Cyril Lovesey joined the 'Rolls-Royce Experimental Department' in 1923, came under the direction of
Ernest Hives and worked on both motor cars and aero engines. He was the company representative for support of the
Rolls-Royce R engine during its trials at
Calshot for the
Schneider Trophy races in 1929 and 1931. Lovesey was a proponent of flight testing and established a centre at
RAF Hucknall where he was flight development engineer. His services were also used by
Malcolm Campbell during his
Bluebird land speed record attempts. In 1930 Lovesey was awarded Aviators Certificate No. 9350 by the Royal Aero Club. In the late 1930s Lovesey (who had become known as 'Lov' in
company shorthand) began working with others on developing the new
Rolls-Royce Merlin and just prior to the start of the
Battle of Britain was placed in charge of the development programme. His contribution to the Merlin, doubling its power output and improving reliability at the same time, was a major achievement. Post-war, Lovesey adapted the Merlin for civil use and then turned to
turbojet development with work on the
Rolls-Royce Avon. In 1957 Lovesey became 'Chief Engineer (Aircraft Engines)' then deputy director of engineering and a member of the Aero Engine Division board of directors. He retired in 1964 but was later recalled along with
Arthur Rubbra and
Stanley Hooker to assist with development problems concerning the
Rolls-Royce RB211 turbofan engine. Lovesey died in 1976. ==Honours and awards==