Reginald John Samuel
Reginald John Samuel (1888-1960)
1960 Obituary [1]
REGINALD JOHN SAMUEL, C.B.E., B.Sc., who was born on 11 February, 1888, died on 12 February, 1960.
He was educated at King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds, and at University College, London, where he obtained a B.Sc.(Eng.) degree.
He received his practical training under the late Sir William Prescott, M.L.C.E. In 1912 he became an engineering assistant with the Borough of Hackney, under the late Mr Norman Scorgie, M.I.C.E., engaged on general municipal works, particularly reconstruction and modernization of roads coincident with the conversion of the tramways from horse to electric traction. In 1914 he was Assistant Engineer of the Road Board, under Sir Henry Maybury, M.I.C.E., engaged on road improvement schemes. During the years 1915-19 he served as a Major in the Royal Engineers; he was Mentioned in Dispatches and also held the 1914-15 Star.
Returning to civil works he joined the Cornwall County Council as assistant county engineer for a short period, and in August 1920 he was appointed assistant engineer on the permanent staff of the Ministry of Transport. From 1924-36 he was an Engineering Inspector in the London Division of the Ministry. In the latter year he was transferred to Headquarters for special duties on the formulation of engineering policy in connexion with the first Trunk Roads Act, which was passed in that year and which established a national system of trunk roads as from 1 April, 1937. He served continuously at Ministry Headquarters until, in 1953, he retired from the post of Deputy Chief Engineer, which he had held for 4 years. During the 1939-45 war he had special responsibilities in connexion with the maintenance and improvements of roads to heavy service and other traffic to airfields, ports, and other installations essential to the war effort. From 1953 until his death, Mr Samuel was Chairman of the Civil Service Commission Selection Board for the appointment of engineers to the Works Group of the Civil Service. He was also engaged by the Ministry of Transport and other highway authorities to hold public inquiries into traffic matters under the Road Traffic Acts. He was made a C.B.E. in January 1951.
Elected an Associate Member in 1913, he was transferred to the class of mMmbers in 1933.
He is survived by his widow and a daughter.