RAEng mourns loss of former chief Sir David Davies
21 Aug 2025
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Former Royal Academy of Engineering president and government adviser Sir David Davies has died at the age of 89.
David Evan Naunton ‘Den’ Davies led the RAEng from 1996-2001 at a time of growing national focus on engineering and technology. His career contributions included radar, communications and defence policy, as well as vice chancellor of Loughborough University.
In the aftermath of the 1999 Ladbroke Grove rail crash that claimed 31 lives Davies was asked to advise on options for improving rail safety, culminating in his report the following year. His recommendations were endorsed by subsequent inquiries, and he became chair of the Railway Safety body.
Previously chief scientific adviser at the Ministry of Defence, he had played a key role in shaping national defence research, later chairing the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the MoD Nuclear Research Advisory Council. He was knighted in 1994 for services to science and technology.
His research into antenna arrays, radar, signal processing and optical fibre was coupled with his invention of fibreoptic sensors to measure quantities such as strain and temperature earning him the Rank Prize for optoelectronics in 1984. He also received the Institution of Electrical Engineers’ (IEE, later the Institution of Engineering and Technology, IET) prestigious Faraday Medal in 1987 and served as IEE President from1994–95.
Elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1979 and of the Royal Society in 1984, Sir David was appointed CBE in 1986 and knighted in 1994 for services to science and technology. He served on many national committees, including the BBC Engineering Advisory Committee and the Royal Society’s Science Inquiry Committee.
Paying tribute, RAEng CEO Dr Hayaatun Sillem CEO saidute: “Den Davies made an enormous contribution to the UK engineering profession on so many levels, from his important research to his commitment to educating the next generation of engineers.
“He truly embodied the aims of the Academy in acting in the service of society, as a trusted government advisor on critical issues of national concern, notably on railway safety and defence. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Pic: Shutterstock (inset, Sir David Davies c/o RAEng)
