(1933 - 2015) Aerospace Engineer

Anthony Henry Sevant was an engineering manager who was involved in the Blue Streak missile programme. He began his career in 1949 when he joined Harris Lebus as a Mechanical Engineering Apprentice. He would remain with the company for 5 years, which included 3 years working in the drawing office, before joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to complete his National Service. This was undertaken between 1954 and 1956 during which time he was employed as a Gun Fitter on a firing range.

Following his time in R.E.M.E., he joined Saben Hart and Partners, a design and engineering consultancy firm, where he worked as a Design Draughtsman. Here he was involved in the design of special-purpose machinery, earth-moving equipment, gearboxes, hydraulic systems and equipment, and pipework installations.

In 1958 Sevant would join De Havilland Propellers as a Senior Draughtsman before being promoted to Senior Designer in 1962. In 1963 his company would be merged with the missile and equipment departments of Whitworth Gloster and A.V. Roe to form Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, part of the Hawker Siddeley Group. He would remain in position in the Space Projects Division until the following year when he was promoted to Drawing Office Section Leader and then Senior Mechanical Engineer in 1965. During his time at De Havilland Propellers and Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, he would be involved in the design and manufacture of special purposed ground equipment for the Blue Steak missile and would also represent the company at the Woomera test facility in Australia, as a Design Consultant. Later he would also be part of the company’s involvement in EDLO (European Launcher Development Organisation).

In 1968 he would leave Hawker Siddeley Dynamics and move to The Plessey Company. Here he would initially work as a Senior Mechanical Engineer before moving on to become Principal Mechanical Design Engineer in 1969, Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1970, Engineering Services Manager in 1972 and Chief Mechanical Designer in 1977.