Noel Mobbs
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Noel Mobbs KCVO, OBE
(1878 - 1959) was the founder of Slough Estates, one of the United Kingdom
's largest property businesses.
, Noel Mobbs, together with his brother, Herbert, founded the Pytchley Autocar Company in 1903 to sell private vehicles: the business was later bought by Mercantile Credit. Another of Noel's brothers, Edgar
, was a well-known Rugby
player.
In 1920 he and Sir Percival Perry
acquired Slough Depot, a vehicle
park where thousands of disused military
vehicles had been abandoned. First they sold the vehicles and then they converted the factories and let them out for industrial use, so establishing the Slough Trading Estate
.
He was also keen to establish sporting and social facilities for the people of Slough
and in 1928 he bought Stoke Park Golf Club
for £30,000 and reformed it. He also established the Stoke Poges
Garden which is open to the public as well as the Slough Community Centre which opened in 1936.
He was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1948.
Mobbs was an avid bridge
player and in 1950 he chaired the British Bridge League
. He died in Bournemouth
in 1959.
, a more recent Chairman of Slough Estates.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1878 - 1959) was the founder of Slough Estates, one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest property businesses.
Career
Brought up in NorthamptonNorthampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, Noel Mobbs, together with his brother, Herbert, founded the Pytchley Autocar Company in 1903 to sell private vehicles: the business was later bought by Mercantile Credit. Another of Noel's brothers, Edgar
Edgar Mobbs
Edgar Roberts "Mobbsy" Mobbs DSO was an English rugby union footballer who played for and captained Northampton R.F.C. and England. He played as a three quarter....
, was a well-known Rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player.
In 1920 he and Sir Percival Perry
Percival Perry, 1st Baron Perry
Percival Lea Dewhurst Perry, 1st Baron Perry KBE , English motor vehicle manufacturer, was chairman of Ford Motor Company Limited for 20 years from its incorporation in 1928 completing almost a lifetime's work with Henry Ford...
acquired Slough Depot, a vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
park where thousands of disused military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
vehicles had been abandoned. First they sold the vehicles and then they converted the factories and let them out for industrial use, so establishing the Slough Trading Estate
Slough Trading Estate
The Slough Trading Estate founded in Slough, Berkshire in 1920, was an early business park in the United Kingdom. According to the estate's owners and operators, SEGRO , Slough Trading Estate consists of of commercial property in Slough and provides of accommodation to 500 businesses and has...
.
He was also keen to establish sporting and social facilities for the people of Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
and in 1928 he bought Stoke Park Golf Club
Stoke Park Club
Stoke Park is a historic estate in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire. The Mansion is located amongst of parkland, lakes, historic gardens and monuments. The site is now a hotel, spa and country club....
for £30,000 and reformed it. He also established the Stoke Poges
Stoke Poges
Stoke Poges is a village and civil parish in the South Buckinghamshire district of Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the south of the county, about three miles north of Slough and a mile east of Farnham Common....
Garden which is open to the public as well as the Slough Community Centre which opened in 1936.
He was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1948.
Mobbs was an avid bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
player and in 1950 he chaired the British Bridge League
English Bridge Union
The English Bridge Union or EBU is a player-funded organisation that promotes and organises the card game of duplicate bridge in England. It has an office in Aylesbury with a staff of more than twenty people...
. He died in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
in 1959.
Family
He married Frances. His grandson was Nigel MobbsNigel Mobbs
Sir Nigel Mobbs JP was the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire between 1997 and 2005.He was also the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire from 1982 to 1983 and was a Knight of St John, a Justice of the Peace and a Knight Bachelor...
, a more recent Chairman of Slough Estates.