BAE Systems Names New Shipbuilding Hall After WWII Heroine Janet Harvey

BAE Systems Names New Shipbuilding Hall After WWII Heroine Janet Harvey

(IN BRIEF) BAE Systems has named a new shipbuilding hall in Glasgow after Janet Harvey, who worked as an electrician in the River Clyde’s shipyards during World War II. The Janet Harvey Hall honors her and the many women who took on industrial roles during the war. Janet was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering at the age of 96 and passed away on Armistice Day in 2023 at the age of 101. The hall is part of a £300 million transformation of BAE Systems’ shipbuilding facilities and will enable efficient and safe shipbuilding for decades to come.

(PRESS RELEASE) FARNBOROUGH, 9-Aug-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — A new shipbuilding hall in Glasgow, named the Janet Harvey Hall, is set to revolutionize the shipbuilding industry. The hall, located at BAE Systems’ site in Govan, honors Janet Harvey, a woman who played a vital role in the UK’s war effort during World War II. At the age of 18, Janet joined the River Clyde’s shipyards as an electrician, one of the few women among a predominantly male workforce of 100,000.

In recognition of her significant contributions, Janet was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University at the age of 96. She passed away on Armistice Day in 2023 at the age of 101.

The Janet Harvey Hall is a tribute not only to Janet’s legacy but also to the many women who took on industrial roles such as electricians, welders, engineers, and platers during the war. The hall, a key component of BAE Systems’ £300 million transformation of their shipbuilding facilities in Glasgow, will be capable of constructing two Type 26 frigates simultaneously. The facility, comprising over 6,000 tonnes of steel and 20,000m³ of concrete, will house up to 500 workers per shift and feature two 100-tonne cranes and two 20-tonne cranes.

Jen Blee, Business Operations Director of BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, stated, “Naming the hall after Janet not only honors her contribution but also symbolizes our ongoing efforts to innovate in shipbuilding on the upper Clyde. Women like Janet have become much more commonplace in our yards, and their impact continues to grow.”

June Cofflet, Janet’s niece, expressed the family’s pride, saying, “Janet would have been absolutely delighted to have the shipbuilding hall named after her. She was proud of her wartime work and felt it made a difference. We are honored that BAE Systems has chosen her name for the hall.”

The Janet Harvey Hall aims to facilitate efficient and safe shipbuilding for decades, unaffected by adverse weather, and stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the women who contributed to the war effort.

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SOURCE: BAE Systems