Ian Braid obituary

My friend and colleague Ian Braid, who has died aged 77, was a pioneer in the field of solid modelling. His fundamental work on the 3D modelling of mechanical engineering parts in computer memory was a key technology that has changed the way engineering is practised around the world.

Ian was born in Melbourne and raised on a farm in rural New South Wales. After initial home schooling, he was educated at Scotch college in Melbourne and Melbourne University, where he graduated in mechanical engineering. Soon afterwards he sailed for the UK to join an English Electric graduate apprentice scheme.