March 24, 2024 - Dowty Company, based in Cheltenham, England, was renowned during WWII for the production of hydraulic undercarriages for Lancaster bombers. George Dowty, who later became Sir George, saw how his aircraft landing gear with some adjustments could be used to support the roof of a coal mine. By 1957, the one millionth Dowty prop had been delivered and they were being used in mines all over the world to replace wooden props.

Following in the footsteps of Dowty individual hydraulic props, Dowty Roofmaster powered roof supports were developed, which revolutionized mechanization of underground longwall mining in coal mines. The Roofmaster was a hydraulic powered roof support system housed in mobile steel frames and a roof canopy with vertical hydraulic cylinders to support the roof and additional horizontal cylinders, which were connected to the armored chain face conveyor. This development by Sir George Dowty began the history of hydraulic roof supports resulting in the heavy- duty automatic shield supports used today globally.

The Dowty name will forever be associated with excellence in engineering and a world-renowned business. The new booklet describing the Dowty Group Innovators has been produced with the following background. The Cathedral in the city of Worcester was subject to significant renovation works around 1860 and therefore attracted many stonemasons. As this work was completed, the masons moved south to Cheltenham, where there was a church building boom. One of the masons moving south was Worcester born  H. H. Martyn, who was to form a business in Cheltenham producing decorative architectural work that bore his name - it was to supply the Cenotaph, the Speaker’s Chair and the Despatch Box in the House of Commons and go on to obtain worldwide renown.

Out of H. H. Martyn Company came the Gloster Aircraft Company, which George Dowty joined in 1924 and left in 1931 to form his own business - that was to become the Dowty Group. The booklet features all three of these businesses.

A solid brass statue of Sir George Dowty has been commissioned and is nearing completion. A second smaller version is planned to be used to take to schools and other places of learning to encourage the study of engineering. Such is the universal admiration of Sir George and demand for this booklet has been very considerable.

Copies can be obtained at a price of $20 each by contacting Martin Robins, Chairman of the Sir George Dowty Memorial Committee at martinrobins@btinternet.com.