George Robert Edwards
© Brooklands Museum
Early life
Born in East London, Edwards' mother died in childbirth and he was brought up by an aunt.
He showed great aptitude for mathematics and science at Walthamstow Technical Institute and although he never attended university, he obtained an external degree from London University.
His early work was in structural engineering in London docks testing and building cranes and he passed the entrance exam for the Institute of Structural Engineers. He was always 'hands-on' and happy to climb up tall structures in any weather to check and test.
After 7 years in the docks a friend suggested that he had exhausted the possibilities that Dockland had to offer and he was encouraged to move into the new technology of aviation.
Occupation
BAC VC10 team in the Vickers drawing office
© The Times
Edwards joined Vickers Aviation in 1935 in the Drawing Office and rose through the ranks to become Managing Director of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd in 1953 and of British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) in 1960 – formed by the enforced combination of all the companies in the British Aircraft industry. He was based at Brooklands for the rest of his career, preferring to be at Brooklands most of the time rather than at the smart London HQ of BAC.
Early in his time at Vickers he became involved in development work in the team led by Barnes Wallis and Rex Pierson, in the period leading up to and including the Second World War. This included work on the Wellington bomber, Hurricane and other aircraft as well as development of the bouncing bomb for the 'Dambusters' raid.
His first special project was converting the Wellington bomber for minesweeping duties by suspending a ring containing an electromagnetic coil beneath the aircraft to simulate the magnetic field of a ship. For this project daily reports had to be sent to Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty at the time. The project involved working under intense pressure but was successful when a mine was exploded without damaging the aircraft, and led to Edwards' promotion to the important job of Experimental Manager. He was appointed Chief Designer in 1945 but after Rex Pierson's premature death in 1948 Edwards became chief engineer and subsequently Managing Director.
Post-war promotion
After 1945, the development of commercial aircraft became the main priority with the Viking, Viscount and VC10 and finally Concorde spearheading developments at Brooklands.
Despite the misgivings of his fellow directors, it was typical of the man that he earned his pilots licence and was able to fly any aircraft developed and flown from Brooklands during his tenure. In promoting sales of the commercial and military aircraft he travelled extensively including visits to the Middle East and USA.
Military aircraft included the Valiant, Harrier and the ill-fated TSR2. During this period expensive development work was often followed by a change of mind by the airlines or in the case of TSR2, by the Government.
George Edwards and the Viscount
© Brooklands Museum
His most defining contribution to the company was his energetic support for the Viscount, which became the most successful aircraft in worldwide sales terms for Vickers. At a time when the development of a turboprop airliner put the UK ahead of American technology, which was still relying on the noisier piston engines, Sir George's sales and marketing skills achieved successful sales in Canada and the USA. His dealings with American airline executives, including Howard Hughes, were an eye opener for Sir George, but established the Viscount for a few years until the advent of the jet airliners. A few years later he also made a major contribution to the promotion of the BAC 111 in the Americas, Europe and worldwide.
Private life
In 1935 he married Dinah Thurgood whom he had known since their school days. They settled in Dartnell Park, West Byfleet where their daughter was born. In 1946 he moved to Bookham and in 1967 to Guildford where they lived until his death in 2003.
With a cousin who had played cricket for Surrey he was a keen sportsman who played good cricket at club level. He excelled as a spin bowler and may have inspired the use of spin in the Dambusters bouncing bomb in 1943.
Sir George was closely involved with the foundation of the University of Surrey in Guildford in 1966 and an original Pro-Chancellor. He was always keen to promote the study of technology and engineering and ensured the University was well-funded through research and close links to Industry. Following his retirement, he became a frequent speaker at universities and colleges promoting the study of engineering and science.
During a spell recovering from illness he took up painting and became an accomplished artist including aircraft among his subjects. He even achieved his ambition of having one of his paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. One of his works combined his working life with his love of cricket, showing Concorde flying over the Oval on its way to Heathrow.
In retirement he suffered from bouts of ill health, but continued to play golf and sail, but his favourite hobby was fishing. He was an enthusiastic, but sometimes strict, grandfather. His two grandchildren recall happy days out with him fishing or flying kites.
Soon after their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1985 his beloved wife Dinah, began to show signs of progressive Alzheimer's disease. She had been a wonderful support to her husband, although with their modest origins she often found it hard to cope with the high society that her husband's position brought with it. She died in 1996 and was buried in St Martha's Churchyard as was Sir George in 2003.
Summary
George Edwards rose from humble beginnings, with a keen brain for mathematics and engineering and hard work, but to quote John Major "his life merged with history at key moments in war and peace".
Among his staff he was regarded with great respect and although his manner was very controlled, nobody wanted to let him down.
His time at Brooklands from 1935 to 2003 coincided with some of the major developments in the Aircraft industry and his personal responsibility for instigating and guiding these should not be underestimated.
Sources
- From Bouncing Bombs to Concorde by Robert Gardner with foreword by Sir John Major (2006)
- Sir George Edwards, OM, CBE, FRS. Some Personal Reflections by N.W.Boorer (published by Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd. 2008)
- Display material from Brooklands Museum