Ronald William Beckett CEng MIET, December 1932 – March 2022
Published: Mon 30 May 2022
Ronald Beckett sadly passed away in March 2022 at the age of 89.
Ronald became interested in electricity at school, where he would fix the lights for plays. He even fixed the light on the music teachers piano with an old cocoa tin!
He left school at the age of 14 when he was advised to get a job as an apprentice with the electric supply company. He began working here in 1946 and was mainly involved in getting tools, being in charge of wages and holiday money, taking lunch to the bosses secretary and taking other apprentices for medicals on his bike.
In 1955, Ronald attended Wolverhampton and Staffordshire College of Technology where he completed his diploma in Electrical Engineering.
Straight from higher education, in 1950, he began working for the Midlands Electricity Board as a General Assistant. He did this role for one year before moving to the Cannock District department, where he became Third Assistant Engineer. Here, he was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the 6.6kV and 11kV systems within the district.
From 1962 until 1963, Ronald became the Second Assistant for Commercial at the Wolverhampton District of the Midland’s Electricity Board.
It was from 1963 that he moved to the South Eastern Electricity Board and climbed through the ranks from Third Assistant Area Engineering (planning) to Third Assistant Area Engineer (Construction), to Third Assistant Area Engineer (Projects) until he reached the head office as First Engineer for System Design and Planning in 1975.
His main responsibility was to liaise with district staff on the implementation of policies and guidance towards HV system development and practices.
Ronald loved his job – both planning and construction.
In 1967, Ronald Beckett became a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (a forerunner for the IET) and was a valued member for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Pauline, two daughters and a son Ange, Jennie and Tom, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a great friend to many.