Blue plaque for one of radar’s founding fathers

A PIONEERING Swansea scientist whose work helped win the Battle of Britain is to be honoured in his home city.

Swansea Council will recognise Edward ‘Taffy’ Bowen with a blue plaque to be installed outside his childhood home in Cockett later this year.

Bowen, a physicist who was born in 1911, helped contribute to the development of radar technology that proved so effective for the Allied forces in World War Two.

He graduated from Swansea University with first class honours in 1930. Bowen, who died in 1991, also played a key role in the development of radio astronomy in the USA and Australia.

He separated from his wife, Vesta, in the 1970s, who left Australia to live in the Neath area. They had three sons – Edward, David and John.

Swansea Council is now calling on anyone related to Vesta or Edward to get in touch so they can invite as many of his family and friends as possible to the blue plaque unveiling ceremony in late November.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “Edward Bowen was one of the most gifted and influential scientists of the 20th Century. His brilliance in helping develop radar technology gave the Allies a crucial advantage during some of the most important battles of World War Two, including the Battle of Britain and the Battle of the Atlantic.

“This work, as well as his contribution to radio astronomy during his time in the USA and Australia, means he’s very deserving of a blue plaque in his home city of Swansea because the scheme was set up to celebrate our most accomplished sons and daughters.

“At the moment, we’re having some difficulties tracing Edward’s relatives though, so we’d encourage anyone with information on their whereabouts or contact details to get in touch. It’d be terrific if we could get as many of his family and friends as possible to the blue plaque unveiling.”

While in Australia, Bowen helped design the Parkes Observatory in New South Wales in a venture that was used to track many spaces probes, including the Apollo missions.

His blue plaque will be located on Stepney Lane. Bowen was awarded the Medal of Honour by the USA in 1947 – the highest award given to a foreign person.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of his relatives is asked to contact Richard Porch at Swansea Council on richard.porch@swansea.gov.uk or 01792 636489.