Harold John Brendon Kerslake BSc MSc Cert Ed CEng MIET, January 1940 – April 2022
Published: Wed 4 May 2022
Harold Kerslake sadly died at home in Little Melton, Norfolk, in April 2022 at the age of 82.
Harold grew up in Ashburton, Devon, with his sister, mum and dad, helping to run the family business, The Card House Café, and later the town chemist.
He attended to the local country primary school before going to King Edward VI grammar school in Totnes.
Leaving Devon for higher education, Harold went to the University of Leeds in 1959 until 1963, where he studied Electrical Engineering.
Harold started his electronics career in 1964 at S.Smiths & Sons Industries, within the aviation division doing flight testing instrumentation.
He initially worked with a group leader in the design of a stiction torque analyser for brushless synchro’s, and after four weeks he was made responsible for the entire project.
It was in this role that he was selected for leadership on an Outward Bound Sea School at Aberdovery. Here, he was responsible for 14 men on a one-week expedition to Cardigan Bay in a sailing ketch.
After marrying Mary in 1963, he moved into teaching electronics at Norwich City College in 1967.
He was responsible for many projects during his time here including, redrafting the diploma syllabus to include electronics, assess exam papers for HNC electronic subjects, develop a new electronic laboratory for work at diploma level and liaise with the industry to launch educational visits.
Harold was a strong advocate for the IET, formerly known as the IEE, since he joined the institution in April 1971.
He was an IEE East Anglia Centre Committee member from 1971 until 1974, and he was keen to encourage students to join the institution and become Chartered Engineers, so he was actively involved in helping to form the first Young Members’ Norwich area IEE Committee.
Later in 1981, he was elected Honorary Secretary to the Norwich area IEE Committee and was responsible for organising the second Faraday lecture at the University of East Anglia in 1985.
He continued to play an active role in the IEE for many years before he retired in 1995.
During his retirement, he enjoyed trips to China and New Zealand to visit friends and was also a volunteer driver for the local hospice and a church warden.
Harold was always ready to help others and continued to use his engineering skills throughout his retirement by repairing radios for the Norfolk Associations for the Blind.
He is survived by his two sons and four grandchildren, who will sadly miss him.