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Glyn England obituary Glyn England obituary
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My father, Glyn England, who has died aged 92, once told me he considered the purpose of life was to leave the world a better place. This drive, which helped him become chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board in the 1970s, combined with his social conscience, summed him up as a person.My father, Glyn England, who has died aged 92, once told me he considered the purpose of life was to leave the world a better place. This drive, which helped him become chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board in the 1970s, combined with his social conscience, summed him up as a person.
Glyn was born in Tonyrefail, south Wales, the youngest of seven sons of Charles, the headteacher of the local primary school, and Alice. He left the Rhondda calley at 18 to look for work and got a job as a lathe operator in Slough, Berkshire, then as a scientific assistant in the Road Research Laboratory, where he was working when the second world war broke out. Glyn was born in Tonyrefail, south Wales, the youngest of seven sons of Charles, the headteacher of the local primary school, and Alice. He left the Rhondda Valley at 18 to look for work and got a job as a lathe operator in Slough, Berkshire, then as a scientific assistant in the Road Research Laboratory, where he was working when the second world war broke out.
War service took him to India where he fell under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and was so fascinated by the man and the country that he wanted to stay. I think he would have pursued this, but my mother, a German refugee, Tania Reichenbach, whom he had married in 1942, wanted to settle in Britain and raise a family.War service took him to India where he fell under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and was so fascinated by the man and the country that he wanted to stay. I think he would have pursued this, but my mother, a German refugee, Tania Reichenbach, whom he had married in 1942, wanted to settle in Britain and raise a family.
Returning to London, Glyn found employment with the CEGB, supervising electrical work at power stations, working night shifts. By 1977, he had become chairman, responsible for its 59,000 employees. It was important to him that he worked for a nationalised industry.Returning to London, Glyn found employment with the CEGB, supervising electrical work at power stations, working night shifts. By 1977, he had become chairman, responsible for its 59,000 employees. It was important to him that he worked for a nationalised industry.
Glyn was a free thinker and disliked it when people made assumptions, because of his position at the CEGB, about his religious or political views.Glyn was a free thinker and disliked it when people made assumptions, because of his position at the CEGB, about his religious or political views.
In the 1950s he served as a Labour county councillor in Hertfordshire. Glyn left the Labour party to become a founder member of the Social Democratic party (SDP), remaining loyal to the Liberal Democrats. In his 90s he was still an active party member. He was a JP, school governor and chairman of various organisations including the Mendip Society and the Bayswater Institute.In the 1950s he served as a Labour county councillor in Hertfordshire. Glyn left the Labour party to become a founder member of the Social Democratic party (SDP), remaining loyal to the Liberal Democrats. In his 90s he was still an active party member. He was a JP, school governor and chairman of various organisations including the Mendip Society and the Bayswater Institute.
For more than 40 years, my parents lived in a farmhouse at the foot of the Mendip Hills. Glyn planted hundreds of trees and flowers, creating a haven for wildlife. Shortly before he died, he donated a strip of land to a local conservation group, so it can be enjoyed in perpetuity.For more than 40 years, my parents lived in a farmhouse at the foot of the Mendip Hills. Glyn planted hundreds of trees and flowers, creating a haven for wildlife. Shortly before he died, he donated a strip of land to a local conservation group, so it can be enjoyed in perpetuity.
He and Tania had a happy marriage which lasted until her death in 2009. My parents wanted to give something back in death as well as in life; Bristol University's brain bank was pleased to receive their brains to aid research.He and Tania had a happy marriage which lasted until her death in 2009. My parents wanted to give something back in death as well as in life; Bristol University's brain bank was pleased to receive their brains to aid research.
Glyn's family was very important to him. He is survived by his two daughters, me and Gill, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.Glyn's family was very important to him. He is survived by his two daughters, me and Gill, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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