Eric Smyth McIlroyBorn 31 May 1946
Died 2 March 2011
Eric was a very well known and admired character within the UK NDT community and beyond. He was involved in NDT for over 40 years and was passionate about his profession.
He commenced his NDT career with Rolls-Royce, Dundonald, in 1967 and worked there until the factory closed in 1977. It was here that he received his initial NDT training and approvals and he always looked upon this period of his career as the time when he established his strong beliefs on the significance of good quality NDT training and the importance of consistent and reliable NDT processing.
After a short period working in the Photographic Department at Queen's University, Eric commenced employment in 1978 at Short Brothers Belfast (latterly Bombardier Aerospace), where he remained for over 31 years until his retirement on 4 September 2009. During this period he rose to become the Company Head of NDT and held many NDT approvals, including AQD, CSWIP, PCN, ASNT and, more recently, EN4179.
Eric was a gregarious character who enjoyed a bit of 'craic'. His laughter was infectious and he made many friends throughout the UK aerospace industry with his sense of humour and his love for life. He also had a determination to fight for what he believed was right and this led to many 'mini battles' that he enjoyed and thrived upon. His promotion of NDT within Bombardier and across the wider UK aerospace industry is one of his many legacies.
In 1994, he was so concerned with the scope and quality of NDT training available that he set up a training school within Bombardier to ensure that the NDT trainees at the company and its suppliers would receive specific training aimed at Bombardier products. He also advanced NDT as a critical process that required to be audited by specialists long before the introduction of the Nadcap programme in the UK.
Eric was a member of various NDT bodies and committees over the years, including NDT SIG, SBAC, EURAB and BINDT. He was a proud founder member of the UK NANDTB and believed it would become a powerful tool in improving NDT training and qualification throughout the UK.
During his short retirement he rekindled his interest in photography and also spent many relaxing days in his caravan in the picturesque Lakelands of Enniskillen.
His funeral was held on 7 March 2011 in Newtownards, Co Down, where it was standing room only at the church, such was the esteem in which he was held by his family, friends and colleagues.
Eric leaves behind his wife Carole, who he was married to for over 42 years, son Clark whose achievements he was so proud of, his daughter Carolyn, who is due to get married in July, and grandsons Scott and Ryan who he claimed kept him young.
Bobby Scott
Bombardier (Belfast)
