Attwater Insights
The Tom Eland Memorial Lecture
A memorial lecture is to be given in April to honour a man who was a respected authority in the electrical insulation industry.
Tom Eland, who passed away in December 2013, not only worked for Attwater & Sons Ltd for over 46 years but also represented the UK on IEC International Standards committees and was vice chairman of the EEIM the European trade association representing European Electrical Insulation Manufacturers.
Cliff Hartshorn, the current chairman of the EIA, says “Tom Eland was a well liked and well respected figure in the electrical insulation industry world-wide and we are keen to keep his memory alive”.
Tom worked for Attwater & Sons Ltd for over forty years, and in the early 1990s he took over the chair of the association’s Technical Committee – a position he held for over six years. During this time he was actively involved in organising and presenting at the annual Young Engineers Seminar.
Tom went on to become Chairman of the EIA from 2008 to 2012 and was also heavily involved in the organisation of several of the international Insucon conferences on electrical insulation, including the most recent conference in 2013.
Cliff added “In remembrance of his valuable contribution to the electrical insulation industry, at each subsequent AGM of the association a guest speaker is invited to present the “Tom Eland Memorial Lecture”. This year’s event will take place at Haydock Park, Liverpool on Friday April 24th. Provisional arrangements have been made for the lecture to be given by Cara Blockley from Electricity North West.
Tom joined Attwater in 1967 at the age of 16 and spent the whole of his working life with the company, becoming a director in 1988.
From humble beginnings in the laboratory, he developed his intellect and sharpened his business skills to become one of the most influential and respected authorities on composite laminates; not only at Attwater, but within the UK Electrical industry and throughout Europe.