Daughter Googles meaning of Queen’s honours after engineer dad gets MBE
Professor Neil Alford has been awarded an MBE for services to engineering - Credit: Archant
A distinguished academic who helps to promote the study of engineering by schoolchildren was honoured by the Queen this week.
Professor Neil Alford, of Daleham Gardens, Hampstead, was made an MBE in the Queeen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to engineering.
The vice-dean of Imperial College’s faculty of engineering said: “I had absolutely no idea it was on the cards. It was a very nice surprise. I opened the envelope in my kitchen with my 14-year-old daughter, who became quite excited and started looking up what the honours meant on Google.”
As well as his university work, Professor Alford has a keen interest in raising the profile of engineering and works with the Royal Academy of Engineering to boost interest among 11 to 14-year-olds.
“It’s very important,” he said. “One of the ways we’re going to get out of this economic lull is by making new inventions. We can use engineering to help ourselves out of economic crises.
You may also want to watch:
“I don’t think relying on banking is going to do that.”
Professor Alford was attracted to engineering because it allowed him to work abroad after studying geology at university.
Most Read
- 1 Women attacked by wrench-wielding man in Hampstead
- 2 Haverstock Hill cycle lanes order scrapped by Camden Council
- 3 Camden residents offered symptom-free Covid testing
- 4 Buyers claim luxury flats are 'nightmare' construction site
- 5 South Hampstead neighbours mourn tree felled by Storm Christoph
- 6 Every single critical care bed full at hospitals
- 7 'Big victory,' says man behind Haverstock Hill cycle lanes legal challenge
- 8 Crouch End's 'Paul the Paper' bids farewell to Broadway stall
- 9 Westminster Council shelves Paddington Rec cycling plans
- 10 Plans for council homes to replace Highgate car wash