It is with great regret that Magazine of Concrete Research has to report the death of Professor Tom Harrison on the 9th of August 2022 at the age of 78 years.
Tom was an engineer and known widely for his seminal work on a variety of important issues relating to concrete. These issues included basic materials research, application and, most extensively, national and international standardisation.
After a period as an officer in the Navy, Tom joined the then Cement and Concrete Association and remained with them for 21 years. This was followed by a period with the British Ready-Mixed Concrete Association lasting 16 years. He then joined the British Cement Association, where he became Associate Director of Standards.
He was a visiting industrial professor in the Concrete Technology Unit at Dundee university for 35 years, where he worked closely with the director of the Concrete Technology Unit, Professor Ravindra Dhir, on numerous research projects of both national and international importance aimed at reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of concrete construction, as well as guiding a number of PhD students. His progressive attitude and contribution to cement and concrete advancement was exceptional and the provision of measured data relevant to practical outcomes was his hallmark. Professor Rod Jones of Dundee University commented that ‘it was his style of precise and measured writing of complex topics that was inspirational. His wisdom and experience that he brought to Dundee will be sadly missed. He was the consummate visiting industrial professor.’
Tom was also widely involved with a number of organisations such as European Ready Mixed Concrete Organisation, European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM), the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) and the Transport and Road Research Laboratory.
He was an editorial board member of Magazine of Concrete Research for 17 years. His contribution as a reviewer of research papers on concrete was exceptional, profound, diligent and always on time. He will be a difficult member to replace and sadly missed as a colleague and friend.
