Draft:Norman Frederick Astbury

Astbury was the youngest of seven children, born in Normacot, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. His father, William Edwin Astbury, was employed as a potter, while his mother was Clara Astbury, née Dean. He met his future wife, Nora Wilkinson , when, aged five she took his hand at infant school. Astbury attended Longton High School from 1919 to 1926. He later pursued studies in Natural Sciences at St John's College Cambridge, where he was both a Scholar and a Prizeman.Cambridge University Archives UA BOGS 1 1953-4/HD1 He achieved First Class Honours in both parts of the Natural Sciences Tripos.

Astbury began his career at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) as a member of the staff following his university education. Collaborating with his senior colleague, Leslie Hartshorn, he contributed to work on primary and secondary electrical standards. His responsibilities included tasks such as re-establishing the primary inductance standard and conducting a redetermination of the ohm.Nature 164, 560 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/164560a0

During World War II, Astbury served in the Royal Naval Scientific Service, focusing on issues related to harbour defence and electro-acoustics. His work involved contributions to the HM Anti-Submarine Experimentation Establishment and Ship Degaussing initiatives.Obituary in The Times of November 2, 1987National Archives: Reference ADM 11/22138 DRPP5626/1948

For his service during the war, Astbury received the 1939–1945 Star, the Defence Medal, and the War Medal 1939–1945. His full set of medals also includes the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), awarded to him in 1968 for services to industry).

In 1945 Astbury joined Joseph Sankey and Sons, where he became Director of Research and was tasked with establishing a research laboratory. This facility later became the central laboratory for the Guest, Keen and Nettlefold (GKN) group of companies. His work primarily focused on the processing and properties of electrical sheet steel. Under his direction, the laboratory expanded its scope to address a broad range of issues in applied physics.

File:Professor Norman Astbury (cropped).jpg

In 1949, Astbury was appointed Professor of Applied Physics at the newly established New South Wales University of Technology. He held this position until 1951, when he accepted an appointment at the Gordon Memorial College in Khartoum, Sudan.

File:Experiment to measure changes in the Earth's magnetic field.jpg

In 1951, Astbury was appointed Professor of Physics and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the Gordon Memorial College in Khartoum, (now University of Khartoum). During his tenure, he designed and conducted an experiment at the "Kilo Five" Khartoum Airport to measure changes in the Earth's magnetic field during the total solar eclipse on February 25, 1952. His findings contributed to ongoing global research on the topic and were published in Nature on July 12, 1952, under the title "Micro-Magnetic Variations During the Solar Eclipse of February 25, 1952."{{cite journal |last1=Astbury |first1=N. F. |date=1952 |title=Micro-Magnetic Variations During the Solar Eclipse of February 25, 1952 |url=https://doi.org/10.1038/170068a0 |journal=Nature |volume=170 |issue=4315 |pages=68–69 |bibcode=1952Natur.170...68A |doi=10.1038/170068a0}}

The Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) was a British research institution that operated under various names throughout its history and ultimately became part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). Following its dissolution, its functions were distributed among various government departments, and its records are now housed with FAST (Farnborough Air Sciences Trust) and The National Archives (United Kingdom).

During his two years at the RAE, Astbury conducted early development work on Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and investigated the effects of atmospheric precipitation on the nose cones of supersonic aircraft.Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST): AGARDograph 62/24 pp 369-390 (1963) “Mechanical properties of composite materials – ceramics in thermal shock” by N. F. Astbury. The Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD) was an agency of NATO from 1952 to 1996. His research in this latter area was connected to the ceramic materials used in manufacturing processes, linking to his subsequent work at the British Ceramic Research Association, an organization that later became Lucideon (1957–1973).DR NORMAN ASTBURY. (1987). RSA Journal, 136(5377), 65–66. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41374470

Astbury served as Deputy Director of the British Ceramic Research Association (BCRA), (later called Lucideon) from 1957 to 1960 and as Director from 1960 to 1973.In Fact (The journal for members of the British Ceramic Research Association) • Presentation from BCRA on retirement • In Fact 1973 No. 89 p. 3 • Source and acknowledgement: Lucideon Library & Information Team

File:Dr Norman Astbury CBE.jpg, 1986.]]

In 1954, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Cambridge awarded Astbury a Doctor of Science degree in recognition of his contributions to applied physics, supported by the submission of 36 published papers on engineering topics. In 1968, Astbury was appointed a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours under the government of Prime Minister Harold Wilson.The London Gazette - December 29, 1967 - Supplement 44484 Page 10In Fact (The journal for members of the British Ceramic Research Association) Appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire • In Fact 1968 No. 69 p.1 • In Fact 1968 No. 70 p.11 • Source and acknowledgement: Lucideon Library & Information Team

• {{cite journal|last1=Astbury |first1=N. F. |title=Balance detectors for A.C. bridges |doi=10.1088/0950-7671/17/2/301 |journal=Journal of Scientific Instruments | date = 1940|volume=17|issue=25}}
• {{Cite journal |date=22 February 1949 |title=Some theoretical considerations on the dynamic properties of plastics |url=https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.1949.0016 |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences |language=en |volume=196 |issue=1044 |pages=92–105 |doi=10.1098/rspa.1949.0016 |bibcode=1949RSPSA.196...92A |issn=0080-4630 |last1=Astbury |first1=N. F. }}
• {{cite book|last1=Astbury |first1=N. F.|title=Industrial Magnetic Testing|date=1952|publisher=The Institute of Physics|location=London|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Introduction_to_Electrical_Applied_Physi/0NfPAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&bsq=Electrical%20Applied%20Physics%20Astbury}}
• {{cite book|last1=Astbury |first1=N. F.|title=Introduction to Electrical Applied Physics|date=1956|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Introduction_to_Electrical_Applied_Physi/0NfPAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&bsq=Electrical%20Applied%20Physics%20Astbury|publisher=Chapman & Hall|location=London}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Astbury |first1=N. F. |title=Alternating-Current Properties of a Copper Conductor Clad in a Magnetic Sheath|journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers|volume=110|issue=11|pages=2055-2062|date=November 1963}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Hartshorn |first1=L. |last2=Astbury |first2=N. F. |date=1937 |title=The Absolute Measurement of Resistance by the Method of Albert Campbell |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/91304 |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences |volume=236 |issue=769 |pages=423–471 |doi=10.1098/rsta.1937.0007 |jstor=91304 |bibcode=1937RSPTA.236..423H |issn=0080-4614}}

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• Fellow, Royal Society of Arts 1948 - 1987
• Member, National Council for Technological Awards 1958-1964
• Vice Chairman, Institute of Clay Technology 1959-1976
• President, British Ceramic Society 1960
• Member, Inter-Services Metallurgical Research Council 1962-1964
• Education and Membership Committee and Council Member, Institute of Physics and Physical Society 1963-1966
• Member, Council for National Academic Awards 1964-1966
• Committee Chairman, Directors of Research Associations 1964-1966In Fact (The journal for members of the British Ceramic Research Association) • Elected Chairman of the Committee of Directors of Research Associations • In Fact 1964 No. 56 p. 9 • Source and acknowledgement: Lucideon Library & Information Team
• Member, Joint Services Non-Metallic Materials Research Board 1964-1969
• Vice President, Parliamentary and Scientific Committee 1965-1968In Fact (The journal for members of the British Ceramic Research Association) • Elected Vice-President of The Parliamentary & Scientific Committee • In Fact 1965 No. 57 p.7 • Source and acknowledgement: Lucideon Library & Information Team
• Member, Construction Research Advisory Council 1968-1971
• Governor, North Staffordshire Polytechnic 1969In Fact (The journal for members of the British Ceramic Research Association) • Appointed Governor of North Staffordshire Polytechnic • In Fact 1969 No. 74 p.2 • Source and acknowledgement: Lucideon Library & Information Team
• Advisory Board, Journal of Scientific Instruments
• Advisory Board, British Journal of Applied Physics
• Member, Board of Studies, National Council for Technological Awards

• Athenaeum
• Federation (Stoke-on-Trent)

• CEng - A Chartered Engineer (CEng) is an engineer registered with the UK's regulatory body for the engineering profession, the Engineering Council.
• CPhys - Chartered Physicist (CPhys) is a chartered status and a professional qualification for physicists awarded by the Institute of Physics.
• FInstP - Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP) is the highest level of membership attainable by physicists who are members of the Institute of Physics.
• Hon FICeram - Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Ceramics a professional designation awarded by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), specifically under its Ceramics Division and is one of the highest levels of professional recognition within the field of ceramics. It indicates that the holder has made a significant contribution to the science, technology, or industry of ceramics and typically requires a combination of extensive experience, leadership, and professional achievement in the ceramics sector.

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During his years in Khartoum, Sudan, he pursued amateur astronomy as a hobby. Additionally, he was an avid creator of model railways both before and after his time in Khartoum. Astbury was also a skilled pianist and organist . While residing in Khartoum, he played and maintained the organ in All Saints' Cathedral, the first cathedral in the Sudan, which later became part of the Republican Palace Museum.

Upon his retirement from the British Ceramic Research Association (BCRA), he was presented with an early reel-to-reel tape recorder. He utilized this device to record one part of a piano duet and subsequently played it back while performing the second part himself. This practice led to the development of an extensive personal collection of duet recordings, which he continued to enjoy throughout his retirement.

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