Alan was a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Born in Lincolnshire, England in 1936, he received his B.Sc. in Metallurgy at the University of Nottingham in 1960. He continued there for his PhD. During which time he lectured at Nottingham Trent University. On completion of his doctorate programme he and Diana emigrated to Canada accepting an appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Toronto.
In 1965 he moved to the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo. Professor Plumtree served in many capacities at UW including Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, and Research Senator, and member of the Board of Governors. His major interests were in the relationship between the mechanical properties of materials and their microstructure composition and heat treatment. He was the author of more than 200 scientific and technical publications. For his achievements Alan was awarded the Doctor of Science degree from the University of Nottingham in 1997.
He is known internationally as the co-designer and developer of the Waterloo Pump which provides potable water to villages in developing countries around the world. Alan and Diana loved international travel which took them to many countries including most of Europe and the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Egypt, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti and New Caledonia. Alan was a keen follower of Premier League soccer but on summer weekends the countryside beckoned and day trips around Ontario with a picnic lunch at hand were simple pleasures he enjoyed.
Original story from TheRecord.