b'Member News July 2023 27ObituariesCharles William (Bill) DennayDipEE CEng HonFIETIIE Past President, May 1935December 2022Bill Dennay was born in Cleethorpes in 1935 to a fishing family. After education at the local Grammar School he trained initially as a Marine Radio Officer. Instead of a life at sea however, he moved to Hampshire briefly working as a civil service Scientific Assistant at the Signals Research and Development Establishment until he saw an advertisement seeking applications for trainee engineers. This started a distinguished career with the BBC in 1956, initially as a technician.He worked at a numberfor himself and for thosethe presidency of the IIE, of transmitter stationswho worked for him. Asthe steering board of the around the country asa lecturer, he could makeRadio Communication an engineer, gainingthe driest of subjectsAgency and as a academic qualificationsinteresting, complexvisiting professor at the at night school beforesubjects understandable,International Academy joining the team at Woodand his patience andof Broadcasting in Norton training centreencouragement ensuredMontreux. He also found in 1961 where he was athat none of his studentstime to be influential in, highly respected lecturerfell behind. As a manager,and very proud of, the and Chartered Engineer.he encouraged his ownextensive refurbishment Leaving in 1973 he tookhigh standards from hisand transformation of up the post of Head ofstaff, prioritised results,the Brighton Dome and Transmitter Operationsbut was always generousMuseum, culminating in in London and rapidlywith advice and guidanceits reopening in 2002.Charles William (Bill) Dennay DipEE CEng HonFIETrose through the seniorand made himself readily management culminatingavailable. Staff wereBill was a Member of the in appointment inencouraged to developInstitution of Electronic 1987 as the BBCs lasttheir own solutions,and Radio Engineers Director of Engineering,staff development being(IERE), a Fellow of theHe was held in equally high a role he held until hishighly important to Bill.Institution of Electricalregard within the BBC, by retirement in 1993. HeHe also believed thatEngineers (IEE), and an Honorary Fellow of thehis staff in the various areas particularly relished hiswork should be enjoyable time as Chief Engineer,and he did his best toInstitution of Incorporatedwhere he worked, and by the World Service and alsomake that possible. Engineers (IIE). He wasBBCs Board of Management, enjoyed an unusualPresident of the IIEfor the important part he role, for an electronicsFollowing retirement fromduring the period of the engineer, as Projectthe BBC Bill enjoyed newvarious mergers of theplayed as a member of the Manager responsiblechallenges while workingengineering institutionsmanagement team, and for for planning the newfor 8 years with Quantel,during the early 2000s.his enthusiasm and expertise BBC Headquartersa company that designedHe played a prominentin embracing organisational at White City. and manufacturedrole in the activities of advanced technology forall of these engineeringand technological change.Bill developed a deepthe broadcasting industry.institutions, as well as level of knowledge of allThere then followedin various broadcasting of the areas of the BBCa period moving intocommittees, and he in which he worked. Hisretirement when he waswas held in high regard preparation in everythingparticularly productivethroughout the industry.he did was meticulous,with professional and he set high standardsorganisations such as'