Obituary

Jim Buchanan 1924 - 2014

After living with Parkinson's disease for many years, Jim Buchanan died in August 2014.

Jim Buchanan 1924 - 2014

Jim graduated from Northampton University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and after serving in the Royal Navy, he worked on a hand excavated tunnel at Maple Cross for W & C French Ltd. He later worked on tunnelling projects for A & M Carmichael and Costain before joining Sir Robert McAlpine in 1953 for whom he worked until he retired in 1987, although he continued to work part time for a number of years.

At McAlpine Jim initially worked on site for the Dungeness A Power Station cooling water tunnels and was later Site Agent for the Dungeness B Power Station cooling water tunnels. On both projects high pressure compressed air was used.

Jim was a member of several committees related to hyperbaric interventions and tunnelling work under compressed air conditions. He served on the BS 6164 Committee since it was formed in 1975 and was a member of the UK delegation to the European CEN/TC151 committee since its first meeting in 1989.

Receiving the 2003 James Clark Medal from BTS Chairman Anthony Umney (right)

Jim had three terms on the BTS, British Tunnelling Society, Committee and was its Vice Chairman from 1977 to 1978. In 2003, he was honoured with the BTS James Clark Medal Award for his long and distinguished service to the tunnelling industry.

Jim was known as a caring human being and a dedicated team member and working group partner. Many friends and colleagues in the UK tunnelling industry attended his memorial service in September, which was an added mark of respect for Jim with the service taking place on the same day as the first day of the 2014 BTS tunnelling conference in London. Jim is remembered with respect and friendship.