By REBECCA DIXON

Last updated at 12:07, Friday, 12 March 2010

A WOMAN from Allendale is to receive a prestigious award, almost 50 years after she became the first woman in Britain to be a woodwork teacher.

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Stephanie Atkinson hit the headlines at the age of 22, when she gave her first workshop lesson.

The 67-year-old began training in the profession 50 years ago and is now a professor of design and technology at Sunderland University. Next week she will be honoured by the Design and Technology Association.

Stephanie, who has taught at the university for the last 20 years, said: “This award is recognition for the last 50 years of my life-long enthusiasm for design and technology and is the highest award I can be given by my peers.

“I had no idea I had been nominated. It came totally out of the blue. You only get this once and I feel very proud.”

Stephanie’s passion for design and technology started as a young child when she would spend hours putting together Meccano sets and developed a fascination for the workings of a next-door neighbour’s toy steam engine.

On leaving school, she secured a place at the former College of Art and Industrial Design in Newcastle on a woodwork course. She later trained to become an industrial designer, specialising in furniture design.

After working for 20 years at Sunderland University, Stephanie has seen the profile of the students change with time.

“When I started teaching there was no such thing as a female woodwork teacher in schools, and it drew quite a bit of national attention. But I loved the job, the pupils were lovely and all the male teachers were very supportive.

“It’s very different now, we have an abundance of female students in design and technology, which is fantastic.”

Stephanie is a member of several local organisations in Allendale, including the Lions.

She will travel to London on Friday to receive her award at the Design and Technology Association Annual Excellence Awards ceremony.

First published at 09:45, Friday, 12 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk