b'30 Member News November 2023ObituariesProfessor Raymond (Ray)Clement Hills BSc(Eng) DTech FIET22 June 193317 May 2023Professor Raymond Hills passed away peacefully in his sleep on 17 May 2023 at the age of 89, following a short illness. He was a past Master of the City of London Livery Company of Scientific Instrument Makers and past President of the Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers.Ray was born on 22 June 1933 andHe fully recognised grew up in Welwyn Garden City. His father was in the fire service and anthe importance of ambulance driver, and the family lived above the fire station in the town. Heeducation and training had vivid memories of living aboveand was Chairman of the fire station during the blitz and watching the glow of London on thethe Governors at Barton horizon. He attended the University of Bristol, graduating in ElectricalPeverill Sixth Form Engineering in 1953, and was also aCollege in Eastleigh. member of the Royal Navy Reserves.He became Visiting He started his professional career with the BBC becoming a senior aerialChair and gained an engineer, based in central London butHonorary Doctorate at then moving to Brookmans Park. In the early sixties, Ray moved across toProfessor Raymond Clement Hills BSc(Eng) DTech FIET De Montfort University.the comparatively new Independent Television Authority to head up the ITA Masts and Aerials section. Itdeath. He became Assistant DirectorRay was a keen sailor, sailing his was on his watch in 1969 that theof Engineering for the IBA and beganown boat in the Solent, and a steam tall cylindrical mast at Emley Moor,to exploit its expertise internationally. railway and model railway enthusiast, Yorkshire collapsed in heavy icing. RayRay retired from the IBA in 1988,becoming a guard on the Bodmin and oversaw the teams working all hourssetting up his own consultancy. ThisWenford Steam Railway. However, to establish temporary structures towas very successful with work aroundhis main hobby and passion was resume transmission as soon as possible. the world, particularly in the Far East.Amateur Radio. He became a keen operator under the callsign G3HRH, With the formation of the IndependentHe was very keen to contribute to theand was an active member of Radio Broadcasting Authority andcontinued professional development ofClubs in Cornwall, Leicester and decentralisation to new offices inhis profession, being an active memberHampshire. Ray is survived by his Crawley Court on the outskirts ofof the Institution of Electrical Engineers,sons, Nigel, Russell and Christopher, Winchester, he and his family movedand was the President of the Institution ofand by seven grandchildren.to Shawford, where Ray lived until hisElectronic and Radio Engineers in 1986/87.'