20 Facts About Herbert Schofield

Herbert Schofield, PhD, was a leading figure in technical education, a Rotarian and, from 1915 to 1950, a Principal of Loughborough College, which became Loughborough University.

Herbert Schofield was born in Halifax, the elder son of Alice and James Schofield who were married in 1880.

In 1905 Herbert Schofield gained a Carnegie engineering scholarship to the Royal College of Science, part of Imperial College of Science and Technology in South Kensington.

That same year Herbert Schofield was appointed by the Governors of Imperial College to conduct research on the thermal efficiency of high speed internal combustion engines; he stayed for 4 years.

Herbert Schofield was awarded a PhD for this research in 1923.

In 1912, Herbert Schofield became Senior Physics Master at Dover County School, and Principal of the Technical Institute at Ladywell, Dover.

Herbert Schofield turned down opportunities to continue his research at Cambridge; a research job at Rolls-Royce Ltd.

In September 1915 Herbert Schofield moved to Loughborough as the next Principal of the Technical Institute, and to assist the Director of Education for Leicestershire in inspecting the county's evening schools.

Herbert Schofield was awarded an MBE in 1917 for his war services.

Herbert Schofield was run by Annette Ashberry who was a graduate of the Loughborough college BSc engineering course and fellow board members included the leading women engineers of the day Rachel Parsons, Caroline Haslett, Lady Eleanor Shelley-Rolls, and Dora Turner.

The immediate post-war period brought a substantial increase in student numbers as former servicemen flocked into the college; and Herbert Schofield introduced a full-time course in librarianship in January 1947.

Herbert Schofield retired in December 1950 at the age of sixty-eight.

Herbert Schofield was appointed by the Government to chair a committee investigating the state of libraries in technical institutions.

Herbert Schofield presented a meeting of a local branch of the Library Association in 1939 with many findings, including the fact that 16 technical colleges had no library, and 44 had books but no room to store them.

Herbert Schofield's forthcoming report would stress the need for grants for book purchase.

The Herbert Schofield Society, founded by alumni and friends in 2010, recognises a group of leading donors to Loughborough University and the difference they are making.

Herbert Schofield met Clara Johns, from London, at the village of Iffley.

Herbert Schofield's husband was formerly with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and was awarded a Military Cross during the war; at the time of his marriage he was Labour Officer at Holwell Works, Asfordby Hill.

Dr Herbert Schofield was a devout Christian who kept his college in close contact with the Church of England, and a lay canon of Leicester Cathedral.

Herbert Schofield died in a nursing home at Radmoor Road, Loughborough, on 18 September 1963, leaving his estate to Patricia Drake.