James Hughes 1952-2020

James Michel Hughes was born in Coleraine, Co. Derry on 1^st February 1952. He was educated at St MacNissi’s college, Garron Tower before coming to Fitzwilliam College in 1970 to read Mechanical Engineering.

A Chartered engineer, he practised as a mechanical engineer consultant for over 45 years in a wide variety of industries, spending much of his professional life in the petrochemical field working in many countries including Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Zambia, Kazakhstan, Norway and Russia.

He attributed his love of engineering, mathematics and philosophy to his French great grandfather General JB Estienne, a specialist in military and artillery engineering who earned himself the title of Father of the French Tank, having introduced the tank as a military solution in France to end the Great War. Indeed, James’ love and interest in all things French drew him to live on the Côte d’Azur near Cannes when he was not working, where there would be frequent gatherings of friends and family.

He had an inquisitive mind and relished problem-solving and challenging conventional thought. He developed and published a treatise studying the mechanics of the Universe, thereby inferring mechanical principles to astrophysics.

He applied his scientific mind to all projects whether that be to family genealogy, which he traced back to 1600’s in Ireland and 1700’s in France, or to the study of the natural features of Neolithic civilisation evident on the North Antrim coast. He was able to demonstrate a mathematical sequence between the various structures left by prehistoric people, leaving no doubt that the location of their habitats and burial sites had well thought-out orientations to one another rather than merely the top of the nearest fortress hill. Unfortunately, James never got to finish that research though we know it was in an advanced stage of completion.

Although a quiet introvert, James was liked by all who knew him for his highly contagious sense of fun. In his later years he divided his time between the Côte d’Azur and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland where he grew up and it was here that he passed away quite suddenly from cancer on 16^th September 2020. A deeply religious man, he drew great comfort from his Catholic faith throughout his life. He leaves behind a son, three grandchildren and five siblings.