Donald Spiers

Sir Donald Maurice Spiers, CB TD CEng FREng Hon FRAeS (born 27 January 1934) is a British retired aeronautical engineer and administrator. He held a variety of posts in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and, after leaving the public sector, in private aviation companies. His roles included Controller Aircraft at the MOD and President of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Early life

Born in Wimbledon, south west London, Spiers was educated at Raynes Park County Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read Mechanical Sciences.[1]

Career

After graduating, he served an apprenticeship with the de Havilland Engine Company.[1] In 1960 he joined the Air Ministry, (from 1964 a part of the Ministry of Defence), as a civil service senior scientific officer. Here he worked on operational research, including service in Radfan in Arabia and scientific evaluation trials of the new Hawker Kestrel in 1965.[2]

From 1967 to 1970 he was Scientific Adviser to the Far East Air Force, based in Singapore. Returning to England, he held a number of posts, including senior involvement in the projects for the Hawk, Jaguar and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft programmes.[1] He served as Deputy Controller Aircraft (1984–86), and then Controller Aircraft (1989–94), responsible for the procurement of all aerospace materiel for UK Armed Forces.[2]

Spiers retired from the civil service in 1994, after which he was president of the Royal Aeronautical Society (1995–96). Between 1998 and 2010 he served on the boards of a number of aviation companies, including Meggitt plc; Messier-Dowty International; TAG Aviation (UK); General Dynamics UK and AgustaWestland International. He was chairman of the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (2003–20) and president of the Popular Flying Association (1997–2000).[2] Spiers became a trustee of the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust museum in 2015.[3]

Military service

After National Service in the Royal Engineers,[4] during which he was posted to Egypt with the 16th Parachute Brigade,[1] Spiers served in the Territorial Army, joining in 1954.[5] He attained the rank of acting major[6] and in 1966 received the Territorial Decoration for 12 years service.[7]

Awards and honours

Spiers was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1966,[7] was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1987[8] and knighted in 1993.[9] In 1989 he was awarded the Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Trustees of Vulcan to the Sky Trust". vulcantothesky.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Who's Who 2024 (176 ed.). A & C Black Ltd, London. 2023. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U35836. ISBN 9781399409452.
  3. ^ "The Farnborough Air Sciences Trust". givingisgreat.org. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ^ "No. 39887". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1953. p. 3336.
  5. ^ "No. 40343". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 December 1954. p. 6909.
  6. ^ "No. 43374". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 July 1964. p. 5832.
  7. ^ a b "No. 44227". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 January 1967. p. 574.
  8. ^ "No. 50948". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1987. p. 3.
  9. ^ "No. 53332". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1993. p. 2.