May Maple
May Maple FIEE CEng FRSCA | |
|---|---|
| Born | May Newby 8 August 1914 Gateshead, England |
| Died | August 19, 2012 (aged 98) |
| Alma mater | Acton Technical College |
| Awards | Isabel Hardwich medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Engineering |
| Institutions | |
May Maple CEng FIEE (8 August 1914 – 19 August 2012) was a British electrical engineer and a president of the Women's Engineering Society. She was elected a fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in 1969.
Early life and education
[edit]May was born on 8 August 1914 in Gateshead to Alfred Newby, a master mariner, and Florence May Newby (née Grundy).[1]
Maple was educated at Calder High School in Liverpool and studied for a Higher National Certificate in electrical engineering at Acton Technical College, which later became Brunel University of London.[2] She completed the coursework at night school over a five-year period, while working for Edmundsons Electricity Corporation as a purchasing officer.[3]
Engineering career
[edit]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.[1] By 1965, she was the only woman of four contracts officers in the Central Electricity Generating Board.[3][1] In 1969, she was head of the electrical section.[2]
Maple was elected vice president of the Women's Engineering Society in 1967,[2] and served as president from 1970 until 1971.[4] May succeeded Elizabeth Laverick in the role and was succeeded in turn by Peggy Hodges.[5]
Maple gave a paper on issues to consider during transportation of heavy indivisible loads to the 3rd International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists, held in Turin in 1971.[6]
Honours and awards
[edit]In 1955 Maple was named an associate member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers,[7] and in 1969 she was named a fellow.[8]
She was awarded the Isabel Hardwich medal in 1991.[9][10]
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.[11]
Personal life
[edit]May Newby married William Maple in 1939.[1] She died, aged 98, on 19 August 2012.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 "73: May Maple". Magnificent Women. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- 1 2 3 Maple, May (Winter 1969). "President's Message". The Woman Engineer. 10 (15): 4. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- 1 2 Duncan, Sheila (9 February 1962). "Women at the COG wheel". Daily Mirror. p. 11. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ↑ "WES History". Magnificent Women. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ↑ "Presidents Past & Present | Women's Engineering Society". wes.org.uk. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ↑ "Technical sessions: Communications and transport". The Woman Engineer. 11 (3): 10. Winter 1971. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ↑ "News of Members". The Woman Engineer. 7 (18): 18. 1955. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ↑ Waddell, Sheila (Winter 1969). "The Golden Anniversary Dinner". The Woman Engineer. 10 (15): 9. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ↑ "WES Awards – Women's Engineering Society". 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ↑ "Isabel Hardwich medals for Nicole and Sue". The Woman Engineer. 17 (2): 1–2. Winter 2003.
- ↑ "Virtual Blue Plaques". Magnificent Women. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.