Rick T

I have just heard the shocking news that Stephen passed away yesterday, suddenly and unexpectedly - as reported by the charity we have both volunteered for in Hatfield Peverel.

I worked with Stephen in the 90s on Seawolf systems until I left Marconi in '98. He was always a perfect gentleman as well as a very clever engineer who always took the time to help others. I only met him again last year when he joined as a volunteer at the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity for which I have assisted for a few years. Although older and slower than when I remember him from the 90s (aren't we all!) he was physically very active and seemingly well when we were volunteering together as recently as December.

I am sure anybody who worked with Stephen in Naval Systems for a lot longer than me will remember him well.

PS: For anybody interested in attending Stephen's funeral....

Monday 13th March 2023 @ 3pm
Danbury Mission Church

 

Ian B

I remember Stephen Hall from my days at MRSL in 1970 when we were both in Malcolm Austin’s section. He was always a lovely chap to work with and, albeit very young at the time, and perhaps a little shy, he had a great sense of humour.  Although he was working on the tracker and I now on surveillance in Chris Arnold’s section, we still met regularly, either in the canteen or Ted Stripe’s kitchen until I transferred to MSDS at Portsmouth in 1982 . In all that time I knew him I have never heard a bad word said against him. He was a lovely lad who has left us far too soon.

 

Barry P

I was very sorry to hear from Rick about Stephen Hall. i worked alongside him at Baddow in the early 1970s. We were both involved with the 910 tracker designs for GWS 25 Mod 0. As Ian B has said, Stephen worked for Malcolm Austin who was leading the design on the Electronic Angle Tracking (E.A.T.) for target and missile receiver channels. David Mason was also closely involved with this at the time and Stephen was newly qualified - he was a bit younger than the rest of us! The target and missile tracking EATs had to have highly accurate and “frequency-stable” interfaces with the Seawolf guidance loop. It was mostly analogue design in those days and quite challenging to meet all the various specifications. Hence the need for regular, automated, internal calibration checks.

The Mod 0 (910) tracker design eventually gave way to GWS 25 Mod3, RN type 911 (805SW) in the early 1980s. Like many of us, Stephen continued to use his experience and knowledge to carry over some of the proven designs but also use the opportunity to modernize with updated technologies. I think Stephen then moved into wider-ranging systems engineering roles within the Naval Division. Stephen was personally highly regarded by MOD and the RN and gained respect for his knowledge and expertise.

He took systems engineering leading role in 1802 SW (Malaysia and Brunei) and (I think) in parts of their earlier 1802/1810 predecessors (MARSPIN).

His quiet and efficient manner was always evident and he could be relied upon to cope calmly with the minor crises that often occur during trials and tests.

In 1996 Marconi Radar were awarded a contract for Seawolf Mid-life Update (SWMLU). Once more Stephen was there in a leading Systems role in the feasibility study and later in design implementation. He was one of the ex-Marconi Radar design team who made the transfer to BAE Systems with people like Richard Kildea. I was pleased to see that during that time Stephen had been made an F.I.E.T. - a well deserved recognition of his consistently high levels of responsibility and professionalism. 

I am sure he will be fondly remembered by those of us that worked with him over many years.  RIP Stephen.