Obituary:
Professor Roderick A. Smith ScD, FREng
26 December 1947 – 26 December 2024
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Professor Roderick Smith, President of the EIS, who died on 26 December 2024, his 77th birthday, in a tragic walking accident during a family holiday in the Lake District.
Rod was a pivotal figure in the formation of the EIS during the early 1980s, providing unwavering support that has been instrumental in the charity’s continued success. He graciously served as President for over a decade, a role he fulfilled with dedication and enthusiasm. His contributions to the Society’s international fatigue conferences at Cambridge University were invaluable, and his valedictory keynote at the 2021 conference was one of the highlights of the meeting.
Beyond his professional achievements, Rod’s warmth and enthusiasm left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be deeply missed by the EIS community and the broader engineering world.
Born in Greenfield, Saddleworth, Rod’s early love of the outdoors began during family holidays in the Lake District. He attended Hulme Grammar School in Oldham and began his engineering career as a student apprentice with the David Brown Corporation in Huddersfield. This led to an undergraduate degree at St John’s College, Oxford. He later completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1974 under the supervision of Professor Keith Miller.
Rod’s distinguished academic career included roles at Cambridge, Sheffield and Imperial College London, serving as head of department at both Sheffield and Imperial College. His expertise in fatigue failure of metals, particularly in the rail industry, was internationally recognised. He played a key role in the Hatfield Rail Crash Inquiry, applying his extensive knowledge to enhance safety standards.
He also served as President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, as a Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Transport and was a Director of the UK Forum for Engineering Structural Integrity (FESI). As a Trustee of the Science Museum, he was instrumental in securing the Japanese Bullet Train for the National Railway Museum in York, reflecting his dedication to preserving engineering heritage.
Rod’s love of the mountains was lifelong, surpassing even his passion for the Manchester United football club. He climbed all the Lakeland Wainwrights and led expeditions to Greenland, Arctic Norway, the Himalayas and the Karakoram. A proud member of the Fell and Rock Club, the Alpine Club, the Arctic Club and the Yorkshire Ramblers’ Club, he undoubtedly had an adventurous spirit.
Rod is survived by his wife, Yayoi, and his loss is deeply felt by his extended family in the UK and Japan, as well as his countless friends and colleagues worldwide.
A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Friday, 7 March 2025, at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, OX1 4BJ. His colleagues and friends are invited to attend. The service will also be live-streamed, with a link available closer to the time on the tribute website (see below), or from the CS Boswell Funeral Directors.
As a tribute to Rod, donations can be made to the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team: Roderick Smith, 1947 – 2024)