William Lorimer (1876-1954)
William Lorimer (c1876-1954) of the North British Locomotive Co
c1876 Born the son of William Lorimer
1954 Obituary [1]
WE record with regret the death of Mr.. William Lorimer, which occurred, after a brief il1ness, on February 18th, at 20, Mirrlees Drive, Glasgow. He was seventy-eight, and had spent the whole of his professional career with the North British Locomotive Company, Ltd.
Mr. Lorimer, who was the eldest son of the late Sir William Lorimer, was educated at the Albany Academy and at Glasgow University.
At the age of twenty-two he joined his father, who was at that time a senior partner in the Glasgow locomotive building firm of Dubs and Co. This firm was founded in 1863, and forty years later was one of the companies which became part of the North British Locomotive Company, Ltd.
Shortly after the formation of the North British Locomotive Company, Ltd., William Lorimer was appointed a managing director, and in 1935 he became chairman in succession to the late Sir Hugh Reid. He continued in that office until his retirement in 1946.
As managing director and as chairman, Mr. Lorimer carried a large share of responsibility for the affairs of the North British Locomotive Company, Ltd., particularly during the arduous years of two world wars. Despite the serious disability of blindness, which afflicted him twenty-eight years ago, Mr. Lorimer was able to retain a firm grasp of the many details and complexities concerned with a large business. In addition, he took an active interest in the affairs of the Locomotive Manufacturers' Association.