Elsie Louisa Deacon facts for kids

Elsie Louisa Winterton, also known as Elsie Louisa Deacon, was a very important woman in railway history. Born on February 27, 1897, she became a skilled draughtswoman (someone who draws detailed technical plans) for the Great Western Railway (GWR). In 1923, she made history by becoming the very first woman to join the United Kingdom's Institution of Railway Signal Engineers. She passed away on September 4, 1984.

Elsie's Early Life

Elsie Winterton was born in Reading, Berkshire, England. Her parents were Rose Bray and Joseph Winterton. Her dad worked at the famous Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory as a tinsmith.

Elsie was one of nine children, and the sixth daughter in her family. She grew up in Reading. When she was 14, in 1911, she was learning to be a dressmaker.

Her Amazing Career

Starting at the Railway

In 1915, Elsie joined the drawing office at the Great Western Railway (GWR). Just two years later, she became a draughtswoman. This was a very important and skilled job in engineering. Her two younger sisters also later joined GWR.

Elsie's job involved drawing special wiring diagrams. These were plans for electric signalling equipment. This equipment helped control track circuits and signal and point machines on the railways.

Learning and Achieving More

While working at GWR, Elsie also studied at University College, Reading. She passed many tough exams in subjects like machine construction, drawing, electricity, and mathematics.

She even won special awards for her studies! In 1919-20, she received the Owen Ridley prize for machine construction. Later, in 1921-22, she won the Wells Prize for science.

Breaking Barriers for Women

Before 1919, women were usually not allowed to join professional engineering groups. But a new law, the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, changed this. It meant women could now join these important institutions.

In 1923, Elsie Winterton was chosen to be a member of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE). This was a huge deal because she was the first woman ever to join this group! News of her achievement spread far, even to newspapers in the United States. One newspaper said she knew "as much about physics, mathematics and electricity as the average girl know about jazz and cream cakes."

Elsie attended many important meetings and conventions for the IRSE. She went to meetings in Southampton, England, and even traveled to Brussels, Belgium, in 1925. Later, in 1929, she went to a convention in the Netherlands.

Family Life and Returning to Work

Through her work at GWR and her involvement with the IRSE, Elsie met her future husband, Edward Charles Deacon. They got married on June 14, 1930.

At that time, it was common for women to stop working after they got married. So, Elsie left her job. However, her husband sadly passed away in 1939. Elsie was left as a widow with two young children to care for.

Because of this, Elsie Deacon rejoined the GWR Signal Department in Reading. She continued working there as a draughtswoman until she retired in 1962, when she was 65 years old.

Elsie's Sisters at GWR

Elsie's sister, Ella Winterton, also had a long career as a draughtswoman at GWR. She joined in 1916. Another sister, Doris, started working at GWR in 1929 as a tracer (someone who copies drawings).

Family and Later Life

Elsie and Edward had two children: Jill Margaret Rose Deacon (born 1932) and Christopher Edward W Deacon (born 1938).

Elsie Deacon passed away on September 4, 1984, in Reading.