A major new shipbuilding facility currently under construction in Glasgow has been officially named the Janet Harvey Hall in honour of a local woman who played a crucial role in World War II working as an electrician at the River Clyde shipyards.
BAE Systems said that the naming of the hall not only marks Janet’s contribution, but also the efforts of all of the women who stepped up and became electricians, welders, engineers, and platers when the call came.
Janet, who passed away at the age of 101 in November 2023, was described as one of just a ‘handful’ of women to work as an electrician alongside the 100,000-strong male workforce at the River Clyde shipyards during the second World War.
At the age of 96, she was awarded an honorary degree of doctor of engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Glasgow’s shipyards during the war.
Due to be completed in spring 2025, the Janet Harvey Hall is a key element of the £300 million transformation of BAE Systems’ facilities in Glasgow. McLaughlin & Harvey is leading the build, with Turner & Townsend supporting the delivery as new engineering contract manager.
BAE Systems said that, once complete, the hall will enable efficient and safe shipbuilding for decades to come with future work unaffected by adverse weather. With two 100-tonne cranes and two 20-tonne cranes, the facility is designed to accommodate up to 500 workers per shift.
Jen Blee, business operations director of BAE Systems’ naval ships business, said, “It’s fitting that a pioneer such as Janet will remain synonymous with our efforts to re-imagine complex shipbuilding on the upper Clyde. Today, women like Janet are much more commonplace in our yards than they once were and their numbers and impact continues to grow. We owe so much to generations past and will use the wisdom they gave us to create our own legacy for generations to come.”
June Cofflet, Janet’s niece, added, “Janet would have been absolutely delighted to have the ship build hall named after her. She was so very proud of the work she did during the war. She had great memories of her time working on the Clyde and felt that the work she did made a difference. As a family we are delighted that BAE Systems has chosen our aunt’s name to go on the ship build hall, it is a real honour.”
