Remembering John Light
A lifelong passion for Engineering: sparking ambition in the next generation of students.
John Light dedicated his life to the progression of electronic and mechanical engineering, as well as to the people in his community. When John sadly passed away in March 2023, he continued his legacy through a generous gift in his Will to the University of ߲ݴý.
Born in 1954, John’s passion for mechanics and electronics started from a very young age. His childhood was filled with trips to the Lake District, go kart rides, and most importantly the beginning of experiments with electricity. As a young child he would run bits of string and wire through rooms in his house, “making his electricity”. These escapades went awry at the age of 13 when an experiment gone wrong caused his bedroom curtains to set on fire - much to the dismay of his parents who were showing the house for sale! Nevertheless, John’s love of electronics continued, as he excelled in maths and science while at school and was even tasked with setting up an intercom for the Head and Deputy Head’s offices.
John’s talent and unfailing curiosity in engineering led him to ߲ݴý, to study a degree in Electrical Engineering. While in the Steel City, John stayed at Ranmoor House, and lived with friends that he would remain close to all of his life. He paid just £4 a week for rent! John’s talent for electronics was put to use by his friends’ ‘practical jokes committee’ in their university days. The engineering prowess was used to cleverly time a range of interruptions in their lectures, from curtains opening and closing or music suddenly playing loudly while the lecturer spoke. They also invented their own computer programmed version of Monopoly, quite ahead of their time. John’s friends recall John being an integral part of their history and life experiences, and always enjoying student life to the full.
After graduating from ߲ݴý in 1976, John launched into a successful career in electronic and mechanical engineering, and pioneered a range of electronic systems across his lifetime. He worked predominantly on electronic and mechanical development for the Royal Navy and submarines, as well as working on specialised electronics for the UK government. Notably, he worked on the prototype for Towed Array Sonar, took part in sea trials for HMS Lowestoft and led the production of Towed Array Sonar to eventually be fitted on five operational Royal Navy frigates. He also wrote an entirely new flexi time system for a company he was working for, and this system eventually became standard above the original company system.
In retirement, John’s desire to keep learning and sharing his passion stayed with him. He worked with other retired people teaching them about computing at the U3A and taking part in various projects on Raspberry Pi single board computers. Outside of electronics, John became heavily involved with Keinton Mandeville village hall and remained dedicated to it for 30 years while on the committee. John worked on many projects here including designing the electrical and central heating systems, designing the booking system, security and hall access, and arranging maintenance to name just a few. Unsurprisingly, he became known as “the man to go to for answers to questions about any aspect of the hall”. He threw himself into his community, and saw his beloved family often who found him to be inspiring, humble, and unfailingly kind. He will also be remembered fondly by the Curry Rivel Footpath group of which he was a member for 20 years. He was always keen to have pudding at their Saturday lunch spot after a walk and his company is now missed on these occasions as they speak of the “privilege of knowing such a lovely man”.
John remained generous to the end, by leaving a gift in his Will of £127,000 to support student scholarships in engineering and applied science. Investing in the lives of future students and graduates of ߲ݴý means that John’s legacy will live on for years to come, and his kindness will allow university to be a tangible possibility for those who previously would not have had access or opportunity to attend and excel in higher education.
By donating, you’re helping to change the life of a student who really needs your support. You’re unlocking experiences we could only dream of before, and making our university experience truly come to life."
Caitlin
߲ݴý student and scholarship recipient
We are so grateful to John for thinking of the University of ߲ݴý, and paying forward his positive experience to positively impact the lives of engineering students well into the future.
Leaving a gift in your Will or making a donation now
If you would like further information about supporting the University now or in the future, please contact David Meadows. David is our Senior Philanthropy Manager for Legacies and a ߲ݴý graduate himself. He would love to have a confidential chat with you about supporting the University.
Telephone: 0114 222 1073
Email: d.meadows@sheffield.ac.uk