served the university as Dean of Engineering
and as Vice-Chancellor.
He was elected president of the Institution of Civil Engineers
in 1978 and retired from his University positions shortly afterwards. He later took up the post of Head of Civil Engineering at the University of Papua New Guinea
.
Coates was a victim of Alzheimer's and died in 2004. The main Faculty of Engineering building at the University of Nottingham was named after him in recognition of his contributions to the university.
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...
civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, academic and the 114th president of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
.
Early life
Coates was born in New MillsNew Mills
New Mills is a town in Derbyshire, England approximately south-east of Stockport and from Manchester. It is sited at the confluence of the rivers Goyt and Sett, on the border of Cheshire. The town stands above the Torrs, a deep gorge, cut through Woodhead Hill Sandstone of the Carboniferous period...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and was educated at New Mills Grammar School
New Mills School Business & Enterprise College
New Mills School Business & Enterprise College is an average sized comprehensive school, situated in the northwest of Derbyshire within in the Peak District.-Admissions:...
, and the Herbert Strutt Grammar School
Belper School
Belper School and Sixth Form Centre is a comprehensive school located in the town of Belper, Derbyshire, England. It has Foundation School status and is a specialist Technology College. In 2007, Ofsted reported that it was a 'good' school, while in 2009 it was deemed 'satisfactory' due to a dip in...
in Belper
Belper
Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...
. He was taken into articled pupilage, a form of apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
, by Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
Borough Council and studied for a degree in Civil Engineering at University College Nottingham.
Career
He served as an officer in the Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
during the Second World War, being commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 16 August 1942, and was posted to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. In 1946 he took up a lecturing post at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, now the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, using the university’s facilities to undertake research for his doctorate. He retained his commission and was involved in the University Officers Training Corps
Officers Training Corps
The Officer Training Corps is a part of the British Army which provides military leadership training to students at UK universities...
detachment. In 1958 he was appointed as the head of the School of Civil Engineering, taking over from Sir Joseph Pope.
When the Faculty of Engineering moved to new premises in the 1960s Coates was heavily involved in the planning of the new buildings. Under his leadership the school became recognized as one of the leading civil engineering research establishments in the country. He later served the university as Dean of Engineering
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
and as Vice-Chancellor.
He was elected president of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
in 1978 and retired from his University positions shortly afterwards. He later took up the post of Head of Civil Engineering at the University of Papua New Guinea
University of Papua New Guinea
The University of Papua New Guinea was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired into higher education in Papua New Guinea...
.
Personal life
He married Doris Sheila Sharrad in 1942, and they had two sons and one daughter.Coates was a victim of Alzheimer's and died in 2004. The main Faculty of Engineering building at the University of Nottingham was named after him in recognition of his contributions to the university.