Henry Chilver, Baron Chilver
Encyclopedia
Amos Henry Chilver, Baron Chilver FRS
FEng
(born 30 October 1926) is a British engineer and politician.
he took up a place at the University of Bristol
, where he gained a BSc
in Mechanical Engineering in 1947. He gained a PhD
in Civil Engineering in 1951, and a DSc
in 1962. From 1952 to 1954 he was a lecturer at the University of Bristol, and between 1958 and 1961 he taught at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Between 1961 and 1969 he was Chadwick Professor of Civil Engineering
at University College London
. Between 1970 and 1989 he was Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University
.
In the early 1980s he was Chairman of the Northern Ireland
Higher Education Review Group, which was tasked with producing a report called the Chilver Report on how to unify the Initial Teacher Education
(ITE) used in Northern Ireland. In 1983 he succeeded Lord Campbell
as Chairman of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation
(MKDC). Between 1992 and 1995 he was Chairman of English China Clays, and on 25 February 1993 he was appointed Chairman of RJB Mining
. He has also been a director of ICI
.
He has written two books; Problems in Engineering Structures in 1958 with R.S. Ashby and Strength of Materials in 1959 with J. Case.
in 1977 and the Royal Society
in 1982. In 1978 he was made a Knight Bachelor
. He holds honorary DSc
s from the University of Leeds
(1982), the University of Bristol
(1983), the University of Salford
, the University of Strathclyde
(1986), the University of Buckingham
, the University of Bath
and the University of Technology of Compiègne.
In 1987 he was made a life peer
as Baron Chilver, of Cranfield in the County of Bedfordshire, and he was introduced to the House of Lords
on 15 July.
. They have five children; Helen, Sarah, John, Mark and Paul.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
FEng
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
(born 30 October 1926) is a British engineer and politician.
Early life and career
Chilver was born on 30 October 1926 to Amos Henry Chilver and his wife A.E. Mack. After attending Southend High School for BoysSouthend High School for Boys
Southend High School for Boys, also known by its acronym SHSB, is a selective secondary Academy Grammar school along Prittlewell Chase in Prittlewell, in the north-west of Southend-on-Sea, England, south-west of the roundabout of the A127 and A1159...
he took up a place at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, where he gained a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Mechanical Engineering in 1947. He gained a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Civil Engineering in 1951, and a DSc
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in 1962. From 1952 to 1954 he was a lecturer at the University of Bristol, and between 1958 and 1961 he taught at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
Between 1961 and 1969 he was Chadwick Professor of Civil Engineering
Chadwick Professor of Civil Engineering
The Chadwick Professor of Civil Engineering is a professorship at University College London. It is named after Sir Edwin Chadwick, a Victorian social reformer who worked to improve sanitation conditions...
at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Between 1970 and 1989 he was Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University
Cranfield University
Cranfield University is a British postgraduate university based on two campuses, with a research-oriented focus. The main campus is at Cranfield, Bedfordshire and the second is the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom based at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. The main campus is unique in the United...
.
In the early 1980s he was Chairman of the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
Higher Education Review Group, which was tasked with producing a report called the Chilver Report on how to unify the Initial Teacher Education
Initial teacher education
Initial Teacher Education is a name used for teacher training in Scotland...
(ITE) used in Northern Ireland. In 1983 he succeeded Lord Campbell
Jock Campbell, Baron Campbell of Eskan
John "Jock" Middleton Campbell, Baron Campbell of Eskan was the Chairman of Booker Brothers, McConnell and Co in British Guiana between 1952 and 1967. He was knighted in 1957 and was created a life peer on the 14 January 1966, taking the title Baron Campbell of Eskan, of Camis Eskan in the...
as Chairman of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation
Milton Keynes Development Corporation
Milton Keynes Development Corporation was established on 23 January 1967 to provide the vision and execution of a "new city", Milton Keynes, that would be the modern interpretation of the Garden city movement concepts first expressed by Ebenezer Howard 60 years earlier...
(MKDC). Between 1992 and 1995 he was Chairman of English China Clays, and on 25 February 1993 he was appointed Chairman of RJB Mining
UK Coal
UK Coal plc is the largest coal mining business in the United Kingdom. The Company is based in Harworth, in Nottinghamshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a former constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
. He has also been a director of ICI
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
.
He has written two books; Problems in Engineering Structures in 1958 with R.S. Ashby and Strength of Materials in 1959 with J. Case.
Awards
He was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of EngineeringRoyal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
in 1977 and the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1982. In 1978 he was made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
. He holds honorary DSc
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
s from the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
(1982), the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
(1983), the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
, the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
(1986), the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
, the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
and the University of Technology of Compiègne.
In 1987 he was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Chilver, of Cranfield in the County of Bedfordshire, and he was introduced to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
on 15 July.
Personal life
In 1959 he married Claudia Grigson, the sister of Christopher GrigsonChristopher Grigson
Christopher William Baisely "Grig" Grigson was a British naval architect and electronics engineer who is credited with the invention of scanning electron diffraction.-Early life and education:...
. They have five children; Helen, Sarah, John, Mark and Paul.
Published works
- Problems in Engineering Structures with R.S. Ashby (1958)
- Strength of Materials with J. Case (1959)