The Foreman Years - Sir Philip Foreman

Philip Foreman came to Belfast in 1958 to work for Short & Harland Ltd on the Seacat missile system. In 1967 he was appointed Managing Director, a position he held for the next 21 years, combining it with the role of Chairman from 1983. These were great years for Shorts, the company became a world leader in the fields of commuter aircraft, missiles, aerostructures and advanced composite materials.

This is the story of those exciting times and includes many personal memories from Sir Philip and others who worked with him. It is also profusely illustrated from the company archives.

Here are the author, Guy Warner's, notes for his speech at the book launch at Belfast Central Library on 13th March 2008:

Thanks to Sir Philip & Lady Foreman, Belfast Central Library, Thales (sponsors of event), Bombardier, Nicholson & Bass (for book production), 72R Sqn for Tucano Flypast, Eric Waugh (for foreword), Ernie Cromie (for designing the exhibition), Lynda (my wife).

Why I wrote the book?
To place on record Sir Philip’s achievements during his 30 years with Shorts.

What is his place in history?

(a) One of the major figures in the 100 year history of the company. Second only to Oswald Short.

(b) One of the most important figures in the industrial life of Northern Ireland in the second half of the 20th century. The background to which is so well described by Eric Waugh. If the dominant figure during the first half of the century was Lord Pirrie of Harland & Wolff then Sir Philip stands out as a comparable figure for the second half.

(c) Thirdly what is his place in the history of aviation in the UK? To use a rugby analogy, the backs win all the headlines and the glory but the forwards are the engine room and win the hard yards. In this context the backs would include such great names as Tom Sopwith, Frederick Handley Page, Geoffrey de Havilland, AV Roe and, of course, Oswald Short. I would place Sir Philip in the forwards, lining up with Sir Arthur Marshall, Sir Michael Bishop, Sir Peter Masefield, Sir Stanley Hooker, Sir Sidney Camm, Sir Roy Chadwick, Sir Alan Cobham and Sir James Martin – the engineers, the mathematicians, the designers, the entrepreneurs.

(d) Finally here are the total sales figures concerning the best selling British civil aircraft since the Second World War: the Vickers Viscount 444, the BAe 146/Avro RJ 394, the Avro/HS/BAe 748 382, the BAC 1-11 244, but the Skyvan/330/360 family – all developed during Sir Philip’s years at Shorts – 496.

Thank you very much for coming this evening to honour Sir Philip, I hope that you will enjoy reading the book and that you will agree that it goes some way in achieving the aim I set out.

One of four Tucanos of No.72 (Reserve) Squadron Royal Air Force, based at Linton on Ouse,
which flew in copies of the book to raise funds for two charities: via Warner

the author Guy Warner with Sir Philip Foreman and two of the 72 (R) Sqn Tucano aircrew: via Warner

ISBN 978 1 905989 93 5
Publisher: Ulster Aviation Society 2008: 80 pages, 112 illustrations of which 67 in colour

Please contact:
Ulster Aviation Society, Mr Ernie Cromie, Apt A1, Wapping Lane, Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, BT 26 6AX
e-Mail: ernieATairni.freeserve.co.uk (replace AT with @ before sending)
Tel.: +44 (0) 7974502319