Background
Thomas Orr Leith was born on 23 March 1926 in Cathcart, Glasgow, Scotland, youngest son in a family with seven brothers and sisters.
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Thomas Leith
Edit ProfileEducation
He attended Holmlea Primary School in Cathcart (now closed) before being evacuated to Troon in 1939 at the start of the World World War World War II While an apprentice he also studied for the Higher National Certificate exams at Langside College in Mount Florida and, following this, left Weirs to study full-time at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow (now the University of Strathclyde).
Career
In 1942 he returned to Glasgow to join Weir Pumps Limited in Cathcart, Glasgow (then called G and J Weir Limited) as an Apprentice Marine Engineer. He rejoined Weir Pumps and in 1954 he became Head of Steam Turbine and Gearing Design, in 1962 was made Chief Designer and in 1966 Director and General Manager of the Pump and Turbine Division (later renamed the Energy Division). In 1980 he became Director, Contracts Division at Weir Pumps before moving in 1988 to take up the Managing Director role at Weir Westgarth Limited until his retirement in 1991.
He was Chairman of Clairmont Plc from 1992-1994.
He was an inventor or co-inventor of a number of improvements to centrifugal pumps and level control, during the period 1956 to 1962 at G. and J. Weir Limited. He was a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, President of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland from 1987-1989, Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Fellow of the Institution of Marine Engineers.
He was conferred Honorary Fellowship of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland in 2004. Thomas Leith was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 1988 New Year"s Honours for Services to Export.
Thomas Leith was active in the local community.
He was Chairman of the Community Council in Newton Mearns and, following a move to Strathaven in Lanarkshire on his retirement in 1991, was actively involved in the Avondale Civic Society of which he was Chairman from 1998-2004. A plaque near Strathaven Castle was raised by Avondale Civic Society to commemorate his contribution. A. Mulholland.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
November 7, 2005 (aged 79) -
Nationality
Scottish