Paul Wilson, Baron Wilson of High Wray

Paul Norman Wilson, Baron Wilson of High Wray KStJ OBE (24 October 1908 – 24 February 1980) was a British engineer, Lord Lieutenant of Westmorland (1965 to 1974) and of Cumbria (1974 to 1980) and Governor of the BBC.

Early life

The younger son of Norman Forster Wilson, CE, of Kendal, Cumbria, and of Mrs H. G. M. Wilson ("née" Harris), Wilson was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and Clare College, Cambridge. [http://www.xreferplus.com/entry.jsp?xrefid=6209274 WILSON OF HIGH WRAY, Paul Norman Wilson, Baron cr 1976 (Life Peer), of Kendal, Cumbria] in Who's Who online at Credo Plus (accessed 30 November 2007)]

Career

Wilson began his career as an engineer in South Africa, working there between 1930 and 1934. He then joined Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon Ltd, water turbine manufacturers, as managing director, in his home town of Kendal. He served the Second World War of 1939-1945 with the Royal Navy, most of that time being spent at sea in capital ships, and retired as a temporary Lietenant-Commander, to return to Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon. He was chairman of the company from 1954 to 1978.

In public life, Wilson became a justice of the peace in 1958 and a Deputy Lieutenant for Westmorland in 1964, later DL for Cumbria and Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, 1974 to 1980. He was a Governor of the BBC from 1968 to 1972, governor of Sedbergh School, 1965-1974, and chairman of governors of Kendal College of Further Education, 1958-1974. He served as chairman of the Kendal & District Local Employment Committee (1954-1969), a member of the Westmoreland Youth Employment Committee (1946-1969) and of the National Youth Employment Council (1959 to 1969). A member of the Advisory Council of the Science Museum, 1968-1972 and 1973-1978, he was also Chairman of the Fund for the Preservation of Technological and Scientific Material, 1973-1978. Chairman of Trustees and Governors of the Lake District Museum Trust, 1968-1978.

Honours

*Officer of the Order of the British Empire, 1959
*Lord Lieutenant of Westmorland, 1965 to 1974
*Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John, 1966
*Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, 1974 to 1980
*Created a life peer with the title Baron Wilson of High Wray, of Kendal in the County of Cumbria on 3 February 1976 [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p19199.htm Paul Wilson, Baron Wilson of High Wray] at thepeerage.com]
*President of the Newcomen Society, 1973 to 1975 (and Vice-President, 1968-1973 and 1975 to 1977)
*Patron of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 1965 (President, 1975-1978)
*Deputy Chairman of the British Hydromechanics Research Association, 1973-1975

Major publications

*"Watermills, an introduction" (1956, 2nd edn 1973)
*"Watermills with Horizontal Wheels" (1960)
*"Water Turbines" (Science Museum, 1974)
*"Water and other forms of Motive Power" in "History of Technology, 1900-1950" (1977)

References

* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p19199.htm thepeerage.com]