Cyril Lovesey

Alfred Cyril Lovesey CBE, AFRAeS, was an English engineer who was a key figure in the development of the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engine.[1]

Cyril Lovesey
Born(1899-07-15)15 July 1899
Hereford, Herefordshire, England
Died1976
Derby, Derbyshire, England
NationalityUnited Kingdom
EducationBristol University
OccupationEngineer
Engineering career
InstitutionsRolls-Royce Limited
ProjectsRolls-Royce Merlin
Significant advanceAero engines
AwardsCBE

Early life

Lovesey was born 15 July 1899 in Hereford the son of Alfred and Jessie Lovesey.[2] In the 1901 Census Lovesey, aged 1 is living with his parents at 3, Greenfield Villas, Portfields, Hereford.[2] He went to Broomy Hill Academy and the grammar school Hereford High School for Boys (became Aylestone Business and Enterprise College). Lovesey attended Bristol University leaving in 1923 with a BSc.

Career

Cyril Lovesey joined the 'Rolls-Royce Experimental Department' in 1923, came under the direction of Ernest Hives and worked on both motor cars and aero engines. He was the company representative for support of the Rolls-Royce R engine during its trials at Calshot for the Schneider Trophy races in 1929 and 1931. Lovesey was a proponent of flight testing and established a centre at RAF Hucknall where he was flight development engineer. His services were also used by Malcolm Campbell during his Bluebird land speed record attempts.

In 1930 Lovesey was awarded Aviators Certificate No. 9350 by the Royal Aero Club.[3] In the late 1930s Lovesey (who had become known as 'Lov' in company shorthand) began working with others on developing the new Rolls-Royce Merlin and just prior to the start of the Battle of Britain was placed in charge of the development programme. His contribution to the Merlin, doubling its power output and improving reliability at the same time, was a major achievement. Post-war, Lovesey adapted the Merlin for civil use and then turned to turbojet development with work on the Rolls-Royce Avon.

In 1957 Lovesey became 'Chief Engineer (Aircraft Engines)' then deputy director of engineering and a member of the Aero Engine Division board of directors. He retired in 1964 but was later recalled along with Arthur Rubbra and Stanley Hooker to assist with development problems concerning the Rolls-Royce RB211 turbofan engine. Lovesey died in 1976.[4]

Honours and awards

References

Notes
  1. Lumsden 2003, p. 10.
  2. 1901 Census RG13/2481 Folio 99 Page 5 Hereford
  3. "Royal Aero Club of the United - Notice to Members - Aviators Certificate". Flight. 5 September 1930.
  4. Pugh 2000, p. 310.
  5. "No. 37412". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 January 1946. p. 281.
  6. "No. 44004". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1966. p. 6539.

Bibliography
  • Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.
  • Pugh, Peter. The Magic of a Name - The Rolls-Royce Story - The First 40 Years. Cambridge, England. Icon Books Ltd, 2000. ISBN 1-84046-151-9

Further reading
  • Rubbra, A.A. Rolls-Royce Piston Aero Engines - a designer remembers: Historical Series no 16 :Rolls Royce Heritage Trust, 1990. ISBN 1-872922-00-7
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