a Continuum of engineering excellence from Scotland

GEC Research Laboratories in Wembley, Middlesex, England approx 1944 where Lesley Souter worked from 1940 to 1955

Lesley Scott Souter

1917 – 1981

Lesley Scott Souter

pioneering electrical and electronic engineering researcher.

Engineering Achievements

The first woman to graduate with honours in engineering from the University of Glasgow. 

In 1950 she, with other co-workers at GEC Research Laboratories, secured a patent on resistor manufacturing (Patent number GB637497(A)).

Became vice president of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in 1959 and remained actively involved to the end of her life.

Her life

  1. 1917 born in Elgin on 23rd October, where her father, James Stephen Souter, had his own company, George Souter & Co.
  2. 1936 Age: 18 began an engineering degree at the University of Glasgow, winning a Muirhead scholarship
  3. 1940 Age: 22 graduated from University of Glasgow with a BSc Honours 1st class in Electrical Engineering, the first woman there to gain this degree, plus an Associateship of the Royal Technical College (now Strathclyde University).
  4. 1940 Age: 23 Joined GEC Research Laboratories, initally researching gas discharge stabilisers and gas-filled triodes.
  5. 1944 Age: 27 Researching in electro-medical equipment.
  6. 1946 Age: 29 Associate Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers
  7. 1950 Age: 31 secured a patent for “Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of resistors comprising a liquid high resistance medium”
  8. 1951 Age: 32 Team leader, working on the properties of germanium for radar and TV
  9. 1955 Age: 36 Joined the Mullard Research Laboratories in Surrey
  10. 1960 Age: 43 gained a travel bursary to visit the USSR with another WES member to visit industrial plants and find out about the position of women in engineering in Russia.
  11. c1968 Age: 50 Joined Associated Electrical Industries’ Research Lab in Rugby
  12. c 1969 Age: 51 set up her own consultancy after AEI was acquired by GEC
  13. 1976 Age: 58 elected as a Conservative councillor for Rugby Borough Council
  14. 1981 Age: 63 died on 21 April attending a meeting of Rugby Borough Council

Legacy

Her research work and patents in the pioneering field of solid state physics and transistors.

An inspirational figure and active promoter of engineering as a career for women.

Lesley Souter House at 19 Whitehall Rd, Rugby CV21 3AJ was named in her honour

Other Information

Patent granted: GB637497 (A) ― 1950-05-17 Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of resistors comprising a liquid high resistance medium.

Patent granted: GB700851A – 1953-12-09 Improvements in or relating to arrangements comprising conducting layers on insulating surfaces.

Verena Holmes, Lesley Scott Souter (1958). Training and opportunities for women in engineering. Women's Engineering Society.

Nina Baker (2009) Early Women Engineering Graduates from Scottish Universities Women’s History Magazine, Vol.60, 21-30.

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