K. H. Platt
1961 Bio Note [1]
Mr K. H. Platt was educated at Shrewsbury School and the University of Glasgow, where he graduated B.Sc., with first class honours in mechanical engineering in 1930. He received his practical training in Scotland, and was later appointed technical assistant in the drawing office of James Howden and Co. Ltd, Glasgow. In 1937 he was appointed a lecturer in mechanical engineering at the School of Mines, Treforest, Glamorgan, and in 1938 he went to India as head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Benares.
During the 1939-45 war, Mr Platt served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and was later transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. In December 1939 he was appointed to the Army Technical Training Establishment at Arborfield, and in the following October embarked for Malta, where he served as Officer-in-Charge of R.E.M.E. Workshops and as a staff officer at headquarters, Malta Command, and was promoted to the rank of Major. In August 1943, he was posted to No. 3 Base Workshops, R.E.M.E., at Haifa, and returned home in May 1945, being demobilized in November 1945. He was awarded the M.B.E. in 1943.
After the 1939-45 war, Mr Platt was concerned with technical education and with the training of apprentices, firstly as one of H.M. Inspectors of the Ministry of Education, and later as education officer with the English Electric Co. Ltd, at Stafford, and with the Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd, Loughborough, where he was also chief personnel officer.
In January 1952 he became Honorary Secretary of the East Midlands Branch until he joined the Institution staff on the 1st November 1952.
Mr Platt was appointed Assistant Secretary in May 1953 and Deputy Secretary in January 1956. Throughout his service with the secretariat, he has been identified particularly with all the technical, publication and conference work of the Institution; he has also taken a keen interest in the Graduates' Sections, paying regular annual visits to the Sections and speaking of the activities of the Institution. As Deputy to Mr Robbins, Mr Platt took part in many other headquarters' activities.
Mr Platt became an Associate Member of the Institution in 1937 and a Member in 1953. He is married and has a daughter.
SENIOR STAFF CHANGES: Following Mr Platt's appointment as Secretary, other senior staff appointments became effective on 1st June: Mr F. H. Hearn has become Senior Assistant Secretary; and Mr Reginald Main continues as Assistant Secretary, being responsible for the Groups as well as for the Automobile Division. Colonel A. L. Work has been appointed Assistant Secretary.
He will continue to take responsibility for all educational matters, but will assume additional responsibilities.
Portraits and careers of these officers can be found in past issues : Mr Hearn, January 1956; Mr Main, January 1959; and Colonel Work, March 1960.