Anthony Herald Searle Hon
FSAIMechE (20 Jul 1930 - 26 Oct 2013) was a long serving member of SAIMechE and participated as a Council member for many years fulfilling the challenging role of Chairman of the Membership Committee.
Tony will be remembered as one of the original campaigners to have the Institution's Constitution amended to identify the spectrum of the membership that includes Engineers, Technologists and Technicians. This led to the name of the organisation being changed from that of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers to that of Mechanical Engineering. He also lead the revision of the Bye-Laws, Branch Rules and Division rules that were part of the Constitution that took and diligence to complete.
Tony developed a membership system that at the time was based on the latest information technology available. This has now been migrated into our latest web enabled system. Huge credit is due to Tony for the extended hours and dedication that went into the membership matters, as well as his contributions to the general affairs of the Institution, his regular attendance at functions. He became a popular and well known member and was a hive of information on the history and activities of the Institution.
Tony was recognised as a pumping systems expert and had been active in many of the major pumping projects in South Africa. (Compiled by Chris Reay with contribution by Stephen Hrabar).
Contributed by Vaughan Rimbault (SAIMechE CEO):
"I have very fond memories of Tony Searle, and have
tremendous respect for his commitment and dedication to the profession and
SAIMechE. It was always clear to me that Tony maintained a disciplined and
unwavering adherence to procedure and protocol as the foundation of professional
engineering.
I met Tony at my very first Council meeting, back at the
turn of the century. I had just taken over the Chair of the KZN Branch, and my
predecessor had kindly advised me to wear the Institution tie to the meeting,
which I duly did. However, one other "green" Council member had not been
similarly advised (or had considered the advice outdated) and joined the Council
table open-necked. Tony waited until the President had only just cleared his
throat to open the proceedings, before reminding everybody of acceptable dress
at these auspicious meetings, and despatching the offender and Doris to the
storeroom find a tie and make amends. Tony taught me that often we discipline
ourselves and conform just to show others that we can - to show that we share a
common respect for the power of discipline, even if it's only in little things.
Discipline is a badge - not a burden. Discipline is an important part of
professional life, and practising it in small things, like dress, helps when we
need it for bigger and more important matters."
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