Oral history of British science
Wood, Sir Martin and Lady Audrey (Part 9 of 11)
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Type
sound
Duration
00:48:49
Shelf mark
C1379/58
Subjects
Scientific Instruments
Recording date
2012-03-21
Recording locations
Interviewees' home, Abingdon
Interviewees
Wood, Sir Martin, 1927- (speaker, male), Wood, Lady Audrey,1927- (speaker, female)
Interviewers
Lean, Thomas (speaker, male)
Abstract
Part 9 [48:49] Remarks on OI in 1990s: long recession at start of decade; factor affecting OI success, balance of industrial and research markets; performance of OI industrial and research equipment and Plasma technology in 12009 recession. [01:39] Remarks on OI links in Japan: business conditions dealing with Japan, importance of Tokyo, language; MW visits around Japan; slowness of some companies in exporting to Japan; OI initially using agents to deal with Japan; OI executive Paul Brankin investigating Japanese market; setup of Oxford Instruments KK in Japan, initially set up by Tony Ford; cultural issues with employing Japanese staff, appointment of Japanese chief executive Jiro Kitaura. [05:50] Remarks on awarding of prizes in Japan to improve profile in 1990s: Millennium committee of Japanese physicists to judge prize for young physicist; help of British Embassy reception; award of lecture tour in England and meeting with MW and AW at home. [09:30] Remarks on: MW and AW involvement with OI today, shareholders; longevity of OI; recent article on OI in 'Oxford Times' about its spin-off success; reasons for OI success, luck, wide appeal of products to stable research field, difficult condition in 1970s; innovation of mobile medical recorders, profitable but not core business. [14:25] Remarks on importance of superconductivity to OI success: early involvement of OI with superconductors, 1960s conference on superconductivity; discovery of superconductivity by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes; support of Clarendon laboratory, symbiotic relationship. [17:05] Remarks on retirement: MW retirement in 2003; MW continued activities with OI; MW awarding the Martin Wood prize in Japan every year at the British Embassy; trusts and investing taking much of their time; fitting in to Oxford University organisations. [21:15] Remarks on: Earth Trust, formerly Northmoor Trust set up in 1967, environmental trust, owns nearby wood; Sylva Foundation to improve Britain's woodlands, based at home, growing on Internet, influence worldwide, school project based around Duke of Marlborough's oak tree. [24:35] Remarks contrasting OI today and in early history: retained ethical and fair culture of early operations; occasional recessions and redundancies; OI chief executive and chairman following their original ethic; not looking this far forward when they founded the company, limited business knowledge and attending courses. [28:20] Story about MW formative experience working in a factory as a teenager, covering for his injured sister, not being rewarded for increasing productivity. [30:50] Remarks on AW writing 'Magnetic Venture' book about history of OI, MW high opinion of AW writing, value of AW studying English and Science at Cambridge under Leavis and Swan; value of complementary skills [Quote THIS 23ish]; [33:48] AW Methodist missionary background, discussion about people at home, mother managing a church; AW and mother's unskilled labour in building magnets. [35:40] Discussion about MW and AW awards: recent Mendelssohn Award, OBE, knighthood, 10 honorary degrees, [pause 37:24] Royal Society award for MW; AW OBE for conservation. [37:55] Remarks on hobbies outside work: turning hobbies into trusts; travel, Antarctica; sabbatical leave in Australia in 1969; new chief executive Barry Marsden dispatching them to set up French office of OI. [39:43] Further discussion about MW awards, with aid of box full of awards: clock; IEE award made of superconductor; Japanese award of Order of the Rising Sun to MW; Bevin Boy medal; Mullard Award; particular value of Bevin Boy medal and Order of Rising Sun to MW; OBE's, Knight Bachelor award; Queens Awards for OI; value of Japanese and American awards and Fellowship of Royal Society to MW. [46:45] Remarks on: taking part in interviews; MW enjoying working with hands and valuing awards for physical work; Japanese award; anecdote about MW wearing Japanese medal to a dinner at the Rutherford lab retrospectively allowed by Queen.
Description
Interview with scientific instrument designers and entrepreneurs Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood
Related transcripts
Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood interviewed by Thomas Lean: full transcript of the interview
Related links
Visit the 'Voices of Science' web resource for extracts from Martin and Audrey Wood's interview
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