Leslie James Thomas
Leslie James Thomas (1907-1948)
1949 Obituary [1]
"LESLIE JAMES THOMAS was associated with the glass industry throughout his professional career. He was born in 1907 and educated at the St. Helens Municipal Technical College, and the Central Technical College in Liverpool. On the conclusion of six years' practical training at the St. Helens works of Messrs. Pilkington Brothers, Ltd., glass manufacturers, in 1928, he joined the development staff and seven years later became assistant to the chief mechanical engineer, with responsibility for the design and improvement of machinery. In 1937 he was appointed assistant engineer to the Triplex Safety Glass Company (Northern), Ltd., and later was made chief inspector of the plastics section.
Subsequently he returned to Messrs. Pilkington and shortly before his death, which occurred on 4th February 1948, received the appointment of maintenance manager of that firm's works at Pontypool, South Wales. Mr. Thomas was elected a Student of the Institution in 1929, and was transferred to Graduateship in 1935, and to Associate Membership in 1936. For some years he acted as part-time teacher of mechanical engineering at the St. Helens Municipal Technical College."