Brian J Russell

Background

After Attending Gosport County Grammar School, Brian commenced a sandwich apprenticeship with the de Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd, Portsmouth, and Portsmouth College of Technology during which time he obtained a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. He then entered Government service at the Admiralty Experiment Works Haslar as an Assistant Experimental Officer, and assisted contractors in commissioning the electronic control system of the wavemakers in the Haslar Manoeuvering Basin, eventually becoming responsible for their operation. During this period he obtained a Higher National Certificate in electronics. Then followed a two year period on ship trials.

Early in 1967 he joined the Interservice Hovercraft Trials Unit at HMS Daedalus, Lee on Solent. He was promoted to Experimental Officer in 1971.

Brian continued at the hovercraft unit when the IHTU was disbanded in 1974 and reformed as the Naval Hovercraft Trials Unit. His service there continued until NHTU was in turn disbanded in 1982.

He then returned to Government service at AEW, Haslar.

Brian was active in the UK Hovercraft Society through its transition to The Hovercraft Society initially as a member, and subsequently as editor of the THS Bulletin, Secretary of the society, and chairman of the society for varying periods right through until his passing.

He was also active writing articles for journals such as Navy International, Air Cushion Review etc. about IHTU/NHTU and hovercraft development in general. He also  organised several ‘Hovershow’ events in the Lee on Solent area.

During the 1990’s he was one of the key individuals establishing the arrangements for a Hovercraft Museum based on the Solent area. Craft and documentation were offered from British Hovercraft Corporation, Hovermarine Transport, Seaspeed Hovercraft and many other commercial and private donors. Initial storage for some exhibits was arranged in Portchester, and later after agreements were concluded all exhibits and materials were transferred to the ex-NHTU facilities at Lee-on-Solent. Brian became Site Manager in 2005.

Also, during the 1990’s Brian was a central figure in establishment of the Association of Search and Rescue Hovercraft, Gosport Branch. This was registered as a limited company in April 2005 with Brian as Director. The company was operative until October 2015, with an Osprey 5 hovercraft and a group of volunteers.

Brian continued active involvement with the Hovercraft Museum, and as Secretary/Editor of The Hovercraft Society until he passed away on Friday 13^th March 2020 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Portsmouth after a short illness.