Professor Eric R. Bryan (OBE) FREng, FIStructE (1927-2025)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Eric R. Bryan, who passed away on 14 February 2025 at the age of 97. Professor Bryan was a Professor in Structural and Civil Engineering and a cherished member of our academic community from 1970–1993.

Professor Bryan’s educational journey began at Tiffin Boys’ School. During the Second World War, he was evacuated but returned to Tiffin Boys’ School in 1943. He then attended Queen Mary College, which had been evacuated to King’s College, Cambridge.

After marrying and moving to Sandiway, Professor Bryan worked for ICI. He later assumed a senior position at Manchester University, where he was in charge of the structures labs. This was followed by his Professorship at Salford University, where he spent the remainder of his working life.

Prof. Mark Lawson described Eric’s academic career: “Professor Eric Bryan had a long academic career at The Universities of Manchester and Salford and was well known for his pioneering work on ‘stressed skin’ design. This interest was borne out of his early years at ICI in Cheshire based on carrying out whole building tests in which he observed that the roof and wall cladding provided a significant stiffening effect to steel-framed industrial buildings. He and his colleague Professor Mike Davies developed the theory of stressed skin design in the early 1970s and their book ‘Stressed Skin Design’ was published in 1973.”

“This work was continued over the following years and resulted in a new Part of BS 5950 and also in European Recommendations for stressed skin design. He also worked on developing the folded plate roof concept and also cylindrical and pyramid shaped roof design. He was awarded an OBE for services to the engineering profession. He was a long time Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a supporter of the inception of The Steel Construction Institute in the late 1980s.”

Professor Bryan was a mentor to many high-flying research students, including Prof. Mark Lawson, Prof. Pierre Engel, and Dr. Francis Zadan. His contributions to the field of structural engineering, particularly in stressed skin design in steel structures, were instrumental in establishing the University of Salford’s Department of Civil Engineering as a Centre of Excellence.

Professor Eric and his Wife smiling by a pool and lake in Switzerland on holiday.
Eric and his wife in Switzerland

Tributes

Prof. Pierre Engel (ArcelorMittal) remarked, “Professor Eric Bryan was as wonderful a person as you could rarely meet in your life. He was a scientist but also a model of human kindness in his relationship with others.”

Alex Staines, said, “Eric really was an extraordinary man with a great mind and it’s clear he had a very profound impact on a lot of people”.

Dr. Francis Zadan shared, “Words cannot describe the magnitude of the man, but here are a few words that describe how I regarded him: I had the privilege of working as a research assistant under Professor Eric Bryan for a few years, which led to my PhD. Professor Bryan possessed many admirable qualities. I will mention only two for the sake of brevity. Firstly, as an Engineer, he had a remarkable talent for simplifying complex issues. This ability was instrumental in his pioneering work on stressed skin design in steel structures. Alongside a few colleagues in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Salford, Professor Bryan played a pivotal role in the department being recognised as a Centre of Excellence in steel structures by both academia and industry. His contributions were acknowledged not only in the UK but also earned him high regard throughout Europe, particularly for his influence in drafting the European Code of Practice in Cold-Formed Steel Structures. Secondly, and of greater importance, he was an exceptional human being, cherished by all who knew him. The world would undoubtedly be a better place if there were more individuals like him.”

Prof. J Michael Davies, a long-time friend and colleague, said, “My friend and colleague for over 50 years, Professor Eric R. Bryan FREng, FIStructE, passed away at the weekend after a short illness at the age of 97. He was long retired after being Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Salford for much of his academic life.”

A family photo of Eric, his wife and his 4 sons.
Eric, his wife and four grandsons

Professor Bryan is survived by his two sons, Roger and Julian, and his daughter Lydia, all of whom are professional musicians. 

Professor Eric R. Bryan’s legacy will live on through his significant contributions to structural engineering and the many lives he touched throughout his distinguished career. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.