A pioneer in the training of British engineers died on January 21, just before his 95th birthday, at the Beaumont Care Home in Chorleywood.
Bernard Dawkins, who grew up in Wembley and moved to Chorleywood in 1976, was one of the youngest people to graduate in electrical engineering (from London University) after the War.
Early on he worked for Metropolitan Vickers (later AIE) in Manchester, where he was responsible for more than 2000 trainees.
Mr Dawkins’ interest in education led him to visit a school in Suffolk, where he fell in love with a member of staff, Wilma, whom he married a year later in 1955, with their honeymoon spend in Holland and Scandinavia.
Mr Dawkins was appointed London and SE Manager of the Engineering Industry Training Board in 1964.
Later, he co-founded what became EMSTA (Engineering, Mathematics, Science and Technology Association) and in 2016, was made their ‘inaugural friend’ and continued to attend seminars in his retirement.
After the death of Wilma 20 years ago, committed Christian Mr Dawkins helped other bereaved people though Christ Church, Chorleywood, where he worshipped for 44 years.
He was a popular member of Chorleywood’s French twinning association and enjoyed visiting France, where one of his sons lived.
He leaves two sons, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
His sons Gordon and Brian described him as a man who “would always look for the positive side of others and try to encourage.”
Mr Dawkins’ funeral has already taken place.
Donations in memory of Bernard Dawkins can be made to Cruse Bereavement Care Hertfordshire cruse-hertfordshire.co.uk
Picture credit Shamoon Karimjee
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