The papers of Sir Eric Eastwood

Eastwood was born on 12 March 1910, the son of George Eastwood and Eda (née Brooks). In 1937 he married Edith Butterworth and they had two sons. Eastwood was educated at Oldham High School, Manchester University and Christ's College, Cambridge (gaining a PhD in 1935). Sir Eric Eastwood died on 6 October 1981.

Eastwood achieved the rank of Squadron Leader in the RAF during World War II (mentioned in despatches) while working on radar. He was Director of Research at the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company, 1954-1962, at English Electric, 1962-1968, and at the General Electric-English Electric Companies, 1968-1974. From 1974 he was a Consultant for GEC-Marconi Electronics Ltd and for the GEC-Hirst Research Centre.

Eastwood received many honours for his achievements including the Wakefield Gold Medal (Royal Aeronautical Society, 1961), the Glazebrook Medal (Institute of Physics and Physical Society, 1970) and the Sir James Alfred Ewing Medal, Institute of Civil Engineers, 1976). He was made CBE in 1962 and elected FRS 1968, and he was knighted in 1973.

Eastwood's publications included various papers on spectroscopy, radar techniques, radar meteorology, radar ornithology as well as "Radar Ornithology" in 1967.

This collection consists mainly of material relating to the development of radar and Eastwood's other scientific work. There are copies of his published work as well as many working papers. There are also personal papers including photographs and diaries. Audio-visual material used by Eastwood for lectures is also included.

These papers were deposited at Churchill Archives Centre by Sir Eric Eastwood's sons in June 1987.

The collection is owned by Churchill College, Cambridge.

The collection is open for consultation by researchers (except for boxes 15, 25, 30, 38, 39, 40 and 41- please ask a member of the archives staff about these) using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. Churchill Archives Centre is open from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. A prior appointment and two forms of identification are required.

Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holder and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Please cite as Churchill Archives Centre, The papers of Sir Eric Eastwood, EAST

The papers of R.V.Jones are also held at Churchill Archives Centre.

This collection has been box listed. The list is available at Churchill Archives Centre.

This collection (fonds) level description was prepared by Louise King of Churchill Archives Centre in February 2003. Additional information was obtained from Sir Eric Eastwood's entry in "Who Was Who, 1897 - 1996" (A&C Black).