Developments covered by this review include early experimental work on Univac mainframes, a contribution to early debate regarding the application of queue-network analysis, the development of bespoke benchmarking techniques, one of the first interactive load generators, and modelling tools for system sizing and for simulation. We show how addressing problems that arose from practical needs has benefited both university teaching, and industrial practice. The period covers the transition of performance evaluation as a set of ad hoc modelling and measurement techniques to performance engineering, which aspires to be an integral part of systems design and development. Cross-fertilization and collaboration with developments internationally form an important part of the activities reported.