Mr Ian A. Macdonald (Mechanical Engineering 1937)

Provided by Mr Eaton H. Robinson

Alec Macdonald, Mech.eng. 1937, died on June 20th at his home in Ascot, aged 94 where he had lived for nearly 50 years. We were both elected to the Links Club and he was Captain of the Motor Club who looked after Bo.
 
After college we went to the Engine Division of the Bristol Aeroplane Co. for a 2 year post graduate Apprenticeship, sharing a flat with another Link and 2 others from Cambridge. Bristol made piston engines as the jet had not been invented.
 
When war broke out Alec joined the RAF and was posted to St. Athan, the Technical Branch, reaching the rank of Squadron Leader. At  that time there was some difficulty getting a job because he had little experience in industry and joined production Enginering , where as a Management Consultant, he remained for 32 years, retiring in 1982.
 
Alec. had 5 children who, between them, got 6 scholarships to public schools and Oxford, none of whom are engineers. He was an usher at my wedding. I credit the Links Club and the Guilds for starting a lifelong friendship of 73 years.
 
E.H.Robinson
Past President, ACGA