Rex Watson 1935–2026

With personal reflection by BVAA Director, Rob Bartlett

Rex Watson gave more than 50 years of service to the valve and actuator industry, beginning as a 16-year-old craft electrical apprentice at Hopkinsons Ltd and rising to become Engineering Director before his retirement from Weir in 1995.  His career combined practical engineering skill with deep technical knowledge, particularly in actuators, valves and major power-generation projects.

Rex’s abilities were recognised early.  After his apprenticeship and technical studies, Hopkinsons supported him through a Mechanical Engineering degree at Leeds University.  He went on to play a key role in some of the most demanding engineering projects of his generation, including work connected with major UK power stations, Sizewell B, and specialist valve applications at home and overseas.

Following retirement from Weir, Rex continued to serve the industry through BVAA’s forerunner, BVAMA, where he worked as our Technica Consultant supporting members and also on helping develop European valve standards, the Pressure Equipment Directive (including help write our first guideline), chairing BSI committee PSE/7 ‘Industrial Valves’ and being the principal UK representative to CEN/TC69.

Reflecting on his retirement from BVAMA on 30 June 2002, he wrote that he had greatly enjoyed the past 6½ years working with old and new friends in the valve industry at BVAA, adding that “50 years of actuators and valves is probably enough fun for anyone.”

Rex was widely respected not only for his technical expertise, but also for his generosity in sharing knowledge and supporting colleagues.  I remember he was extremely helpful to me personally on the PED when I was but a standards greenhorn at another Association.  I always made a point of sitting next to Rex at Metcom Technical Co-ordination meetings as he clearly knew the Directive inside out and back to front, often more so than our official rapporteurs.

Rex remained closely connected to engineering, the IMechE, BVAMA/BVAA and the Huddersfield valve community throughout his life, and was a regular at the Huddersfield Valve Club lunches.

For those who knew him, Rex was a knowledgeable, practical and likeable engineer whose contribution to the valve industry will be long remembered.

Search related valve / actuator articles:   British Valve and Actuator AssociationIssue 106Obituaries