James Enderby Holden BA AMIEE, May 1922 - October 2023
Published: Tue 31 Oct 2023
The son of a Methodist minister, Jim studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Birmingham.
On graduation he joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and was posted to Cairo where he supervised workshops repairing vehicles damaged in the desert campaigns. He rose to the rank of Acting Major at the age of 24.
After the war, he spent a year as an instructor in Physics at Sandhurst Military Academy before joining GEC as a graduate trainee in their Witton works in Birmingham. After qualifying he became a works engineer, responsible for equipping and fitting out new workshops.
In 1953 he joined the GEC education and training department at their London head office, where his role included the recruitment and supervision of graduate trainees.
In 1962 he became Training Officer for the South Wales Electricity Board in Cardiff.
From 1966 until 1976 Jim worked for the Electricity Council in the education and training branch of their Industrial Relations department. He then moved to their overseas operation, British Electrical International. As Project Manager (education and training) he travelled to India, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Argentina, assessing and planning the necessary training for the power supply networks which were being developed in those countries.
On his retirement in 1983, he and his wife Muriel moved to Verwood in Dorset, where they actively pursued their love of the countryside and of heritage. He was also active in fundraising for a local home for adults with severe learning disabilities. Jim served as a Methodist Local Preacher throughout his adult life and was known as a thoughtful and engaging speaker.
He is survived by two sons, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.