Francis Tombs, Baron Tombs

Tombs's last parliamentary speech, 2014

Francis Leonard Tombs, Baron Tombs (17 May 1924 – 11 April 2020) was an English industrialist and politician who served as a crossbench member of the House of Lords from 1990 until his retirement in 2015.

Background

Tombs was born to a Catholic family in Walsall in 1924, one of three sons born to Joseph and Jane (née Bouncer) Tombs.[1] He was educated at Elmore Green School, Walsall, and at the University of London.[1] He worked for the General Electric Company from 1944 to 1946.[1]

Career

Tombs had a career in industry, particularly in electricity generation.[2] He was chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board,[3] the Electricity Council[4] and Rolls-Royce.[5] Tombs was president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in 1981[6] and became an Honorary Fellow of its successor organisation the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 1991.[7] Tombs was named chairman of Turner & Newall P.L.C.,[1] Britain's largest manufacturer of asbestos products on 30 November 1982,[8] and remained there throughout much of the 1980s.

Knighted in 1978,[9] Tombs was created a life peer on 29 February 1990, as Baron Tombs, of Brailes in the County of Warwickshire.[10][11][12] He sat in the House of Lords as a crossbencher, and was on a number of committees. Tombs was granted a leave of absence in March 2008, which lasted until July 2010.[13][14] He wrote a memoir, Power Politics: Political Encounters in Industry and Engineering, which was published later that year.[15] Tombs retired from the House of Lords on 31 March 2015.[16]

Personal life and death

In 1949, Tombs married Marjorie Evans; they had three daughters and were married until her death in 2008.[1]

Tombs died from complications of dementia at a care home in Coventry on 11 April 2020, at the age of 95.[1][17]

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Francis Tombs, Baron Tombs

Crest Out of a crown rayonny Or, each straight ray ending in a mullet Or, a dexter arm embowed vested Azure the hand proper holding two keys in saltire bows upwards Gold. Escutcheon Azure, on a saltire Azure fimbriated Argent a sun, its four rays in saltire extended and tipped with flame all Gold. Supporters Dexter, a unicorn Argent, armed, unguled, bearded, maned and tufted Or, sejant erect upon a grassy mount Proper between two double roses growing therefrom Argent on Gules and both barbed and seeded, stalked and leaved proper; sinister, a bear Proper, clawed and muzzled Or, sejant erect upon a like mount between two thistles growing therefrom also Proper. Motto Work And Pray [18]

References

1. Lorenz, Andrew (2024). "Tombs, Francis Leonard, Baron Tombs (1924–2020), engineer and industrialist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000381712. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
2. Tombs, Francis. "Nuclear Energy - 25 Years of Generating Experience". Institution of Engineers, Australia. pp. 33–39. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
3. Ham, Adrian; Hall, Robert (20 February 2006). "A way forward for nuclear power" (PDF). Department for Business Innovation and Skills. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
4. "Nationalised Industries (Accounting Practice): House of Commons debates, 1 August 1978". Retrieved 28 March 2010.
5. "Electricity – the key to a UK Energy Policy". Institute of Physics. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
6. "Past Presidents of the IEE". Institution of Engineering and Technology. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
7. "IET Honorary Fellows". Institution of Engineering and Technology. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
8. Cuff, Daniel F. (30 November 1982). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Turner & Newall Appoints Chairman". The New York Times.
9. "No. 47500". The London Gazette. 28 March 1978. p. 3787.
10. "No. 51981". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1989. p. 1.
11. "No. 52065". The London Gazette. 5 March 1990. p. 2937.
12. "Lord Tombs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 13 March 1990. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
13. "House of Lords - Minute". The Stationery Office. 3 March 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
14. House of Lords Journal for 14 July 2008
15. Tombs, Francis, Sir (2011). Power politics : political encounters in industry and engineering. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-0-85771-916-4. OCLC 713360894.
16. http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/retired-lords/ Retired members of the House of Lords
17. TOMBS, Francis Leonard (Lord Tombs of Brailes)
18. Debrett's Peerage. 2000.