Frank Buchanan
Frank Buchanan (1896-1950)
1951 Obituary [1]
"FRANK BLACKBURN was associated with gas engineering throughout his professional career and for twenty-one years was the chief engineer and general manager of the Plymouth Corporation undertaking. He was born in 1896 and was educated at Leeds University, where he obtained the mechanical engineering diploma. In 1912 he began to serve an apprenticeship with Messrs. John Fowler and Company, Ltd., Leeds, which was, however, interrupted two years later by the 1914-18 war. He was commissioned in the East Yorkshire Regiment and served overseas, being mentioned in dispatches. After two years as junior draughtsman to Messrs. W. J. Jenkins and Company, Ltd., Retford, he was appointed an assistant engineer in the City of Leeds Gas Department. In 1926 he began his long period of service with the Plymouth Corporation with the appointment of assistant engineer, his promotion to chief engineer and general manager following two years later. On the nationalization of the gas industry in 1949 he was appointed manager of the South Cornwall subdivision of the South Western Gas Board, which embraced eighteen undertakings. Mr. Blackburn was elected a Graduate of the Institution in 1920, and transferred to Associate Membership in 1924, and to Membership in 1949. He was also an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. His death occurred on 10th June 1950."