Francis Tombs, Baron Tombs Explained

Francis Leonard Tombs, Baron Tombs (17 May 1924 – 11 April 2020) was an English industrialist and politician who served as a crossbench member of the House of Lords from 1990 until his retirement in 2015.

Biography

He was educated at Elmore Green School, Walsall, and at the University of London. Tombs had a career in industry, particularly in electricity generation.[1] He was chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board,[2] the Electricity Council[3] and Rolls-Royce.[4] Tombs was president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in 1981[5] and became an Honorary Fellow of its successor organisation the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 1991.[6] Tombs was named chairman of Turner & Newall P.L.C.,[7] Britain's largest manufacturer of asbestos products on 30 November 1982,[8] and remained there throughout much of the 1980s.

Knighted in 1978, Tombs was created a life peer on 29 February 1990, as Baron Tombs, of Brailes in the County of Warwickshire.[9] He sat in the House of Lords as a crossbencher, and was on a number of committees. Tombs was granted a leave of absence in March 2008, which lasted until July 2010.[10] [11] He wrote a memoir, Power Politics: Political Encounters in Industry and Engineering, which was published later that year.[12] Tombs retired from the House of Lords on 31 March 2015.[13] He died in April 2020, at the age of 95.[14]

Escutcheon:Azure, on a saltire Azure fimbriated Argent a sun, its four rays in saltire extended and tipped with flame all Gold.
Crest:Out of a crown rayonny Or, each straight ray ending in a mullet Or, a dexter arm embowed vested Azure the hand proper holding two keys in saltire bows upwards Gold.
Supporters:Dexter, a unicorn Argent, armed, unguled, bearded, maned and tufted Or, sejant erect upon a grassy mount Proper between two double roses growing therefrom Argent on Gules and both barbed and seeded, stalked and leaved proper; sinister, a bear Proper, clawed and muzzled Or, sejant erect upon a like mount between two thistles growing therefrom also Proper.
Motto:Work And Pray [15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nuclear Energy - 25 Years of Generating Experience. Tombs. Francis. 33–39 . Institution of Engineers, Australia . 2010-03-28.
  2. Web site: A way forward for nuclear power. Ham. Adrian. Hall. Robert. Department for Business Innovation and Skills. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070807162117/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file28276.pdf. dead. 7 August 2007. 2006-02-20. 2010-03-28.
  3. Web site: Nationalised Industries (Accounting Practice): House of Commons debates, 1 August 1978. 2010-03-28.
  4. Web site: Electricity – the key to a UK Energy Policy . Institute of Physics . https://archive.today/20130802020108/http://www.iop.org/activity/groups/subject/Energy/Group_events/page_25696.html . dead . 2013-08-02 . 2010-03-28.
  5. Web site: Past Presidents of the IEE . Institution of Engineering and Technology . 2010-03-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080516115712/http://www.theiet.org/about/libarc/archives/institution-history/presidents-iee.cfm . 16 May 2008 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: IET Honorary Fellows. Institution of Engineering and Technology. 2010-03-28. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929004948/http://www.theiet.org/about/libarc/archives/institution-history/hon-fellows.cfm. 29 September 2011. dmy-all.
  7. [Turner & Newall]
  8. News: BUSINESS PEOPLE; Turner & Newall Appoints Chairman. The New York Times. 30 November 1982. Cuff. Daniel F..
  9. Web site: Lord Tombs. . 13 March 1990. 2010-03-28.
  10. Web site: House of Lords - Minute . The Stationery Office . 2008-03-03 . 2010-03-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605015719/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200708/minutes/080304/ldordpap.htm . 5 June 2011 . dmy-all .
  11. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldjournal/241/127.htm#1 House of Lords Journal for 14 July 2008
  12. Book: Tombs, Francis, Sir. Power politics : political encounters in industry and engineering. 2011. I.B. Tauris. 978-0-85771-916-4. London. 713360894.
  13. http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/retired-lords/ Retired members of the House of Lords
  14. http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/240863/tombs-francis-leonard-(lord-tombs-of-brailes TOMBS, Francis Leonard (Lord Tombs of Brailes)
  15. Book: Debrett's Peerage . 2000.

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