The annual celebration of William Froude (28 November 1810 – 4 May 1879) by SAIMENA was held at the Garden of Remembrance at the Old Burial Ground in Seaforth, Simon’s Town on 24 November 2025 at a joint ceremony between the South African Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (SAIMENA) and the Lawhill Maritime Centre at Simon’s Town School.
FLR: Mr Gerard Mohamed (Cape Branch Chair), Lawhill Learners, Rear Admiral (JG) (ret) Kevin Watson..
The Lawhill Maritime Centre learners and R Adm(JG) (ret) Kevin Watson laid wreaths on behalf of the school and SAIMENA respectively.
An address highlighting the significance of the work done by William Froude was made, with a well prepared response made by Neo Vigus of Lawhill. The great work done by Lawhill in educating their scholars and in preparing these capable future members of the Maritime industry was recognised.
Mr Gerard Mohamed, SAIMENA Cape Branch Chair, handed over a donation of R 10 000.00 on behalf of SAIMENA to the school to support their worthy cause. A Lawhill Scholar, accepted the cheque on behalf of the school and expressed their appreciation.
William Froude (November 28, 1810 in Devon – May 4, 1879 in Simon’s town, South Africa) was an English engineer, hydrodynamicist and naval architect. He was the first to formulate reliable laws for the resistance that water offers to ships (such as the hull speed equation) and for predicting their stability. Froude died while on holiday in Simon’s Town, as an official guest of the Royal Navy, and was buried there with full naval honours.