William Firth (1882-1958)
William Firth (c1882-1958) of Richard Thomas and Co
1957 Obituary [1]
SIR WILLIAM FIRTH, whose death, we regret to record, occurred in South Africa on November 11, had a prominent place in the activity ·of the Welsh tinplate industry prior to his retirement ten years ago. He was formerly chairman and managing director of Richard Thomas and Co., Ltd.
Sir William, who was seventy-six, was born in London and entered the tinplate industry when he was twenty. A few years later he was managing the Grovesend group of works, which subsequently became part of the Richard Thomas organisation.
In the later years of his active work in the steel industry, Sir William was closely concerned with the building of the Ebbw Vale plant, and it was the financial complications of this project which ultimately led to his resignation from Richard Thomas and Co., Ltd., in 1940.
Among the many offices which Sir William held during his career were those of vice-president of the British Iron and Steel Federation, chairman of the International Tinplate Cartel, chairman of the Welsh Plate and Sheet Manufacturers' Association, and president of the Swansea Metal Exchange.