Beryl Platt, Baroness Platt of Writtle

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Beryl Catherine Platt, Baroness Platt of Writtle , née Myatt , CBE , DL , FReng (born April 18, 1923 in Leigh-on-Sea , † February 1, 2015 in Hertfordshire ) was a British politician ( Conservative Party ) and aeronautical engineer .

life and career

Platt was born Beryl Myatt on April 18, 1923, the daughter of Ernest and Dorothy Myatt in Leigh-on-Sea . Since her family often moved, she changed schools several times. She attended Tower House School in Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff High School for Girls in Southend-on-Sea, and Slough High School . She studied at Girton College of the University of Cambridge from 1941 to 1943 Aviation , after she had in 1941 received a scholarship for a university place. She originally planned to study mathematics , but due to the war-related bottlenecks in some areas, the government suggested a list of certain subjects to potential students. She chose it Aeronautics and completed a two-year Degree in Engineering (Mechanical Sciences) . In her first year, she attended lectures on a wide range of topics. In her sophomore year, she attended more specialized courses. When she graduated in 1943, she was one of five women out of 250 men. In 1943 women could not obtain academic degrees equivalent to their male fellow students; therefore she did not receive a degree, but only a " Title of Degree" . This rule was changed in Cambridge in 1948. In 1948 she obtained a Master of Arts degree in Mechanical Sciences .

From 1943 to 1946 she was in her first job as a technical assistant at Hawker Aircraft Ltd operates. She was also involved in secret projects in the development of combat aircraft . From 1946 to 1949 she worked for British European Airways . After their wedding in 1949, she gave up her job and became a housewife. During this time she volunteered several times.

She later became active in local politics. In 1958 she became a member of the Rural District Council of Chelmsford and remained so until 1973. In 1965 she was elected to Essex County Council and was Alderman from 1969 to 1974, Vice-Chairman from 1980 to 1983 and Honorary Alderman in 2005 ) . From 1971 to 1980 she was chairman (chairman) of the Education Committee and previously from 1969 to 1971 chairman of the Education Sub Committee. There, Platt campaigned for the inclusion of women in science and engineering. In 1984 she started the Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) campaign.

She served on the University of Essex's Board of Directors (Court) from 1968 to 1999, City University from 1968 to 1978, Brunel University from 1985 to 1992, Cranfield University from 1989 to 2003 and Middlesex University from 2000 until 2010.

Platt was also a member of several international bodies. From 1983 to 1988 she was a member of the European Communities Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men . In 1985 she was a member of the British delegation in Nairobi at the UK Delegation to Nairobi for UN Decade for Women World Conference . From 1974 to 1995 she was a member of the Council of the City and Guilds of London Institute . From 1975 to 1979 she was a member of the Appointments Board of the University of Cambridge .

Membership in the House of Lords

Platt was appointed Life Peer as Baroness Platt of Writtle , of Writtle in the County of Essex on May 28, 1981 . She gave her inaugural address at the House of Lords on June 24, 1981. As her political interests, she lists education , opportunities for women in engineering and local politics in her parliamentary biography on the website of the House of Lords . She was on several committees. From 1983 to 1988 she was Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee . From 1984 to 1988 she was a member of the Advisory Committee on Women's Employment . She was also a member of several Select Committees , including Science and Technology from 1982 to 1985 , Murder and Life Imprisonment from 1988 to 1989 , and there again from 1990 to 1994, 1997 to 2001 and 2003 to 2007.

Platt was Vice-President of the Parliamentary Science Committee from 1996 to 2000 and a member of the Board of Directors (Council) from 2000 to 2003. She has been on permanent leave since October 5, 2010 due to a leave of absence granted by the House of Lords . She had last spoken there on July 8, 2008. She last took part in a vote on March 2, 2010.

Further offices and honors

Platt was a member of the Association of Conservative Peers . From 1985 to 1992 she was Vice-President of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) and from 1993 to 2000 Chancellor of Middlesex University . From 1982 to 1990 she was the only woman member of the Engineering Council and from 1983 to 1988 the Council of the Royal Society of the Arts . From 1983 to 1993 she was a member of the Council Careers Research and Advisory Committee . In 1988, Platt was President of the Association of Science Education and a member of the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science , which was founded to increase awareness and understanding of science in society. Platt was a member of the Engineering & Marine Training Authority from 1990 to 1992 and of the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science from 1990 to 1993 .

From 1991 to 1998 she was a member of the Council of the Foundation for Science and Technology . From 1992 to 2000 she was a member of the Meteorological Committee , of which 1995 to 2000 as Chairman (Chairman) . She was president of the National Society for Clean Air and Environment Proctection from 1991 to 1993. In 1994 she was President of the Pipeline Industries Guild . From 1992 to 1997, she was Vice-President of the Association of County Councils . Platt was the Non-Executive Director of British Gas plc , now BG plc , from 1988 to 1994 . From 1989 to 1994 she was a director at the Smallpiece Trust . In 1988 she became a fellow there .

She received numerous honors and awards. In 1978 she became Commander of the Order of the British Empire . In 1983 she became Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Essex .

In 1988 she became Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers . Since 2002 she has been an emeritus member of the Court of Assistants .

She also became an Honorary Fellow of the Women's Engineering Society in 1988 . She was also an Honorary Fellow of Girton College , the University of Glamorgan (previously Polytechnic of Wales ), Manchester Metropolitan University (previously Polytechnic of Manchester ) and at UMIST. Platt received the 1988 Honorary Insignia Award from the City and Guilds of London Institute (now C&G ). In 2007 she received the Parliamentary Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

She was also awarded several honorary doctorates. In 1988 she received an honorary doctorate in law (Hon LLD) from the University of Cambridge . The Loughborough University she was awarded an Honorary Doctor Honorary Doctor of Technology (Hon Dtech) from. She also holds honorary Doctor of Science degrees from the Cranfield Institute , City University , Nottingham Trent University , the University of Westminster and the University of Sheffield . She is an Honorary Doctor (Hon DUniv) from the University of Salford , the Open University , the University of Bradford in Essex , Brunel University in Middlesex (1993), Sheffield Hallam University (2001) and Anglia Ruskin University (2007). She was also in 2008 Honorary Doctorate (Honorary Doctor) of the University of Southampton .

In 1988 she became European Engineer of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI). Before that, she had already become a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1987 . In 1991, Platt became an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers and Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers . In 1994 she became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society , and in 1986 she became a Fellow there. She was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts , the Institute of Training and Development , now FIPD, and the Institution of Gas Engineers . Platt was an Honorary Fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers .

family

She married Stuart Sydney Platt on October 22, 1949. The marriage produced a son and a daughter.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ European biographical directory, Volume 2, Google research
  2. ^ Baroness Platt of Writtle
  3. ^ Baroness Beryl Platt of Writtle ( Memento July 27, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Biography on the Wise Campaign website , accessed October 23, 2010
  4. ↑ Minutes of Proceedings of Tuesday 5 October 2010 Minutes of the House of Lords meeting of October 5, 2010
  5. ↑ Lord Sainsbury one of three politicians honored by RSC Announcement on the RSC homepage of March 12, 2007
personal data
SURNAME Platt, Beryl, Baroness Platt of Writtle
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Platt, Beryl Catherine
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British politician (Conservative Party)
DATE OF BIRTH April 18, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH Leigh-on-Sea
DATE OF DEATH February 1, 2015
Place of death Hertfordshire