Harold Harding

Harold Harding

Sir Harold John Boyer Harding (6 January 1900 – 27 March 1986) was a British civil engineer. Harding was educated at Christ's Hospital and the City and Guilds College (part of Imperial College London), interrupting his studies with a one year period spent as a cadet in the Officers' Training Corps. Following graduation Harding worked for Mowlem where he specialised in work for London Underground including the reconstruction of Piccadilly Circus tube station and the expansion of the Central Line.

Upon the outbreak of the Second World War Harding was placed in charge of the defence and emergency repair of underground services in London. He also built pre-cast concrete petrol barges and eight of the Mulberry Harbour segments used in the Normandy Landings. He also founded Soil Mechanics Ltd, a subsidiary of Mowlem dedicated to work in geotechnics. After the war Harding was involved with investigations into the construction of the Channel Tunnel and into the Aberfan disaster.

Harding was elected president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the first chairman of the British Tunnelling Society, fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute and fellow of Imperial College. He was also a founder fellow of the Fellowship of Engineering and governor of three separate academic institutions: Westminster Technical College. Northampton Engineering College, and Imperial College. He received a knighthood in 1968.