Draft:May Maple

May Maple CEng FIEE (8 August 1914 – 19 August 2012) was an electrical engineer and past President of the Women's Engineering Society. ^[1] She was awarded the Isabel Hardwich medal in 1991.^[2]

Early life and education

May was born on 8 August 1914 in Gateshead to Alfred Newby, a master mariner, and Florence May Newby (nee Grundy).

Maple was educated at Calder High School in Liverpool and studied for an HNC in electrical engineering at Acton Technical College while working for Edmundsons as a purchasing officer.^[3][4]

Engineering career

Maple moved to a role as a contracts officer with the British Electricity Authority when that body was formed under the Electricity Act of 1947. and was promoted to 3nd Assistant Engineer in 1953.^[4] By 1965, she was the only woman of four Contracts Officers in the Central Electricity Generating Board.^[4] In 1969, she was Head of the Electrical Section.^[3]

In 1969, Maple was elected President of the Women's Engineering Society and Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.^[5][3]

Maple gave a paper on 'Transportation of heavy indivisible loads' to the 3rd International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists, held in Turin in 1971.

See also

In 2024, Maple's work was commemorated by a virtual blue plaque to celebrate the history of the Women's Engineering Society and the Electrical Association for Women.^[6]

Reference

1. ^ "WES History". Magnificent Women. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
2. ^ "WES Awards – Women's Engineering Society". Retrieved 2024-07-08.
3. ^ ^{a b c} "President's Message". The Woman Engineer. 10 (15): 4. Winter 1969.
4. ^ ^{a b c} "73: May Maple". Magnificent Women. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
5. ^ "News of Members". The Woman Engineer. 10 (14): 17. Autumn 1969.
6. ^ "Virtual Blue Plaques". Magnificent Women. Retrieved 2024-07-08.