Fri, 13 Dec 2024 We were delighted to see SSTL young engineer Scott Theobald (pictured front and centre above with other recipients, and centre below) receive his 2024 award from The Whitworth Society. This award is “available to outstanding engineers, who have excellent academic and practical skills and the qualities needed to succeed in industry, who are wishing to embark/or have already commenced on an engineering degree-level programme of any engineering discipline.”



Scott advises that "every year whilst I remain in education I will submit annual reports to the society of my personal development, highlighting career and academic achievements. The trustees of the society review my progress and if deemed satisfactory I continue the scholarship. Currently I am in year 3 of my 4-year BEng in Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the University of Chichester and because I intend to study a part time MSc at Surrey University in Space Engineering (2 to 5 years), the scholarship will continue to benefit me."

Fellow SSTL young engineer Zac Thomas is also a recipient of a Whitworth Scholarship. Now working as an Opto-Mechanical Engineer, Zac (pictured below with his award) plays a key role in the mechanical design of Optical Payload and says "I joined SSTL in 2019 completely new to the space industry. Fuelled by a passion for space and engineering, it has been an extremely rewarding experience. In my first year as an apprentice, I did several placements around SSTL and gained experience in optical design, mechanical design and testing, electrical assembly and testing, and flight assembly. This was only a small insight into the many functions required to create a spacecraft, displaying the complex challenges faced by Space companies."



Some additional information about the Whitworth Society:

THE WHITWORTH SOCIETY  
Membership of the Society has always been limited to Whitworth Scholars, Senior Scholars, Exhibitioners, Prizemen and, more recently,  Fellows. It provides the means for informal contact to be made between older Whitworth Scholars, and newly successful award holders. These contacts are much appreciated by both age groups. The Society activities bring together those who have benefited from Sir Joseph Whitworth’s generosity, thus keeping his memory alive and continuing to mark his great contributions to engineering and to engineering education.  
The Society was founded by Dr. H. Hele-Shaw (Whitworth Scholar 1876) in 1923 during his year as President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The pattern of Society activities soon settled down to two regular meetings each year, and this pattern persists today. A dinner Is held in London on, or close to, March 18th (the date of Sir. Joseph's letter to Disraeli), together with a summer meeting. The two-day summer meeting is held at a centre of interest usually associated with the current President’s field of engineering activity. The March dinner is restricted to members of the Society, but spouses are welcomed to the summer meeting and play a full part in technical visits and discussions,  
The Society is administered by a committee consisting of an annually elected President, all Past Presidents, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and nine members, each one elected for a three-year period. Also, the President of the day may form ad hoc working parties to deal with special matters affecting the Society. The working parties may meet for discussions between the traditional bi-annual meetings and later, report their findings to the President and Committee.  These working parties are open to all members and offer the opportunity to contribute directly to the corporate activities being undertaken by the Society. The most recent activity has concerned the revision of the conditions of award of Whitworth Scholarships. The Society has played a leading role in this task.  
The Society has about 200 members and so is relatively small. However, the proportion who have achieved eminence Iin their profession is extremely high. Thus, although the Whitworth Society forms only 0.25% of the membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, it has supplied about 20% of the Institution Presidents over the last sixty years.  
The Whitworth Society is essentially a society of practical engineers,  although many have moved on to high levels in industry, government service and education. All members have a common background, thus fostering good communications independent of age and achievement.  This freedom of expression Is undoubtedly one of the characteristics and most pleasant features of the Society. Newcomers will find a warm welcome.  

Many thanks to the Whitworth Society for the images above.