12 Facts About Arthur Rubbra

Arthur Alexander Cecil Rubbra CBE was an English engineer who designed many of Rolls-Royce's successful aero engines.

Rubbra was born in Northampton on 29 October 1903 to Edmund and Mary Rubbra who ran a watch and jewellery repair business.

Arthur Rubbra was an accomplished artist and often sketched his favourite subjects.

Arthur Rubbra attended Northampton Grammar School where he played rugby, and then Bristol University leaving in 1925 with a BSc in engineering.

Arthur Rubbra obtained a grant from a fund originally set up by the organisers of the 1851 Great Exhibition, and secured a job as an assistant tester in the engine test houses of Rolls-Royce Limited at Derby on 13 July 1925.

Arthur Rubbra worked on the Rolls-Royce Eagle XVI 16-cylinder X engine and the later Rolls-Royce Kestrel and Buzzard aero engines.

In October 1927, Rubbra was promoted to designer, where he was further involved with the Buzzard, Kestrel and the new Rolls-Royce R He became deeply involved in the Goshawk, Merlin and Vulture projects.

Arthur Rubbra's design work continued with development of the Merlin, and he was a major contributor to the success of the Rolls-Royce Griffon, the last of the V12 piston engine line.

In 1943 Arthur Rubbra was designing the Eagle and then began work on the Welland, the company's first turbojet engine.

In 1966 Arthur Rubbra gave up his post as technical director for health reasons but continued to work as 'Chief Technical Advisor'.

In October 1968 Arthur Rubbra retired from Rolls-Royce by which time he had become vice-chairman of the company.

Arthur Rubbra's services were required once more in 1971 when he was asked, along with Stanley Hooker, to assist with developmental problems pertaining to the Rolls-Royce RB211 civil turbofan project.