|
A.P.Rowe was a complex character but he was a pivotal figure
in the process of convincing the government that radar research
was essential to the survival of Britain. He had started his
'campaign' as far back as 1934. He became secretary to the
Tizard committee in 1935 and by 1940; he was Chief Superintendent
of TRE with overall control of all the research projects in
hand. He was a respected physicist and could negotiate and
explain the necessities to ministers and was well known to
all those civil servants upon whom the research funding relied…
He was respected but his decisions were not always popular.
'Taffy' Bowen was critical of the lack of support he was given
in 1938 for the development of airborne radar and W.B Lewis
was appointed deputy to Rowe 'over Bowen's head'. Nevertheless,
Rowe was able to achieve rapid development and continued support
for the work at TRE.
|
|
|
Whilst
at Worth in 1940, he conceived the idea of inviting
senior military personnel to visit TRE on Sundays
to meet with the rest of the research engineers
and scientists working in the team. These gatherings
were very informal and even the most junior staff
were encouraged to contribute their ideas. If an
idea was put forward that had merit, it could be
adopted there and then because all the main decision-makers
would be there. Such informality (and trust) at
such a powerful level was unprecedented. A great
sense of purpose was thus built up between the researchers
and the military decision-makers.
|
|
|
