William Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes
Encyclopedia
William Edward Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes GBE
(17 August 1894–12 December 1964) was a noted Coventry
motor manufacturer and the innovative Chairman of the Promotion Committee which founded the University of Warwick
.
, Kent. His father, William, owned a general engineering business in Goudhurst, which included bicycle
s. William attended a motor show organised by Sir David Salomons
in Tunbridge Wells in 1895. Billy and his brother Reginald (Reggie) shared their father's interest in things mechanical. In 1905, whilst their parents were out, Billy took Reggie out for a drive in their father's New Orleans motor car. Unfortunately, Billy crashed the car. Billy attended Cranbrook
School, and on leaving school in 1909 was apprenticed to the Singer car company. William had moved the family business to Hawkhurst
by this time, and expanded into the motor trade. Billy left Singer in 1913 to start his own car agency. He sold all of his first batch of cars within a few months of leaving Singer. The business was moved to Maidstone
before World War I
, and the firm worked on the maintenance and repair of aero engines during the war.
in 1959, some five years before such honours
ceased to be inheritable under the UK honours system
: his eldest son, would accordingly become the second Baron Rootes on Billy's death.
.
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...
(17 August 1894–12 December 1964) was a noted Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
motor manufacturer and the innovative Chairman of the Promotion Committee which founded the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
.
Early life
William (Billy) Rootes was born in GoudhurstGoudhurst
Goudhurst is a village in Kent on the Weald, about south of Maidstone.It stands on a crossroads , where there is a large village pond. It is also in the Cranbrook School catchment area....
, Kent. His father, William, owned a general engineering business in Goudhurst, which included bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s. William attended a motor show organised by Sir David Salomons
David Lionel Goldsmid-Stern-Salomons
Sir David Lionel Goldsmid-Stern-Salomons, 2nd Baronet was a scientific author and barrister.The son of Philip Salomons of Brighton, and Emma, daughter of Jacob Montefiore of Sydney, he succeeded to the Baronetcy originally granted to his uncle David Salomons in 1873...
in Tunbridge Wells in 1895. Billy and his brother Reginald (Reggie) shared their father's interest in things mechanical. In 1905, whilst their parents were out, Billy took Reggie out for a drive in their father's New Orleans motor car. Unfortunately, Billy crashed the car. Billy attended Cranbrook
Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook is a small town in Kent in South East England which was granted a charter in 1290 by Archbishop Peckham, allowing it to hold a market in the High Street. Located on the Maidstone to Hastings road, it is five miles north of Hawkhurst. The smaller settlements of Swattenden, Colliers...
School, and on leaving school in 1909 was apprenticed to the Singer car company. William had moved the family business to Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst is a village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. The parish lies to the south-east of Tunbridge Wells. Hawkhurst itself is virtually two villages...
by this time, and expanded into the motor trade. Billy left Singer in 1913 to start his own car agency. He sold all of his first batch of cars within a few months of leaving Singer. The business was moved to Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and the firm worked on the maintenance and repair of aero engines during the war.
Public honours
Billy and Reggie were knighted respectively in 1942 and 1946 for their work setting up shadow factories. Billy was created a BaronBaron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
in 1959, some five years before such honours
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
ceased to be inheritable under the UK honours system
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
: his eldest son, would accordingly become the second Baron Rootes on Billy's death.
Personal
Rootes married firstly in 1916 Nora Press. The marriage produced two sons, William Geoffrey Rootes (1917 - ) who between 1967 and 1973 served as Chairman of the family business (by now a subsidiary of Chrysler Corporation and renamed as Chrysler United Kingdom) and Brian Gordon Rootes (1919 - 1971) who also held a succession of senior positions within the company (interrupted by a period of military service during the Second World war) between 1937 and 1967.Death
Although Lord Rootes’ untimely death in 1964 prevented him being installed as the University's first Chancellor, his name is still strongly connected with the University in many ways. These include the Rootes Social Building, Rootes student residences and the Lord Rootes Memorial FundLord Rootes Memorial Fund
The Lord Rootes Memorial Fund was endowed in memory of the late Baron Rootes to benefit students at the University of Warwick. Students must first submit a proposal for a research project showing both imagination and innovation. Successful proposal writers are then invited to a panel interview...
.