Gordon Millington grew up in Belfast. He outlines details of his family background and his early enthusiasm for engineering. He recalls his education and his graduation with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University. His first employment was with KMM and Morton, later KMM.
He recalls leaving Belfast to work in London on Thermal Power Station design, and returning to work for KMM in 1961. He was appointed partner in the company and remained with them for 38 years.
He specialised in structural engineering and he speaks at length about life during the bombing campaign in Belfast, and the repair of damaged buildings including the Opera House and the Europa Hotel. He discusses the innovative approach to strengthening buildings in order that they would withstand an explosion.
He joined the Alliance Party and his long term campaign in trying to develop an economic corridor, with sound infrastructure as a way to allow the expanding population to live a satisfying life. He comments that this has not yet come to fruition.
He discusses his involvement in the setting up of a consultancy firm in Nigeria in the 1970s and his passion in helping in the transport and water systems there. He also recalls his involvement in keeping the training ship HMS Caroline docked in Belfast and mentions the assistance of people such as the first Sinn Féin Mayor of Belfast, Tom Hartley.
Another passion relates to his membership of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland saving the Whitehead Railway Museum and to open it as a visitors’ attraction.
