Winifred Hackett facts for kids

Winifred Hackett (born October 2, 1906 – died June 3, 1994) was a brilliant electrical and aeronautical engineer. She worked on important projects like guided missile systems and the DEUCE computer.

Early Life and Education

Winifred Hackett was born in Kings Norton, a part of Birmingham, England, on October 2, 1906.

She went to King Edward’s Girls’ High School in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Winifred was a very smart student. She even won a special award called a scholarship while at school. This scholarship helped her pay for her studies.

At first, she wanted to study architecture. She even started at UCL (University College London) for this. But she soon changed her mind. She decided to go back to Birmingham to study engineering instead.

In 1929, Winifred made history. She was the first woman to graduate with an engineering degree from the University of Birmingham. The next year, in 1930, she won a special award. It was for being the 'Best Engineer in the University of Birmingham'.

Her amazing success helped her get another award, the Bowen Scholarship. This allowed her to continue her studies and earn a Master of Science (MSc) degree. Later, she received more funding to earn her PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). Her PhD research was about selenium cells. After all her studies, she became an aeronautical engineer, focusing on aircraft and space.

Engineering Career

Winifred Hackett's first job was at a research group called the British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association. She worked there as a Junior Technical Assistant. Her work involved researching materials called dielectrics. These are materials that do not conduct electricity well. She also studied capacitors and DC (direct current) design. She wrote many papers about her findings. Winifred also encouraged her co-workers, like Miriam Violet Griffith, to join the Women's Engineering Society.

By the 1950s, Winifred was a leader at English Electric. This was a big company that made aerospace and defense products. She became the head of the Guided Weapons Division. Her team worked on mathematical physics, which is like advanced math for science. She was based first in Luton and then in Stevenage.

Winifred was in charge of the DEUCE computer. She also managed its programming using punched cards and paper tape. The DEUCE computer was a business version of the ACE computer, which was designed by the famous scientist Alan Turing. About 33 DEUCE computers were sold, and they had over 1,000 different programs. During the time Winifred led the guided weapons division, her team also developed important missiles. This included the Thunderbird surface-to-air missile and other types of ballistic missiles.

In the early 1960s, Winifred joined the Alliance Manchester Business School. She worked there as a Senior Research Fellow. In this role, she focused on statistical analysis. This means she used math to understand and interpret data. It was here that Judy Butland, who later became a software designer, worked as her mathematical assistant and a computer. Back then, a "computer" could also be a person who did calculations.

Memberships and Interests

Winifred Hackett was very involved with the Women's Engineering Society (WES). She joined in 1929. In 1943, she was chosen to be on the governing council of the society. That same year, she led a meeting to start a WES branch in Birmingham. Soon after, she became the vice president of the main organization.

In 1946, Winifred became the President of the Women's Engineering Society. She took over from Margaret Partridge. After her presidency, Frances Heywood became the next president. Winifred was also a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Outside of her engineering work, Winifred had many interests. She loved fashion and going to the theatre. She was also very good at reading maps accurately. Even when she was older and not well, she still helped others. She designed different tools and aids for people with disabilities.

Winifred Hackett passed away on June 3, 1994.