Obituary

Obituary

FRAeS FAeSM PRO (AeSM)
1930-2020

The President and members of the Executive Committee of the Aeronautical Society of Mauritius (AeSM) with deep regret announce the death in the early hours of 9 July 2020 of Captain Richard (Dick) Twomey its founder member and President.

Those at AeSM have known him as the indefatigable engine which brought about the AeSM in 2010 and secured its registration in 2013, adopting similar objectives as its UK older brother – the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Dick spared no effort to transform his vision of the Society into that of the Society that is now fait accompli: The Society’s Vision is to bring together all the aeronautics and aviation professionals of the Republic of Mauritius into an independent expert body which can contribute to the formulation and review of an evolving National Aviation Strategy for Mauritius while being a source which can be tapped into by tomorrow’s leaders in aeronautics and aviation.

To realise this, the AeSM gave itself the mission to engage in the encouragement and maintenance of excellence in the fields of aviation and aeronautics leading to the General Advancement of Aeronautical Art, Science and Engineering and, more particularly, for promoting that species of knowledge which distinguishes the profession of Aeronautics (which expression includes Astronautics) in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean Region.

Those with international experience would have known Dick as a model glider enthusiast who made aviation his passion and career which spanned some 31 years in Cambrian Airways, British European Airways (BEA) and then, during the later years of the Cold War at his very own creation ‘Berlin European UK’, before landing in Mauritius as the MK Director of Flight Operations.

Rural North Yorkshire will recall him as the young boy who founded the Model Aircraft Club at his school in Ampleforth when he tried his hand at designing gliders and other flying machines, one of which flew and remained airborne for 2 hours, flying 22 miles from where it was recovered by a teacher.

There is much more to Dick, and for this we would strongly recommend reading his book Wing Tips which carries a preface by Rear Admiral Simon Henley MBE FRAeS, Past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society. As well as an ‘Appreciation of his life and work’ by Dr Marc Serge Riviere MA PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Limerick, Ireland.

While certainly being a great loss to his wife and children, members of AeSM will find it difficult to reconcile his absence at AeSM events such as the Model Glider Competition and the Young Aviators Group from the various secondary schools.

Additionally, may I mention that Dick has, during the past ten years, including the seven years of the official life of AeSM, built a substantial network who contributed to building the credibility and repute of the Society.

Jagadish Soobarah
President AeSM

CEng FRAeS
1934-2020

Michel Harvey, Chevalier de l’Ordre National de Merite, Chevalier de l’Ordre National des Palmes Academiques, Croix du Combattant, Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Chairman of the Paris Branch of the Society passed away peacefully on 26 June 2020, aged 85.

He was born in Paris on 21 July 1934 and grew up in the city during the war years. On 25 August 1944 he was in the Place de la Concorde with his aunt when shooting broke out and he had to hide under a tank to escape the crossfire. He completed his education two years ahead of time and went on to study engineering at l’Institute du Nord, in Lille, graduating in 1957, adding a further Diploma from SUPMECA in 1959. He carried out his military service from 1959 to 1962, first with the French Army in Algeria, holding the rank of sub-Lieutenant, then with the Army laboratories.

​After several short-term placements with SNECMA from 1957 to 1962, he joined the company as a Production Engineer and, from 1965 to 1966, was seconded to Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford. On returning to France he worked at the SNECMA Corbeil facility developing surface treatments for the CF6-50 engine and also worked with Rolls-Royce Bristol on the development of the Olympus engine for Concorde.

In 1979 he was named Programme Director for SNECMA’s participation in the CF6-50 programme, as well as the new CFM-X engine destined for the Airbus A320. He was Executive Vice President – CFM for a short period before becoming Directeur du Cabinet for SNECMA’s President Benichou, followed by President General Capillon.

In 1990 he was charged with creating SNECMA’s Representative Office in London, opening premises on Whitehall, a role he held until his official retirement in 1995. It was during this time that he came to know the RAeS, joining as a Member in 1993 and was duly elected a Fellow in 1993. Michel’s knowledge and experience was in high demand and, when Jean-Paul Béchat took the reins at SNECMA, he was invited back out of retirement to take up a role as Special Advisor, serving on the Board of Messier-Bugatti and guiding them in their acquisition of Dowty in Gloucester.

Seeing an opportunity to help promote co-operation between France and the UK at a time when SNECMA was looking to develop its international activities Michel convinced Béchat to support the creation of a Branch of the Society in Paris. The Paris Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society was duly formed on 29 April 2004 with an inauguration ceremony at the British Embassy on the 100th anniversary of the ‘Entente Cordiale’. Michel was named President and ran the Branch until his retirement in 2014, becoming Honorary Chairman of the Branch. He continued to play an active role in the Branch, offering his advice to the Committee and participating in Branch events until Parkinson’s disease robbed him of his mobility. His last participation at a Branch event was, coincidently, once again at the British Embassy in June 2018 for the ‘100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force’ Lecture.

Michel played a pivotal role in the creation of the Paris Branch and the activities of the Society in France. Without his gentle insistence Béchat would not have supported the creation of a Branch in Paris and, once the initial enthusiasm for the Branch had waned, Michel kept the Branch going through many difficult years, performing the roles of President, Treasurer and Chief Conference Organiser, while also developing close relationships with French Universities such as IPSA. Without Michel there would not be a Paris Branch of the Society today and all of us in Paris owe him a deep debt of gratitude. He was extremely proud of being a Fellow of the Society and, at his funeral, attended by many members of the Paris Branch Committee, his RAeS badge was displayed along with his medals and honours.