Derek Roberts

Sir Derek Harry Roberts (28 March 1932 – 17 February 2021) was an English engineer who twice served as provost of University College London (UCL), from 1989 to 1999 and again from 2002 to 2003.^[1]

Sir Derek Roberts CBE FRS FREng FInstP
Provost of University College London
In office 2002–2003
Provost of University College, London
In office 1989–1999
Personal details
Born	Derek Harry Roberts 28 March 1932
Died	17 February 2021(2021-02-17) (aged 88)

Engineering

Roberts spent much of his professional life in industrial scientific research at Plessey's Caswell research centre,^[2] and later at the GEC Hirst Research Centre and as a director of GEC. For his contribution to early semiconductor research, Roberts was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society^[3] in 1980 and delivered the Clifford Paterson Lecture the same year.^[4][5] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, also in 1980.^[6] In 1986 he presented the Bernard Price Memorial Lecture in South Africa.

UCL

Roberts became the Provost of UCL in 1989. Under his leadership UCL expanded significantly, merging with several institutions including the Institute of Child Health in 1996, the Royal Free Medical School in 1998, and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies in 1999.^[7][8][9]

Roberts retired in 1999, but returned to UCL in 2002 to act as interim Provost following the resignation of his successor, Christopher Llewellyn Smith.^[10] He served until the appointment of Malcolm Grant in August 2003.

Roberts died on 17 February 2021, aged 88.^[11]

Personal life

Roberts married Winifred Short in 1958. They have two children.^[12]

Honours and legacy

Roberts was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire^[13] and in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1995 he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for services to engineering and to education.^[14]

In recognition of his contributions to the faculty, UCL's main Engineering building was named the Roberts Building.^[15]

References

1. ‘ROBERTS,Sir Derek (Harry)’, Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2010; online edn, Oct 2010 accessed 20 Dec 2010
2. "This is your Life: Caswell, The Cradle of the Electronics Industry" (PDF). New Electronics. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
3. Pepper, Michael; Kelly, Michael (2024). "Sir Derek Harry Roberts. 28 March 1932—17 February 2021". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society.
4. "Library and Archive catalogue" (PDF). Royal Society. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
5. "Tributes paid to UCL visionary and moderniser Sir Derek Roberts". UCL. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
6. "List of Fellows: RAEng". Retrieved 18 October 2017.
7. Harte, Negley & North, John (2004). The world of UCL 1828–2004. London: UCL Press. pp. 276–277. ISBN 1-84472-068-3.
8. "History of UCL Medical School". UCL. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011.
9. "New UCL SSEES Building". 26 October 2005.
10. "Tributes paid to UCL visionary and moderniser Sir Derek Roberts". UCL. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
11. Roberts
12. Roberts
13. "No. 51357". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1988. p. 6621.
14. "No. 54066". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 16 June 1995. p. 2.
15. "Tributes paid to UCL visionary and moderniser Sir Derek Roberts". UCL. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.

Academic offices
Preceded by James Lighthill	Provost of University College London 1989–1999	Succeeded by Christopher Llewellyn Smith
Preceded by Christopher Llewellyn Smith	Provost of University College London 2002–2003	Succeeded by Malcolm Grant