(Arthur) Edwin Stevens CBE

(Arthur)Edwin Stevens CBE born 17 October 1905, he became an inventor and designed the world's first wearable electronic hearing aid. He was also a philanthropist, becoming a major benefactor to the Royal Society of Medicine, and to Jesus College, Oxford, at which he had studied between 1927 and 1929.

He started working as a salesman for a manufacturer of electrical hearing aids, he considered that the products he was selling were inadequate he set up his company (Amplivox) to make better hearing aids.

He designed the world's first wearable electronic hearing aid: the microphone went on the lapel, the amplifier went in the jacket pocket and the earphone was small enough not to need a headband. Eventually, as technology improved, Stevens created a hearing aid that was small enough to fit completely in the outer ear. His hearing aids were used by Winston Churchill (who was Stevens's personal client), amongst others. He also designed audiometers and acoustic equipment such as protective communication headsets and helmets.

He stepped down as chairman of Amplivox in 1975 and thereafter devoted himself to philanthropy

He was made an Honorary Fellow of Jesus college in 1973. In 1979, Stevens was appointed a Commander of the Order of the BritishEmpire (CBE), "For charitable services, especially to Jesus College, University of Oxford." He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Wales in 1984.

Stevens died on 29 January 1995.