Falconer Moffat Birks
Falconer Moffat Birks (c1885-1960)
1960 Obituary [1]
Falconer Moffat Birks was educated at the Crypt Grammar School, Gloucester, and at Gloucester Technical School.
In 1900 he was apprenticed to Fielding and Platt Ltd of Gloucester and, after completing his apprenticeship, he was employed by the same firm as a draughtsman. He joined the Swansea Harbour Trust as Assistant Mechanical Engineer in 1908 when he was placed in charge of the installation of plant for King's Dock, Swansea. After a year in Brazil on similar work in 1910, he was made responsible for all the dock plant at Swansea.
The 1914-18 war brought this part of Mr Birks's career to an end and after war service he joined the Gas, Light and Coke Co. in 1921. He became Deputy Chief Engineer in 1935, subsequently he was Chief Engineer and in 1945 he relinquished this post to become a Director and Joint Managing Director of the Company. He was appointed Deputy Governor in 1946 and in 1948 when the industry was nationalized he was made Deputy Chairman of the North Thames Gas Board.
Mr Birks was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1945. He joined the Institution as a full Member in 1922 and he was also a Member of the Institution of Gas Engineers. His knowledge of Gas Works practice was unrivalled and he was the author of a paper on the subject in the Proceedings of the Institution. He was very much respected as a mechanical engineer and as one of the most prominent gas engineers of his day.
He died on 13th April at the age of 75.