Olaf Kier

Olaf Kier

Olaf Kier CBE (c.1899 - 1986) was the founder of Kier Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest construction businesses.

Career

Born and educated in Denmark as Olaf Kiaer,[1] Olaf moved to England to pursue his career.[2] Together with Jorgen Lotz, he founded Lotz & Kier, a construction business, in 1928.[1] The business name was changed to J.L. Kier & Co Ltd a few years later, after Lotz withdrew from the company.

In 1941 he acquired the Lexham Hall Estate near Litcham in Norfolk but, in 1945, when he saw the condition that the Army had left it in, decided to put it back on the market.[3] He instead acquired the Cokenach Estate near Barkway in Hertfordshire.[4] In 1965 he established the Olaf Kier Danish Charity.[5]

He was a member of the Danish Club at 62 Knightsbridge[2] and was awarded made CBE for industrial and social services in 1970.[6] He died in an motor accident in May 1986 aged 87.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Ove Arup: masterbuilder of the twentieth century By Peter Jones Yale University Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0300112962, Page 54
  2. ^ Lexham Estate
  3. ^ a b Cokenach Cricket Club website History: The Later Years Retrieved 2011-10-11
  4. ^ Olaf Kier Danish Charity
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45117. p. 6373. 6 April 1918. Retrieved 2009-08-22.


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