George Leslie Wates
George Leslie Wates (1884-1958)
1958 Obituary [1]
MR. G. LESLIE WATES died at his home near Dartford on Wednesday, January 22, after a long illness. Until recently Mr. Wates was chairman and joint managing director of Johnson and Phillips, Ltd. A solicitor by profession, Mr. Wates was a partner in the well-known firm of J. D. Langton and Passmore, but his activities were not confined to law and he was very prominent in industrial life. He was chairman of the board of directors of the Canning Town Glass Works, Ltd.
He became associated with Johnson and Phillips, Ltd., as far back as 1907, and was appointed to the board of directors in 1927, becoming chairman in 1931. On his resignation as chairman, due to failing health, he was appointed honorary president of the board.
His work and influence in the service of the electrical industry were considerable. He was chairman of the Cable Makers' Association during 1946-47, and chairman of the Council of BEAMA, 1950-51, when he initiated a scheme for endowing a Chair of Electrical Engineering at Cambridge University.
Mr. Wates was a Companion of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and a member of the council from 1955-57. His interests in education and the humanities were exemplified by his chairmanship of the board of the Woolwich Polytechnic, his membership of the executive committee of Roffey Park Rehabilitation Centre, and his governorship of the Woolwich War Memorial Hospital.