John William Atwell
John William Atwell (1911-1984), managing director of G. and J. Weir
Born the son of James Lawther Atwell
1961 Bio Note [1]
Mr J. W. Atwell, M.Sc. (Member), served his apprenticeship with Yarrow and Co. Ltd, Shipbuilders and Engineers, Glasgow, and then for three years he gained further experience in the Engine Design Office.
He studied mechanical engineering at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, now the Royal College of Science and Technology, and obtained the College Associateship. He continued his studies at Cambridge University where he worked on rail track problems as a research student under the direction of Professor Sir Charles Inglis and gained his M.Sc.
In 1939, Mr Atwell joined the Production Staff of Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd in Scotland, and held several management appointments before leaving to join G. and J. Weir, Ltd in 1954 as Works Manager at Cathcart. He was appointed Works Director in 1955, Deputy Managing Director in 1959, and Managing Director in January, 1961.
Mr Atwell became a Graduate of the Institution in 1936, transferring to Associate Member in 1940 and to Member in 1949. He served the Institution as the Hon. Secretary of the Graduates' Section in Scotland in 1940, and he has been a member of the Scottish Branch Committee of the Institution since 1959. He was elected a Member of Council in 1960 and serves on the General Purposes and the Membership Committees.