Elsie Louisa Winterton

Elsie Louisa Winterton, also known as Elsie Louisa Deacon (27 February 1897 — 4 September 1984) was a draughtswoman for the Great Western Railway (GWR) who became the first woman member of the United Kingdom's Institution of Railway Signal Engineers in 1923.

Early life Winterton was born in Reading, Berkshire on 27 February 1897 to parents Rose Bray and Joseph Winterton. Her father was a tinsmith at Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory. The sixth daughter of nine children, Winterton spent her childhood at 112 Cumberland Road, Reading. On the 1911 census, Winterton was 14 years of age and listed as an apprentice dressmaker.

Career Winterton was admitted to the drawing office at GWR in 1915 and two years later was appointed draughtswoman, a skilled technical role within the engineering field. Her two younger sisters later joined GWR. She had been engaged in making wiring diagrams of electric signalling appliances for track circuits and signal and point machines for use on the railways.

While working at GWR, she enrolled at University College, Reading where she passed examinations in machine construction and drawing, electricity and magnetism, applied mechanics, general physics and mathematics. Winterton was awarded the Owen Ridley prize for machine construction in 1919-20 (still awarded today by the Fine Art Department), and the Wells Prize for science in 1921–22. The institutions expected prospective members to pass stringent examinations to qualify for membership. In 1923, Winterton was elected as an associate member (equivalent to member grade today) of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers, becoming its first female member

Deacon died on 4 September 1984 at the Battle Hospital, Reading. The National Probate Calendar states that Elsie Louisa Deacon of Warren House, St Peters Av, Caversham, Reading had a wealth at death of £40,000.

Notes and references