Gordon Spencer Marston (1892 - 1961), D.S.O., M.C., A.M.I.E.E. Joint Managing Director, J. G. Statter and Co.
1961 Obituary[1]
"We record with regret the death of Lt. Col. G. S. Marston, M.I.E.E., who died in hospital in London on January 22. He was born at Bournemouth on June 7, 1892. Lt. Col. Marston received his early training as an engineer with Siemens at Stafford. He was co-founder of J. G. Statter and Co., Ltd., switchgear manufacturers of Amersham, Buckinghamshire: the company is now a member of the Metal Industries Group. In 1956 J. G. Statter and Co., Ltd., became part of the Lancashire Dynamo Group and subsequently Lt. Col. Marston became chairman and managing director of Lancashire Dynamo Holdings. He held that position until the group was merged with Metal Industries Ltd., early in 1960."
1961 Obituary.[2]
Colonel Gordon Spencer Marston, D.S.O., M.C, who died in hospital in London on the 22nd January 1961 was co-founder of J. G. Statter and Co., switchgear manufacturers of Amersham, Buckinghamshire. He was born at Bournemouth on the 7th June 1892 and was educated at Cheltenham Grammar School. He studied part-time at Birmingham Technical Institute while receiving practical training in Birmingham with the Switchgear Co. for three years and with Berry, Skinner and Co. for two years. In 1912 he joined Siemens Bros., Stafford, as a technical assistant.
He served with the Royal Engineers in England, France and Germany from 1914 to 1920 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross.
In 1920, with the late J. G. Statter, he began the manufacture of electrical switchgear in a hut in the woods at Amersham: he contributed the engineering 'know-how' and Statter looked after the sales. Today J. G. Statter and Co., with its associate Minerva Mouldings, founded in 1944, has three factories in Amersham. In 1956 the company became part of the Lancashire Dynamo Group, and subsequently Marston became chairman and managing director of Lancashire Dynamo Holdings. He held this position until the group was merged with Metal Industries Ltd. early in 1960.
Marston took an active part in local affairs. During the Second World War he commanded the 5th Buckinghamshire Battalion of the Home Guard and was founder-president of the Amersham Rotary Club. He was a member of the Royal Institution, the Institute of Patentees—he took out a number of patents—and the Engineers' Guild.
He was an active worker for the improvement of education, particularly technical education, in South Buckinghamshire, both with the Education Committee and as a governor of institutes. He loved the land, with which he had long connections, and owned a considerable amount at Chenies which he farmed himself.
A wise and generous friend—many of his good deeds are untold—he used this wisdom and generosity to temper his strength as an employer. He is survived by his widow and three married children.
He joined The Institution as a Student in 1913 and was elected an Associate Member in 1916 and a Member in 1930.