Tue, 01 October, 2019
Two of TWI’s long-serving tour guides have retired. Bryan Martin and David Staines have a combined 102 years of service for TWI between them, having both worked for the company for decades before returning to act as tour guides for visitors to our headquarters at Great Abington near Cambridge.
Bryan first joined TWI to work in the fatigue laboratory, having completed an apprenticeship as a tool and instrument maker. From there he went on to work in stress measurement and analysis, travelling all around the world on a variety of projects across a range of industries. Bryan was involved in a number of firsts for TWI during his 58 years of service to the company, as he built unique and original equipment before going on to guide thousands of visitors around the laboratories.
David also came to TWI with a background as a tool and instrument maker, joining the TWI machine shop in 1974. From here he moved to work in the lasers department where he built components and full assemblies before moving to work in the Friction Team. David was working in this area when friction stir welding was invented in 1991, and he went on to help push this ground-breaking new technology across industry, including early friction stir welding work on fuel tanks for Boeing.
Both men approached their work with TWI with great enthusiasm, as David noted he had “enjoyed everything” about his time at TWI. Bryan is now settling down to write his memoirs while David is staying actively engaged in amateur dramatics and volunteering at a local archives office.
We would like to take a moment to thank both Bryan and David for their many years of dedication to TWI and hope to see them back visiting in the not-too-distant future.
David Staines (left) and Bryan Martin (right)