We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Angus Stone.

Angus was a tremendous asset to the fire industry and to the Fire Industry Association. His knowledge, professionalism and dedication made a lasting impact on so many across our sector. He was highly respected not only for his technical expertise, but also for his willingness to share his knowledge and support others.

On behalf of the FIA, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Angus’ family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. He will be greatly missed, but his contribution to the industry will not be forgotten.

We now share the following tribute from Colin Todd MBE of C.S. Todd & Associates Ltd, which reflects on Angus’ remarkable career and character.

Ian Moore OBE
CEO, Fire Industry Association

Angus Stone: Obituary
By Colin Todd MBE, C.S. Todd & Associates Ltd

The fire industry was saddened in March to learn of the death of Angus Stone, who was well-known in the fire detection and emergency lighting sector.

Angus Stone enjoyed an extremely successful career, as a true professional, for virtually his entire adult life.

He joined GEC Telecoms in 1973 as a student apprentice and graduated with a First-Class Honours Degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Lancaster Polytechnic in 1977. After two years or so of extremely responsible work in GEC, at the end of 1979, Angus joined Menvier, where he began with total technical responsibility for all aspects of Menvier’s product development and specification, but was quickly promoted to Chief Engineer.

Many will remember that Menvier was originally an emergency lighting company but entered the fire detection field in the mid-1980s. This was the time of emergence of addressable and analogue fire detection systems, with which Angus was then intimately involved in in Menvier, following promotion to Technical Director in the company in 1987.

After Cooper Industries took over Menvier and JSB, in January 1999 Angus became Production Director, supervising a staff of approximately two hundred. His career continued to flourish, and, in early 2000, Angus became Engineering Director in Cooper Industries.

Angus left Coopers to set up his own consultancy early in 2007. It is probably from around that time that many colleagues in the fire detection and alarm trade best became acquainted with Angus. He became known as a patient and skilful trainer, providing services to the Fire Industry Association, for which he is possibly best known, but also the Fire Protection Association and Fire Safety Training Group, with immense capability to deliver training in both emergency lighting and fire detection and alarm systems.

His immense technical flair also enabled him to offer services in electronic product development to third parties and technical support relating to product standards and legislation.

He also became very well-known and respected as a member of British Standard committees on fire detection and alarm systems, representing the UK on European and International Standards committees.

Angus was a giant in our profession, and I was very surprised and extremely delighted to find that, when I consulted Angus regarding our vacant position for Head of Systems Engineering in C.S. Todd & Associates Ltd, Angus was prepared to take on this role himself from 2016 till the time of his retirement.

We sometimes refer to C.S. Todd & Associates as Hotel California, because you can check out but you can never leave. Thus it was, that when we needed help with ongoing legal cases and even some new client requirements, Angus never embarrassed us by reminding us that he had retired from our company but was always willing to help as far as he could, and this is something for which I will always be extremely grateful.

Angus was a devout Christian who lived his Christianity throughout all his engagement with others. When faced with serious illness, Angus’ Christianity gave him the strength to treat it stoically and almost with nonchalance, on the basis that when God’s will was that Angus should leave this world, this was a decision with which he would have no argument, fear, or self-pity.

We all knew Angus as a kind and respected colleague, but we were also extremely aware of the importance to him of his life as a father and loving husband to Kathryn.

He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him and had benefited from mentoring, advice, training, and friendship.

RIP Angus. I, and countless others, owe you an enormous debt of gratitude, which will never be forgotten.