Madeleine Mary Walker was born on 12 December 1939. She attended St Patrick’s RC School in Thornaby and was a pupil of St Mary’s Convent in Middlesbrough where in June 1956 she obtained nine passes at GCE Ordinary Level – English Language, English Literature, Mathematics Syllabus 1, History, Geography, Art, Latin, French and Biology.

In June 1957 at Constantine Technical College, Middlesbrough, she obtained Physics Syllabus 1 and in June 1958 she obtained two more GCE O Levels in Mathematics and Chemistry. In June 1959 she obtained three A Levels in Mathematics Alternative A, Physics Syllabus 1 and Chemistry under the Joint Matriculation Board of the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham.

Education

Madeleine attended Stockton and Billingham Technical College (now Stockton Riverside College) from January 1959 and obtained Advanced Level Mathematics (Pure & Applied) and in June of the same year she obtained two more A Levels in Physics and Chemistry from the University of London.

 

She gained her first Degree in 1962 at Durham University, a BSC. In 1969 she obtained an MSc from London University and a further MSc from Durham University in 1984. In 1985 Madeleine was elected a member of the British Computer Society, she was also a Chartered Engineer and was Managing Director of her own engineering company – a very accomplished woman.

Later life

Madeleine led a University expedition to Lapland whilst at Durham. She was on the teaching staff at Darwin College/University in Australia for many years and had dual nationality – Australian and English.

When Madeleine died on 10 February 1996 aged only 56, her parents established the Madeleine Mary Walker Science Foundation as a lasting memorial to her. The trustees donated a generous amount of money to the college which enabled a science laboratory to be built in the new college building at Teesdale and this was officially opened and named after Madeleine on 25 June 2003.

The Foundation has allocated funding for a number of awards to recognise students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and potential to progress in Science, Technology and Innovation.

Matrix
North East Better Health
Ofsted Good Provider
Tees Valley Mayor
TEF Silver
TUCP
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Disability Confident
EU Social Fund
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