Ted Parker graduated in physics at Cambridge University (St. Catharine’s college), and after working for his PhD degree in radio astronomy he moved to the University of Kent, where in 1968 he established the Antennas research group in the department of Electronics. Amongst the graduate students from that group are several who now hold high profile positions in other universities in the UK and abroad. He was appointed lecturer, then Reader in Radio Communications in 1977, Professor of Radio Communication in 1987, Professor Emeritus in 2001. The early work of the Antennas group focussed on reflector antenna design, including techniques for compensating for the effects of surface profile errors, but subsequently on Frequency Selective Surfaces and patch type antennas.
He has had consultancies with numerous manufacturing companies, mainly in the defence sector. More recently he has collaborated with the University of Auckland, NZ, on aspects of the Electromagnetic Architecture of the built environment. He was a director of Kent Scientific and Industrial Projects Ltd until 2002. Ted is a member of the Livery of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, London. He has served on IEE (IET) group committees, and local committees of the National Trust for over 25 years, and occasionally gives talks on Antique Clocks to village history & archaeological societies.