AGT Beryl Platt

October 2020 AGT and Beryl Platt.

Jill Wynn

On 11th October 2020 we held our AGT (Associate Group Training) at the new Writtle Community Association building, named after the Baroness of Writtle, Beryl Platt. Born in 1923 Beryl was educated at Westcliff High School for girls, where she initially gained entrance to read Mathematics at Cambridge. In 1941, the government announced a state bursary – including £25 per week pocket money – for engineering undergraduates to help the war effort. Platt is quoted as describing this sum as "a fortune to me at the time", and chose to switch her studies to Aeronautical Engineering. One of 5 women amongst 250 men. Women did not receive the same honours as their male counterparts: she was not awarded a degree, only a 'Title of degree' It was not until five years later, in 1948, that women were admitted to degrees at Cambridge. In her aeronautical career she worked on the testing and production of three of the RAF's outstanding fighter planes of the time: the Hurricane, the Typhoon, and the Tempest V, before ending her professional career, marrying and becoming mother to 2 children.

After her Children had grown up she became a councillor of Chelmsford Rural District in1956, the beginning of a successful political career. In 1981 she was made a life peer taking the title Baroness Platt of Writtle, and joined the House of Lords.

Mick Hewitt was our Speaker at the new venue with an informative talk on gears. Richard Parker was our supervisor inside and Jill Winn the outside supervisor and Covid officer. The building is currently limited to 25 people and we had a good turnout. 7 associates and 3 FTFM then left for observed rides with 10 observers. Strict social distancing was observed, face coverings were worn and the one way system worked fairly well. When we can include the full members again and have use of the kitchen it will be a superb venue.