Posted on: June 24th 2024

Verena Holmes Building Naming Ceremony

Our new building is nearing completion and was named as The Verena Holmes Building in a special ceremony on Monday 24 June. This date was chosen as the nearest week day after the International Women in Engineering Day, which also coincides with the birthday of Verena Holmes.

Verena Holmes was an engineer and inventor who was born in 1889 in Highworth House which is now known as Gower House. She was the first female member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and held many patents for her inventions. She invented the Holmes-Wingfield pneumothorax apparatus for treating patients with tuberculosis, a surgeon’s headlamp, rotary valves for internal combustion engines and a poppet valve for steam locomotives. She also set up an engineering firm with Sheila Leather called Holmes & Leather in Gillingham which employed only women.

Mr Beer welcomed guests to the event and thanked the architects, Ingleton Wood, and builders, Jenner, for their planning, design and construction. The building will include classrooms for the Mathematics Department and space for Sixth Form study. Amer Khalil, Chair of Governors, formally named the building by unveiling a stone plaque and reflected on the significance of Verena Holmes as a role model for the students at the school. Year 12 Physics students speaking at the event described her as “trailblazing”, “a huge inspiration” and someone with the “ability to take an innovative approach to solving problems”. Dawn Bonfield MBE FREng, Professor of Practice, Engineering for Sustainable Development, King’s College London, shared the legacy of Verena Holmes with guests and Professor Anne Nortcliffe, Dean of Faculty of Arts, Computing and Engineering from Wrexham University shared her thoughts on inclusive engineering.

Helen Close, the Heritage Manager, from the Women’s Engineering Society unveiled a plaque for Gower House as the birthplace of Verena Holmes to commemorate the special link with the school. Governors, students and staff, past and present, took part in the event which was also attended by Councillor Lyn Suddards, the Mayor of the Borough of Ashford. Other guests included representatives from KCC, Ingleton Wood, Jenner and Canterbury Christ Church University. A display created by Ashford Museum, in conjunction with the school, about Verena Holmes was kindly moved from its usual home in the museum to the school for the afternoon. Mr Beer, said, “this is a proud moment for the school to celebrate our links to a groundbreaking engineer and to offer some fantastic new facilities for Highworth students”.