I’m writing this because, to my lasting regret, it is almost ten years since I last spoke to Spen King, before he died in a bicycle crash in 2010 when he was 85 years old. I always thought he was a really heroic engineer, and I still miss him.
So, here is a perfect exam question: 'Two famous engineers, Spen King and Alec Issigonis – compare and contrast.'
My immediate judgement is that Issigonis liked to be famous, while Spen King shied away from publicity. Most enthusiasts think they know everything about Issigonis, but know little about King. Issigonis's team were vital for turning his ideas into practice. By contrast, Spen King could do it all himself, and he was also an accomplished stylist. Oh yes, and Spen King inspired…