1943-44: George Herbert Lanchester

1943-44: George Herbert Lanchester

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Biography 1970 Obituary:
Lanchester, CEng (Fellow), died suddenly at his home on 13th February, aged 95.

An engineer to his fingertips, 'Mister George' was somewhat overshadowed in the public mind by his famous brother, but he was admired and respected as a great engineer and designer by all who worked with him. His long involvement with automobiles began in 1895 when he helped his brother to build an experimental single-cylinder car. Later, as Chief Engineer of the Lanchester Company, he took charge of the redesigning of the six-cylinder engine which appeared in 1910 as a 38 hp model. Between the two world wars he was almost entirely responsible for the advanced overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine used in the Lanchester 40. In 1936 he joined Alvis as Chief Engineer and produced the Silver Crest before working on the design and development of light tanks and armoured cars.

Throughout his long life Mister George endeared himself to everyone he met; kind, thoughtful and with a strong sense of humour, his zest for life was as strong at the end as when he was young. The Institution and the Automobile Division mourn the loss of a great and delightful man.