Stephen Baldwin Fletcher
Stephen Baldwin Fletcher (c1882-1971)
1971 Obituary [1]
Stephen Baldwin Fletcher (Fellow), who died recently in his 89th year and 60th year as a Corporate Member, Was probably one of the Institution's eldest and longest serving Members. One of the country's first free-place scholars, he attended Rochester Mathematical School and was apprenticed to Aveling and Porter, road locomotive makers. He became Assistant Manager (Plant) of the Roneo Company, Chief of the Apparatus Drawing Office and later Chief of Production of the Western Electric Company. In the 1914-18 War, while training with the London University OTC, he was formally discharged back to civilian duties and sought overseas civilian service.
He became a District Engineer for Lever Brothers in the Upper Congo until 1919 when he was appointed Engineer Manager of Lewis and Harris Welfare and Development in Stornoway. On completion of the Stornoway activity, he took a post as General Manager of E. A. Gardner and Sons of Maidstone, Kent a small engineering works which he later acquired, developed and ran until his retirement in 1958. He used the Company to train his two sons, one of whom is a Vice-President of the Institution, and a number of others who have become Corporate Members. Before his death, three generations of the family were members.
He had a great pride in the Institution and took a continuous interest in the engineering careers of young men who came under his influence.