Tributes

From Robin R
Just heard on the grape vine that Chris Arnold passed away in the early hours of this morning (3 April 2019).

From Alan M
I am very sorry to hear about Chris, who I regarded as one of the most brilliant engineers I met at the old Company.
My only contact with him was in the late 1960s when he worked on the design of the S600 mobile height-finder servos and system with John Brand, while I was working on the design and development of the operations cabin. I always found him to be  great company and I was most impressed with the apparent ease with which he seemed to be able to solve complicated technical problems with ease and good humour.
RIP Chris

From Barry P
I first knew Chris when he worked in one of the Portakabins near H Block at Gt.Baddow in the late 1970s.
At that time he was responsible for the signal processing for the 967 naval surveillance radar.  In those days it was mostly based on analogue technology. The 967M version, also developed by Chris and his team, won accolades for its  multi-ship defence performance in the Falklands, was implemented using the latest digital technology of the day. This type of processing set the scene for further radar projects which used advanced digital signal processing techniques like the use of transputers for 743D, and ASPU for 1810 and 1802.  
Another sad loss to the community.

From Derrick P
My main contact with Chris was as a member of the Marconi Rifle and Pistol Club in Waterhouse Lane. One of the nicest guys I have had the good fortune to be associated with. A few of us enjoyed a beer at The Fox and Hounds in Wood Street after our session on the rifle range even though The Marsham Arms in Waterhouse Lane was the nearest pub.  I went to Chris's house on one occasion and was amazed to find aircraft wings in the hallway and on the stairs, as far as I can recall these were from a hang glider or microlite. I'm not sure if they ever flew but they certainly took up a lot of space in an average sized house. Very sad that he is no longer with us.

From Ken W
I knew Chris via another Radar employee - Dave Attwell - both had an interest in video, and between us covered a number of weddings outside our day jobs. He was always there if I needed some back-up or had a technical issue. I did layout some PCB designs for him, and he was a great engineer to work for. He really seemed to enjoy solving technical problems.

From Ian B

I had known Christopher John Arnold, affectionately called "CJ", since early 1970 when I transferred from the fallen GEC Automation Division to Marconi Radar. Our home was a Portakabin near H Block. I worked for him as part of the Advanced Signal Processing section on the GWS 25 L-Band Surveillance Signal processor along with others, including Tony Nicholas and Dave Pontin.

Aside from being a brilliant design engineer, he was also a lifelong friend and mentor who readily supported those working for him in every area of their activity. The four of us would mix socially at the Marconi Social Club as the Baddow B snooker team, with Chris being a leading light. He also loved his golf and occasionally on a sunny afternoon, when working, he’d look across the desk and say “Fancy a game of golf?” and within a few seconds he would be heading for Belfairs Park golf course in Southend. It was always a laugh with Chris, although he liked to win. Afterwards it was back to my parents house for dinner and then hear him chatting with my father who knew his father Norman. Once he stayed until quite late before leaving and the following day gave me a rollicking for being late in to work. All tongue-in-cheek with Chris and his wicked sense of humour.

We kept in touch and met up frequently over the years after 1982 when I transferred to Marconi Space Systems in Portsmouth. Many, including myself, thought he was a genius, as he could turn his hand to any aspect of engineering research in the signal processing field. 

Following his early retirement in the mid eighties, he supported his niece by studying quantum mechanics at university. There was seemingly no challenge that he couldn’t master. He even designed and built his own, remote-controlled, golf trolley that followed him around the course. Our Chris had do be doing something; he was not one to get bored.

In 2004 my sons arranged for him to be a surprise guest at our 25th Wedding Anniversary; he recorded the evenings events with his specially modified camera, creating the most unusual video, long before all of today’s modern techniques were available.

Over the following years every time we journeyed from Hampshire to Essex, we would try to get together for a few hours to relive the tales and enjoy a real laugh in the process.

Sometimes the laughter was so great he would clutch his sides and collapse to the ground just as he did one sunny afternoon on the 14th. fairway when, stopping for a comfort break, a young girl with her grandfather appeared from out of nowhere whose dog was running to where I was standing. Another unforgettable experience with CJ.

Be it social or at work being in his company, looking back over 50 years I think it was the best time  of my working life. 

This spring I called to arrange a visit only to find out that he was in hospital suffering from bladder cancer. We spoke for a while but it was difficult for him. I phoned again and spoke to a nurse who told me he was reading his paper and would convey my good wishes to him, so I hoped that he was on the mend. He sent me a text later which read “Stay in touch”. I left it for a couple of days and then called the ward again only to find to my great shock that he had passed over.

Chris Arnold was without doubt one of the greatest influences of my life. He was one of those rare human beings who possessed great knowledge and integrity blended with an infectious humour and fun. I am so thankful that he was my friend for nearly 50 years, it would have been dull without him.