Frederick Malcolm Wharton
Frederick Malcolm Wharton (c1874-1946), Works Manager and Director of the Hall Street Metal Rolling Co
1946 Obituary [1]
FREDERICK MALCOLM WHARTON. Mr. F. M. Wharton, M.B.E., died on 30 September 1946, aged 72 years.
Educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and the Mason College (now Birmingham University), Mr. Wharton specialized in chemistry and metallurgy. He was Senior Chemistry Prizeman in his third year and passed the Final Examination of the Institute of Chemistry, of which he was a Fellow. He gained the Forster and Priestly Chemistry Research Scholarships, and for two years carried out chemical research under Professor P. F. Frankland, F.R.S. He also took a 6 months' post-graduate course in bacteriology.
For two years Mr. Wharton was assistant to Wm. Chattaway, F.I.C., Public Analyst for Hammersmith and Colchester, who recommended him to a post as Chemist and Assayer to the Chinese Government Mint, Nanking. He went through the Boxer Rebellion, and left China, after two years in that country, when the Mint closed down in. December 1900.
Appointed Works Chemist to The National Explosives Company, Ltd., Hayle, Cornwall, Mr. Wharton held that post for five years, when he was appointed Works Chemist to Curtis, Harvey, Ltd., Kent, and after two years appointed Works Manager.
He held that post for three years, when he was offered and accepted the post of Metallurgist and Technical Adviser to the Imperial Chinese Government Mints and Powder Works in which he remained for 18 months, when the Anti-Manchu Rebellion took place and he had to return to England.
He was then appointed Works Manager to The New Explosives, Ltd., Stowmarket, which position he retained until 1919, when the works closed down.
In 1919 Mr. Wharton was appointed Works Manager and Director of the Hall Street Metal Rolling Company, Ltd., which position he held until 1945, when he partially retired but remained as Director and Adviser and retained a great interest in the works, where he was very much respected.
He was a very keen cricketer and had played Rugby for Cornwall; he played both games to an advanced age, and afterwards took a keen interest in young players in these games. He was a frequent visitor to the Warwick County cricket ground and at Twickenham. For several years before he died he had suffered from an illness to which he never gave way, but he was always cheerful and intensely interested in things and people round him.