Renishaw Co-founder and Concorde Engineer Sir David McMurtry Dies at 84

Renishaw, the global engineering firm with its headquarters in Gloucestershire, has announced the death of its co-founder, Sir David McMurtry, at the age of 84. Sir David established the company in April 1973, initially to develop a precision measuring tool for the Concorde supersonic jet. Currently, the company employs 2,600 individuals in Gloucestershire and a comparable number across 36 countries worldwide. Renishaw’s high-precision measuring systems are utilized by manufacturers of aircraft, high-tech bicycles, medical and dental equipment, and numerous other products. “It is with profound sadness that the company has learnt of the sudden death of its co-founder and non-executive director, Sir David McMurtry,” a Renishaw spokesperson stated. Sir David co-founded the firm with John Deer, establishing its first commercial premises in Wotton-under-Edge, which remains the company’s headquarters today. They now operate four additional sites in Gloucestershire, located at Charfield, Old Town (in Wotton), Stonehouse, and Woodchester. Sir David served as the group’s executive chairman until earlier this year. He stepped down from this position in June but remained on the board, maintaining an active interest in the company’s innovation and technology. Speaking on behalf of the board, Sir David Grant, interim non-executive chairman, said: “David was a uniquely talented engineer and his curiosity and drive helped to create a globally respected engineering company. His legacy will live on through the culture of innovation he helped to create in Renishaw.” Renishaw was founded by Sir David to commercialise the 3D touch-trigger probe for co-ordinate measuring machines. He had invented the probe the previous year to address measurement problems encountered during the manufacture of the Olympus engines that powered the Concorde supersonic aircraft. An exceptional engineer, he was employed at Rolls-Royce plc, Bristol, for 17 years, where he became the company’s youngest ever Assistant Chief of Engine Design. He was responsible for 47 patents at Rolls-Royce and subsequently received credit for more than 200 patents related to Renishaw innovations. As Renishaw expanded globally, Sir David received numerous foreign honours and accolades, including from Japan and the USA. In 2008, the official magazine of the US Society of Manufacturing Engineers honoured him as a ‘Master of Manufacturing’, marking the first time this recognition had been given to a non-US citizen. Despite being frequently honoured later in life, he was a private individual who avoided publicity and was reportedly happier in the company of young engineers at the company he helped build. Today, Renishaw’s board paid tribute to him in a statement. The company said: “Sir David will be greatly missed by so many, including the generations of Renishaw engineers who he inspired and mentored. The manufacturing industry has lost a great innovator and many at Renishaw have lost a father figure and a friend.”