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'Are women getting 'WISEr'?', Open University talk by Baroness Platt of Writtle, November 1987

UK0108 SC MSS 271/02/02

November 1987

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Beryl Catherine Platt, Baroness Platt of Writtle, (née Myatt; 18 April 1923 – 1 February 2015) was a British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords. Her background was in engineering, and she worked in aeronautics and aviation safety. She retained a strong interest in science and technology, particularly the role and advancement of women in these fields. Platt initially gained entrance to read Mathematics at Cambridge in 1941 but eventually ended up switching to Aeronautical Engineering. When Platt arrived at Girton College, Cambridge, she was one of five women amongst 250 men studying Mechanical Sciences (now Engineering); she was only the ninth woman to be accepted since her original predecessor in the First World War. During WWII the course was reduced to an intensive two years, including for Platt three weeks' experience on the shop floor of the Hawker Aircraft Company. When Platt completed her engineering studies in 1943 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. Upon graduation in 1943, Platt was advised by C. P. Snow in his role at the University of Cambridge Appointments Board to contribute to the war effort and so Platt choose to return to the Hawker factory. This was the beginning of six years of work between 1943 and 1949 as a technical assistant in the aviation industry, before ending her professional career. In 1965, Platt was elected to Essex County Council and held this role until 1968, when she was appointed to the office of Alderman of the Essex County Council from 1969 and 1974. Platt was also appointed chairman of the Essex County Council between 1971 and 1980. Platt was created a life peer taking the title Baroness Platt of Writtle, and joined the House of Lords on 28 May 1981. On 24 June 1981, less than a month after joining the House, Platt made her maiden speech on a "subject very close to [her] heart", that of higher and further education. Platt was a member of the European Communities Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men between 1983 and 1988 and became chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in 1983. In 1984, as a result of encouragement from the Finniston Report, the EOC together with the Engineering Council set up WISE - Women into Science and Engineering. The initiative was very much spearheaded by Platt and was established in order to highlight the career opportunities for girls and women in science and engineering professions. Platt was an active member of the House of Lords and between 1990 and 2008 she served on a number of committees relating to science, technology and engineering, including the Select Committee on Science and Technology.

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