William George Preston Thorold
William George Preston Thorold (c1892-1943)
1944 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM GEORGE PRESTON THOROLD, M.A., was in the service of the Metropolitan Water Board during the whole of his professional career and at the time of his death, which occurred on 23rd April 1943, in his fifty-first year, held the position of deputy chief engineer.
He was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford where he graduated in engineering in 1914. In the same year he joined H.M. Forces and, obtaining a commission in the Royal Engineers, was on active service for four years. He was demobilized with the rank of captain, and in 1921 he joined the staff of the Metropolitan Water Board as engineering assistant in the drawing office of the chief engineer. After three years' experience, during which period he was also engaged in the supervision of works under construction, he was appointed acting assistant district engineer, Western District (the appointment being confirmed in 1928), and in 1932 was promoted to be the engineer for that district, with responsibility for the storage of some 500,000,000 gallons of water and its distribution through 1,800 miles of mains. In addition he acted as deputy for the acting chief engineer during 1933-4. He became distribution engineer in 1937, and received the appointment of deputy chief engineer two years later.
Mr. Thorold was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1935. He was also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.