Gordon Grainger
Gordon Grainger (1896-1950)
1951 Obituary.[1]
Gordon Grainger, who died on the 13th November, 1950, was born on the 31st May, 1896. He received his early education at Whitefield Schools, Liverpool; his engineering education at the Central Technical College, Liverpool, and at Liverpool University; and his practical training with F. B. Hellon and Co. His studies and training were interrupted by the First World War, during which he served first with the Royal Garrison Artillery and later, with a commission, in the Royal Air Force. In 1923 he was appointed Works Engineer to J. A. Crabtree and Co., Walsall, and was very closely associated with the late Mr. J. A. Crabtree in the planning and development of the Lincoln works. During his service with the Company, Mr. Grainger saw the works grow from a small bay to the largest factory of its type in the British Commonwealth, and the soundness of its engineering services will long remain a memorial to his thoroughgoing skill and foresight.
Like most busy men, he also found time for much professional and community service. He joined The Institution as an Associate Member in 1938 and was elected a Member in 1943. He was also a Member of the British Institute of Foundrymen and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He was at one time associated with the work of the Association of Supervising Electrical Engineers; was local technical representative for the Electrical Power Engineers' Association; and served on the local Advisory Committees for Education in the Electrical Industry and of the National Register of Electrical Installation Contractors.
As a Member of the parochial church council, he was for many years associated with St. George's Church, Walsall, and for five years he gave his services as a treasurer and almoner to the Fellowship of the Services (Midlands No. 1 Mess) and to the Walsall Lodge of the R.A.O.B. Until 1941, he worked untiringly for the Walsall General Hospital and the Walsall Victoria Nursing Institution. He was a Member of the James Watt Masonic Lodge.
Although he had been in failing health for more than twelve months, his passing came as a shock to all but his closest friends. The sympathy of his many friends and business associates will go out to his wife, his daughter and his two sons.