May Maple
British electrical engineer (1914–2012)
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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.
8 August 1914
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 | |
Early life and education
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 an 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
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
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]