Roy Dommett

{{Short description|British aerospace engineer}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Roy Dommett [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] | image = Roy Dommett.jpg | image_size = | caption = Roy Dommett, pictured with his wife, after their retirement. | birth_name = Roy Leonard Dommett | birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|6|25|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Southampton]], England | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2015|11|2|1933|6|25}} | death_place = Carshalton | alma_mater = [[Itchen Grammar School]] [[University of Bristol]] | known_for = [[Black Knight (rocket)]] [[Blue Streak (missile)]] [[Black Arrow]] [[UGM-27 Polaris|Polaris]] [[Trident (missile)]] UK Chief Missile Scientist | field = [[Aerospace engineering|Rocket science]] | work_institutions = Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Space Department, MOD]] [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]] | prizes = [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Royal Aeronautical Society|Royal Aeronautical Society Silver Medal]] [[English Folk Dance and Song Society|English Folk Dance and Song Society Gold Badge]] }}

'''Roy Leonard Dommett''' {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Commander of the British Empire|CBE]]}} (25 June 1933 – 2 November 2015) was a British engineer and rocket scientist, and the United Kingdom's Chief Missile Scientist, who for many years led the United Kingdom's research and development of both ballistic missiles and space rockets for the delivery of satellites into orbit. In retirement he lived in [[Hampshire]].

==Private life and family== Roy Leonard Dommett, a descendant of an old East Devon family, was born on 25 June 1933, in Itchen, Southampton. His parents were Leonard Frank Dommett (1907-1996), a painter and decorator, and cook and housekeeper Rose Eveline (1909-2006), née Diaper.<ref name=ODNB>{{cite book |url = https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-110868 |title = Dommett, Roy Leonard |last= |first= |author= |date= |year= |editor-last= |editor-first= |publisher = Oxford University Press |location= |page= |doi = 10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.110868 |isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8 |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date = 9 August 2021 |quote= }}</ref>

He was educated at [[Itchen Grammar School]] and [[Bristol University]], gaining a first in aeronautical engineering in 1954. Employed by the [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]] at Farnborough from 1953 to 2000, while it became [[Defence Research Agency|DRA]] and [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency|DERA]], he retired before it divided into [[Qinetiq]] and [[Defence Science and Technology Laboratory|Dstl]]. During this time and after his retirement he lived in [[Fleet, Hampshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Roy-Dommett-and-Morris-Matters-Beth-Neill.pdf|page = 147|title = Roy Dommett and Morris Matters|date = 2014|access-date = 3 July 2024|publisher = The Morris Federation}}</ref>

He was married in November 1955 to Marguerite Patricia Dawson whom he had met at school, and they had seven sons and one daughter. Dommett's first experience with rocket technology was witnessing the arrival of a [[V-2 rocket|V-2]] at Southampton. His family had links with the aviation industry, as his father had served in the [[Royal Air Force]],<ref name=ODNB/> and his uncle worked at the [[Supermarine]] works in Southampton on the [[Spitfire]].

Dommett died on 2 November 2015.<ref name=muddle>{{cite web |url = https://amuddleofmorris.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/roy-dommett-cbe-1933-2015/ |title = ROY DOMMETT CBE, 1933-2015 |last= Merryless|first= James|date= 3 November 2015|publisher = A Muddle of Morris |access-date = 27 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|work = [[Daily Telegraph]]|date = 6 November 2015|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11980063/Roy-Dommett-rocket-scientist-obituary.html|title = Roy Dommett, rocket scientist - obituary}}</ref> Two weeks later he was featured as the lead obituary on [[BBC Radio 4]]'s tribute programme [[Last Word]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06pdjh0 |title = Last Word: Roy Dommett |date= 20 November 2015|publisher = BBC |access-date = 15 August 2019 }}</ref> He was survived by his wife Marguerite, who died in 2020, and his seven sons; his daughter predeceased him.

Distant relatives of Dommett include [[Alfred Domett]], fourth [[List of prime ministers of New Zealand#List of officeholders|Premier of New Zealand]] (1862-1863), and Admiral [[William Domett]], who served in the [[American Revolutionary War]], [[French Revolutionary War]], and the [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref>Roy Dommett, interviewed by Dr Thomas Lean, National Life Stories: An Oral History of British Science, National Life Stories in partnership with the British Library, 2010, ref. C1379/14, pp. 7, 21-23, 33; URL= https://sounds.bl.uk/related-content/TRANSCRIPTS/021T-C1379X0014XX-0000A1.pdf</ref>

==Pioneering developments== Dommett initially specialised in aerodynamic heating and supersonic flows. He worked on the re-entry vehicle design for [[Blue Streak (missile)|Blue Streak]], and was more deeply involved in the design and analysis of the [[Black Knight (rocket)|Black Knight]] re-entry requirements. Whilst in the Space Department he was the British member of the [[European Launcher Development Organisation|ELDO]] Aerodynamics Committee on [[Europa (rocket)|EUROPA]] and a contributor to the design of the [[Black Arrow]].

He moved to the weapons department in 1967 for the [[UK Polaris programme|Polaris]] improvement studies which culminated in [[Chevaline|KHG793/Chevaline]] in 1970 with responsibility for the new delivery system, and was given a Special Merit promotion in 1980. He led on some outstanding UK issues with [[Trident (missile)|Trident II]] and then on the counter measure aspects in the UK contributions to the US [[Strategic Defense Initiative|SDI]] studies. He attempted to initiate a number of small studies that would have developed UK system understanding, but funding was not available. In all, he contributed in some way to 32 projects. For ten years he was a member of a Research Advisory Council supporting the Chief Scientific Officer.

==Chief Missile Scientist== Dommett worked at both the RAE and the rocket testing station of [[Saunders-Roe]] at [[High Down Rocket Test Site|High Down]] on the [[Isle of Wight]], where the United Kingdom's first indigenous rocketry system [[Black Knight (rocket)|Black Knight]] was developed. Dommett was designated 'Chief Missile Scientist' on the key projects [[Black Knight (rocket)|Black Knight]] (nuclear rocket), [[Blue Streak (missile)|Blue Streak]] (nuclear missile),<ref>See notes [http://www.brohp.org.uk/downloads/prospero2_article.pdf here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905224902/http://www.brohp.org.uk/downloads/prospero2_article.pdf |date=5 September 2008 }}.</ref> and [[Black Arrow]] (satellite launcher). Despite the enormous success of all these projects, all were later abandoned on grounds of expense. To date the United Kingdom is the only country to have successfully developed and then abandoned a satellite launch capability.<ref name="BBC News">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3388535.stm|work=Magazine|publisher=BBC News Online|title=Britain's first space pioneers|first=Brian|last=Wheeler|date=2004-01-12|accessdate=2009-03-09 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012134226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3388535.stm|archivedate=2007-10-12 |url-status=live}}</ref> All other countries to have developed such capability have retained it either through their own space programme, or in the case of France through its involvement in the [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane]] programme.<ref name="BBC News"/> The nuclear missile programme was abandoned in favour of buying in the American [[UGM-27 Polaris|Polaris]] system; Dommett was the Chief Missile Scientist on the programme of developing Polaris for British use, known as the Chevaline project.<ref name="British Library">{{cite web|url=http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/sound-and-vision/2013/12/the-nuclear-secrets-of-a-farnborough-morris-dancer.html|title=The nuclear secrets of a Farnborough Morris dancer|publisher=British Library|accessdate=4 November 2015}}</ref>

==Later working life== Roy Dommett did, in his later years, voice the regret and upset felt in the British rocket industry by its professionals, following the decision of the British Government to cut funding, and terminate the research.<ref>Dommett is quoted on the BBC website [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3388535.stm here].</ref> Following the cessation of the British independent space programme, and independent rocket development, Dommett continued to hold a senior role in British defence. From 1982 he was Chief Scientist for the Special Weapons Department, and then a Principal Consultant on Ballistic Missiles for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence's [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]], after his formal retirement.

Dommett was almost unique in the UK in having begun work on Black Knight and Blue Streak and continued his career working on Polaris, Black Arrow, the Polaris Improvement programme and Trident, which together constitute all of the major UK missile programmes.

During the final years of his life Dommett was one of a hundred leading United Kingdom scientists and engineers engaged by the [[British Library]] to document their ground-breaking work in a series of archives and filmed interviews. The programme, entitled ''An Oral History of British Science'' includes recordings of Dommett's interviews, which can be accessed through the British Library's ''Voices of Science'' system.<ref name="British Library"/>

==Decorations== For his pioneering research and development work, Roy Dommett received the [[Royal Aeronautical Society]] Silver Medal in 1991. Later the same year he was created a Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (CBE). In 2004 the British Rocketry Oral History Programme Conference met in Godalming and made a special 'lifetime achievement' presentation to Dommett, including an evening's biographical presentation through the eyes of family members and professional colleagues.<ref>A brief report is published [http://www.blackknights.org.uk/pdfs/British%20Rocketry%20Oral%20History%20Programme%20Conference%202004.pdf here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020144355/http://www.blackknights.org.uk/pdfs/British%20Rocketry%20Oral%20History%20Programme%20Conference%202004.pdf |date=20 October 2013 }}.</ref>

==Morris dancing== Besides being honoured for his groundbreaking scientific work, Roy Dommett was one of the leading figures in the English [[Morris Dancing]] tradition, and a touring lecturer on its history and techniques.<ref>Many of his lecture notes are extant and [http://www.opread.force9.co.uk/RoyDommet/ available].</ref> He was a much-published author on the subject, especially in the form of articles in folk dance journals.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Compilation of articles by Roy Dommett featured in 'Morris Matters' journal.|url=https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Roy-Dommett-and-Morris-Matters-Beth-Neill.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> He was a founder of the Farnborough Morris in 1954,<ref name=muddle/> and danced by invitation with the Traditional Abingdon side from 1960 to 1972. He ran a series of successful instructionals at [[Halsway Manor]], Somerset, at Boys Town, St Athlan, Barry and then at Laines Barn, Wantage. In 1976 he worked as a musician with a new generation of women morris sides including; Fleur de Lys, Goldalming, Minden Rose at Alton and latterly Fleet Morris. He has also toured and instructed in the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Although he was well-known through English morris dancing circles, few of his fellow morris-dancers were ever aware of his professional commitments, until towards the end of his life the passage of time allowed some details to become public. During his working career Dommett attended a morris dancing event near Birmingham, unaware until his arrival that the dancing was taking place at a [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]] rally. The event was monitored by the UK [[MI5|Security Service]], and on his return to work the following week Dommett was interviewed by the Royal Aircraft Establishment security officer, and obliged to explain his presence at the rally.<ref name="British Library"/>

On his retirement from active Morris Dancing a cake was baked in the form of a life-sized model of Dommett's head, which remains a talking-point in British Morris circles.<ref>Bring me the Head of Roy Dommett, an on-line article, may be read [http://www.capers.co.uk/donkey/stories/head_roy_dommett.html] here.</ref> In retirement he still occasionally performed on the accordion.<ref>{{YouTube|PDkb24VkQAI|Video: Performance 14 July 2009}}.</ref> His work in the field was recognised by the award of the Jubilee Medal and then, in 2001, the Gold Badge of the English Folk Dance and Song Society.<ref>{{Cite web|last=EFDSS|date=2019-08-19|title=Gold Badge Awards|url=https://www.efdss.org/about-us/our-history/gold-badge-awards|access-date=2020-10-21|website=English Folk Dance and Song Society|language=en-gb}}</ref> In the final years of his life, despite over ten years of very poor health, he made attempts to catalogue and summarise his extensive knowledge of morris.

==Stave dancing== In addition to Morris dancing, Dommett was instrumental in the revival of [[stave dancing]], a style of country dance local to the south-west of England, which he submitted originated during the “club walks” of nineteenth century friendly societies. Beginning with a series of talks at [[Sidmouth Folk Week|Sidmouth Folk Festival]] during the 1980s, he single-handedly popularised the dance style and continued to teach and promote it through workshops and lectures.<ref>English Folk Dance and Song Society http://www.efdss.org/efdss-education/resource-bank/resources-and-teaching-tools/jargon-buster#Stave/s</ref>

==External links== *[https://www.bl.uk/voices-of-science/interviewees/roy-dommett/video/roy-dommett-morris-dancing-and-missile-science British Library video interview with Roy Dommett, 2014] *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06pdjh0 BBC audio tribute, BBC Radio 4 "Last Word", November 2015]

==References== {{reflist}} {{authority control}} {{Use British English|date=January 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dommett, Roy}} [[Category:Space programme of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:English aerospace engineers]] [[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:Royal Aeronautical Society Silver Medal winners]] [[Category:Morris dance]] [[Category:1933 births]] [[Category:2015 deaths]]