b'20 Member News July 2020Member storiesWhat Ive learntIn a new feature for Member News well be talking Our first retired engineer featured is Stanley Fletcher MIET, to retired members who have had a distinguished who contacted us after he reached his 100th birthday.career, asking them what wisdom theyd like topass on to future generations of engineers.Memories from a centennial: Stanley Fletcher MIET I was recently looking through the latest issue of Member Newsand it crossed my mind that there was perhaps an opportunity to pass on some of my life lessons in engineering. I have now reached my 100th birthday and have been very blessed to have experienced Stanley Fletcher MIETa period when engineering has changed so much. have experienced, and I hope embraced, as you wouldnt be in the job that youre in If your parents can guide you from anagain on the minesweepers. It was herewithout it happening. early age, it gives you a good head-startthat my electrical engineering trainingEach period of my career was one with in life. My Father encouraged me to studystarted to become more useful as I dealtchallenges and great opportunities but electrical engineering, which he had thewith the issues of generated power onwhere great friendships and experiences foresight to realise was the future. This wasthe vessels, mainly based along the Southare now the memories I live on. During the start of a long journey. I was raisedcoast of England. the majority of my career I was a member Sometimes as an engineerof the IEE and I valued the professional you can be in the right placesupport that the local groups gave me in at the right time and youstaying up with the latest developments need to take advantage ofboth technically and in career development these opportunities. As aterms. When I now read the articles in young engineer I was luckyMember News, I marvel at how things have to be assigned on the projectprogressed and the level of support that is to produce diesel powerednow easily available through the IET.passenger locomotives, thatAny member not taking up the excellent Stanley Fletcher MIET about to board LMS 10000, the locomotivewere to challenge and ultimatelysupport from the IET would be missing on its first run from Euston to Glasgow cause the demise of steaman enormous opportunity. Being a locomotion. The then Chairmanprofessional engineer is perhaps more in the small mining village of Horbury,of English Electric, Lord George Nelsonvital than it has ever been and being Yorkshire, as an only child of a mining(Past President of IEE/IME) and Georgean active member of the IET ensures family. My parents encouraged me to workIvatt (Chief Mechanical Engineer Londonrecognition of the importance of this fact. hard at my studies from a very early age,Midland Railways) returned from a trip to despite the sacrifices this involved.America where they saw developments inIf you remain focused and professional Your academic development as an engineerdiesel powered locomotives.in your outlook there will be a great is crucial to your future career. At the startengineering future that you will beThe great thing about engineering isable to look back on with pride. As we of the Second World War I was advised tothat you can guarantee that things willemerge from the worldwide challengecontinue my studies. This I did until 1940 whennot stand still. In the early stages of myof COVID-19, there are parallels to where I was called up to the Navy, where I wascareer, it was the start of a period ofI was at the start of my career. Ive learnt recruited as a wireman on minesweepers.dramatic change in the industry, identifiedthat the opportunities will be there asAfter completing a commissioning courseby periods of consolidation, efficiencywill the challenges. back in London, I was then commissionedmeasures and takeovers. Im certain this is as an Electrical Officer in the Navy to serve something that many IET members will Good luck to you all!Are you a retired member who would like to be featured in our next issue?Please contact us at: membernews@theiet.org'