Ian Gardiner: Obituary

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Ian Gardiner, who was Vice President from 1984 to 1990. Ian died in January aged 92.

Ian had a long and successful career in the railway industry, culminating in becoming Director of Engineering at British Rail. In addition to his role as Vice President, Ian was appointed Chair of the Railway Division in 1982. He was elected as a Fellow in 1970.

“Ian Gardiner became Chair of our Division in 1982 and contributed greatly to its activities and the Institution as a whole. Being the Chair of such a big and active Division is a great challenge and hard work, involving travel to all parts of the UK and MANY meetings. We shall remember Ian,” said Felix Schmid, Chair of the Railway Division 2020-2021.

Ian’s career started when he joined English Electric Traction in Bradford and became a Student Member of the Institution in 1947. He became a Graduate Member in 1949, having gained a BSc (Eng) (London). Ian’s role with English Electric Traction took him to India, Australia and Newton le Willows in Merseyside. He then joined British Railways Engineering Limited and became Director of Engineering at British Railways at the time of the development of the Advanced Passenger Train. Ian was a member of the BR Board from 1981 to 1985. Although he retired in 1985, he remained involved with Institution activities for another five years until 1990.

Whilst at University, Ian met Dorothy, his wife of 59 years and had four children, Elizabeth, David, Anne and Andrew. He was a very keen gardener, enjoyed fishing and swimming and belonged to many choirs late into retirement. He married his second wife, Edith, in 2011 and will be greatly missed by her and his family of eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.