Leonard Ernest Rodwell BSc MA MSc FIET, November 1925 – August 2021
Published: Fri 3 Sep 2021
We report the passing of Leonard (Len) Rodwell on 8 August at the age of 95. Len left school in 1940 at the age of 15 due to the need for young men in armaments factories.
Having been excellent at maths and science at school, Len went on to apprentice as a toolmaker at Sterling Engineering after his national service and restart his academic career at nightschool following the traditional ONC/OND, HNC/HND route to complete his engineering education.
Len was originally elected a Graduate of the Institution of Production Engineers on 27 October 1955. Subsequently transferring, in April 1958, to the then corporate membership of Associate Member after finishing his Matriculation Ordinary and Higher National Diplomas and the necessary endorsements.
On 30 April 1964, Len was transferred to the then highest grade of membership, namely Member, and, in November 1967, became a Fellow.
Len would continue his education later in life, attaining a BSc in Economics in the 1960s, a BA in Industrial Management in the 1980s and an MSc in Production Engineering at Nottingham University in 1991, being at the time their oldest ever graduate at 65 years old.
Len will be missed by family and friends alike.