Obituary for Syd Croft

27 Feb 2018

In memory of Syd Croft, who died on 17 February 2018, and played a very active part in the creation of standards for fluid power seals over many years.

Syd had been involved in the development of seals standards since the mid-1980s when he joined the BSI Committee MCE/11 ‘Fluid seals and their housings’, which now meets as BFPA Technical Committee TC7. He took over the convenorship of ISO TC131SC7WG4, which deals with rotary shaft seal standards, in 1997 and was instrumental in developing the five parts of ISO16589 (Rotary shaft lip type seals incorporating thermoplastic sealing elements), and had worked to bring the five parts of ISO6194 (Rotary shaft lip type seals) in line. Syd’s own review of the development of these standards was published in the November 2004 issue of Sealing Technology.

During his tenure Syd showed all the necessary qualities of a fine convenor – tenacity, patience, a sense of humour and above all an excellent working knowledge of his subject, gained over his many years working at George Angus.

He resigned as the convenor of this working group in 2007. However, such was Syd’s interest and enthusiasm for the subject that he continued to be involved in the development of seals standards right up to his death, in spite of not being employed by the seals industry for a good number of years.

Syd made many friends internationally during the course of this standardisation work, and Nick Peppiatt, a close colleague commented: “I, personally, found him to be the most excellent company during the course of overseas ISO meetings. Syd will be sadly missed by all who knew him”.