Ernest West (d.1972)
Ernest West (c1879-1972)
1972 Obituary [1]
Ernest West (Fellow) died on Apr 6 aged 93. President of WGI Ltd, he was the last surviving son of John West, founder of West's Gas Improvement Co, which was reformed as Holding Co of the WGI Group in 1959.
Actively associated with the Company for 70 years, his skill and ability as an engineer contributed greatly to the success of West's operations in the gas industry at home and abroad. He was responsible for many new developments, particularly those concerned with the Glover-West continuous vertical retort. In recent years, he saw the Group diversify into other industries, acquire new companies and extend its overseas activities.
After serving West's Gas Improvement Co in a number of capacities, including that of General Manager, he was appointed to the Board in Jan 1922. He became Joint Managing Director in Jun 1950 and was elected Chairman in December 1958, succeeding his brother, the late Sir Frederick J. West. He was elected President of WGI Ltd on resigning the Chairmanship in 1964. He was also Chairman of the Society of British Gas Industries during the war years from 1939-45.