ROBERT BOORMAN.... from his nephew Richard Boorman

Robert ‘Bob’ Boorman was the Short’s Chief Technical Engineer. He started wort at Rochester in August 1926 and retired after 42 years’ service in March 1968, Throughout his career he was a big part of the Apprentice Scheme that was widely recognised as a sound basis for training young boys in engineering.

He completed four years technical training in Chatham Dockyard Upper School as an apprentice before being recruited by Shorts and became one of many to become the ‘brains’ of the future design department. All were imbued with the shipbuilding traditions which distinguished Shorts constructional methods from those of other aircraft manufacturers.

In 1930, as technical representative, Bob assisted in the assembly of the SHORT/KAWANISHI K-F1 flying boat in Japan. The directors of Kawanishi and the Japanese naval pilots were delighted with its’ performance and it was accepted for immediate production using local materials as far as possible.

Lipscomb and his team (including Bob Boorman) staying on for over a year 1933/34 to instruct and supervise production.