As was said of Richard Trevithick, “Practical men are too apt to leave facts unrecorded”, and this is particularly true of those involved in the development of Britain's aircraft engine industry.
The names of a few people come to mind immediately, but there are others whose contribution has played a crucial yet barely-recognised part in directing the overall trend. In addition there are many others who have filled lesser but vital roles as members of the teams led by the better-known pioneers.
Source-material on which to base an account of the work of Society members is scanty, since the great majority of published papers have preserved that strict anonymity which is indicative of British “team spirit”.