Whitworth Society

Last updated

The Whitworth Society
Formation12 January 1923
FounderH. S. Hele-Shaw
Key people
President: Rachael Hoyle
Website whitworthsociety.org
Handover of Presidential office between Lee Griffiths (2016 President, right) to Howard Stone (2017 President, left) at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in front of Joseph Whitworth's portrait and lathe Presidential Handover Image.jpg
Handover of Presidential office between Lee Griffiths (2016 President, right) to Howard Stone (2017 President, left) at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in front of Joseph Whitworth's portrait and lathe

The Whitworth Society was founded in 1923 by Henry Selby Hele-Shaw, then president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Its purposes are to promote engineering in the United Kingdom, and more specifically to support all Whitworth Scholars, the recipients of a scholarship funded by Joseph Whitworth's scholarship scheme, which started in 1868. [1] A Whitworth Scholar is the result of completing a successful Whitworth Scholarship. Membership of the Society is limited to Whitworth Scholars, Senior Scholars, Fellows, Exhibitioners and Prizemen. The Society is a way for making contact with all successful "Whitworths" and provides a way for making information contacts and connections from more senior members to recently successful Scholars. The Society also serves as a way to commemorate Joseph Whitworth and acknowledge his contributions to engineering education. [2]

Contents

Activities

Commemorative dinner and annual general meeting

The annual dinner and annual general meeting is held on the evening of 18 March (or nearest Friday to) to commemorate the date in 1868 when Joseph Whitworth wrote to Benjamin Disraeli, offering to found the Whitworth Scholarships. Traditionally the dinner has been held in London until more recent times where the meal and meeting is alternated, one-year London and one-year Manchester.

Summer meeting

An image of the Whitworth Register from 2007. Whitworth Register.jpg
An image of the Whitworth Register from 2007.

There is a summer meeting held over two-days normally at the beginning of July. The event is largely informal and ordinarily arranged by the President of the Society.

Record

A record of all scholars is kept by the Society, until recent years, this was in hardback form (see image) presented when an individual was elected a scholar. In recent times, the register is kept electronically and provided by USB flash drive as part of the awards ceremony.

Whitworth Scholarship

A Whitworth Scholarship, named after Joseph Whitworth, is an "award for outstanding engineers, who have excellent academic and practical skills and the qualities needed to succeed in industry, to take an engineering degree-level programme in any engineering discipline". [3]

Background

On 18 March 1868, Joseph Whitworth wrote to then Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli to fund 30 scholarships for the value of £100 for young men in the United Kingdom. This was met favourably by the Government at the time as minuted on 27 March 1868 by the council. [4] After the adoption of this by Government, Whitworth presented a memorandum setting out the requirements of the awards which included examinations in mathematics, mechanics, physics, and chemistry, including metallurgy and in the following handicrafts: Smith's Work, turning, filing, fitting, pattern making and moulding. [5]

Whitworth's intent was to support those individuals with practical skills, training, typically those who today have completed an apprenticeship who had the desire to continue onto further, higher education, university degree courses. The Scholarships continue over 150-years after inception of the idea. [6] In 2018 the prize money awarded is up to £5,450 per annum for an undergraduate programme and £8,250 per annum for a post graduate research programme. The prize money is still funded by the original money provided in Trust by Joseph Whitworth.

The criteria for a scholarship remains consistent with the original mandate of 1868, practical skills with aptitude for science and mathematic based academia. In 2018, the conditions for application for a scholarship are to:

In 1984, as a result of consultation with the Whitworth Society, the administration of the Awards and Scholarship programmes was transferred from the Department of Education & Science (at the time) to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. [8]

Current scholarship

Whitworth Medal, presented to successful Scholars and engraved on the outside diameter with the individual's name. These are produced by the Royal Mint, London in Bronze. Whitworth Medal.jpg
Whitworth Medal, presented to successful Scholars and engraved on the outside diameter with the individual's name. These are produced by the Royal Mint, London in Bronze.

Today, the scholarship programme lasts for the duration of an individual's academic studies, typically 3–4 years of full-time degree studies. During this time, the individuals are termed "award holders". [9]

If the continued monitoring of progress and overall academic achievement is deemed satisfactory, the award holder becomes a Whitworth Scholar. This occasion is commemorated at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Vision Awards ceremony ordinarily carried out in the September/October period of each year. [10]

Whitworth Scholar

A Whitworth Scholar is the accolade given to those who have successfully completed a Whitworth Scholarship. It is rare on the basis that only a small number of scholarships are issued each year which has quite specific application conditions and a tough review process.

A Whitworth Scholar is permitted to use the post-nominal letters, WhSch.

An example certificate presented to an individual when they have been elected a Whitworth Scholar. Whitworth Scholarship Certificate.jpg
An example certificate presented to an individual when they have been elected a Whitworth Scholar.

Typically there is an awards ceremony for the successful scholars where a certificate and medal (shown opposite) are presented. In recent years forms part of the IMechE's vision awards in September/October time each year.

Post nominals

There are recognised post-nominals which are permitted to be used after an individual's name. They are as follows.

Post NominalDesignation
WhSchWhitworth Scholarship
WhSSchWhitworth Senior Scholar
WhExWhitworth Exhibitioner
WhFWhitworth Fellow
WhPrWhitworth Prizeman

Officers

No.Year of Taking OfficePresidentHonorary TreasurerHonorary Secretary
11923 Henry Selby Hele-Shaw D. A. LowE. R. Dolby
21924R. B. Buckley
31925Williamm Sisson
41926F. P. Purvis
51927Thomas Sugden
61928F. H. Livens
71929W. H. Fowler
81930 Henry Fowler
91931F. C. Lea
101932D. A. Low
111933E. R. DolbyS. J. Davies
121934Charles Day
131935 Ernest George Coker J. Hamilton Gibson
141936Henry Japp
151937A. Havelock Case
161938W. Price Abell
171939 Edmund Bruce Ball
181940 Asa Binns
191941A. L. MellanbyI. V. Robinson
201945 Harry Wimperis
211946L. H. Hounsfield
221947 Andrew Robertson F. T. Barwell
231948I. V. Robinson
241949H. Shoosmith
251950H. H. Johnson
261951S. F. Dorey
271952 Henry Lewis Guy
281953S. J. Davies
291954A. R. Valon
301955 Richard William Bailey
311956P. L. Jones
321957E. MarkhamF. T. BarwellR. G. Woolacott
331958G. W. Daniels
341959A. Hoare (to Dec 1959)
351959G. W. Daniels (from Dec 1959)
361960F. H. Reid
371961W. Ker Wilson
381962A. Sykes
391963 Douglas George Sopwith
401964W. F. Harlow
411965R. J. WelshM. J. Neale
421966F. T. Barwell
431967E. C. Mills
441968J. Diamond
451969P. P. Love
461970D. H. New
471971D. W. Ginns
481972 Herbert Haslegrave
491973 Hugh Ford
501974N. E. Rowe
511975R. G. VoyseyE. K. ArmstrongM. J. C. Swainston
521976M. J. Neale
531977J. W. Drinkwater
541978 Joseph A. Pope
551979J. G. Watkins
561980M. D. Wood
571981T. Matthewson-Dick
581982H. G. R. Robinson
591983A. G. Gledhill
601984R. G. Woolacott
611985 Denning Pearson
621986L. I. Farren
631987G. W. Watson
641988R. A. HoreF. M. Burrows
651989W. G. N. Buckland
661990E. K. Armstrong
671991M. J. C. Swainston
681992R. A. Clarke
691993J. H. Weaving
701994G. M. Ward.
711995H. J. C. WeighellB. M. CoakerF. M. Burrows
721996K. Patricia Baglin
731997 D. J. Faulkner
741998P. C. Young
751999D. L. Clamp
762000R. J. Mistry
772001M. D. Black
782002B. J. Hutchinson
792003B. M. Coaker
802004D. J. Wood
812005S. T. Beck
822006M. A. Comer
832007S. Davison
842008P. Whyman
852009H. B. J. Stone
862010V. J. (Bradley) Sims
872011D. G. EavesV. J. (Bradley) Sims
882012G. Cooke
892013K. D. Dearn
902014S. A. Witting
912015B. H. Hughes
922016L. M. Griffiths
932017H. B. J. StoneRachael Hoyle
942018B. M. Coaker
952019James PottenMichael F. Kelly
962020Jenny Kenny
972021Laura Gilbert
982022Chris Sidney
992023Kevin UrquhartLaura Gilbert
1002024Rachael Hoyle
Source: [11]

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References

  1. "Professional Engineer / IMechE Article: FEATURE: Engineering hero and Victorian visionary Sir Joseph Whitworth".
  2. Whitworth Award Holder Information Booklet, 2017. 2017. p. 5.
  3. "Whitworth Scholarship Awards: IMechE Awards Programme".
  4. Whitworth Society Register, 2017. p. 24.
  5. Whitworth Society Register, 2017. p. 25.
  6. "Whitworth Society Home Page". whitworthscholarships.org.uk/. 11 January 2019.
  7. "Conditions of Whitworth Scholarship Awards".
  8. Whitworth Society Register, 2017. p. 31.
  9. Rikki, Jones. "Whitworth Scholarship Case Study".
  10. "IMechE Scholarship & Awards".
  11. THE WHITWORTH REGISTER 2017. 2018. pp. 36, 37, 38.