Godfrey Way Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Sir Godfrey Way Mitchell (31 October 1891 – 9 December 1982) was a construction engineer and entrepreneur
who built up George Wimpey
into a thriving business.
and educated at Haberdashers' Aske's School
at Hatcham
, Godfrey Mitchell joined Rowe & Mitchell, his father's quarrying business on Alderney
on leaving school. He was given a temporary commission in the Royal Engineers
in 1916 and served in France
.
On demobilisation he returned to England
and acquired George Wimpey
turning it from a small construction company into a thriving business that exploited the need for new housing after World War I
. He was Chairman of the Company from 1930 to 1973 and Life President from 1973 until his death.
A keen amateur cricketer, he also served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Paviors
in 1948.
Godfrey Mitchell was knighted in 1948. In 1957 he became a member of the Restrictive Practices Court
.
He died in Beaconsfield
in 1982.
He was the uncle of Nobel Prize winner Peter D. Mitchell
.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
who built up George Wimpey
George Wimpey
George Wimpey was formed in 1880 and, based in Hammersmith, operated largely as a road surfacing contractor. The business was acquired by Godfrey Mitchell in 1919 and he developed it into the UK’s pre-eminent construction and housebuilding firm. In 2007, Wimpey merged with Taylor Woodrow to create...
into a thriving business.
Career
Born in PeckhamPeckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
and educated at Haberdashers' Aske's School
Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College
Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College is an Academy secondary school located. in New Cross. The school was formerly a Grammar school, then a comprehensive City Technology College and now an Academy operating between two sites near New Cross Gate in South-East London...
at Hatcham
Hatcham
Hatcham was a manor and later chapelry in what is now London, England. It corresponds to the area around New Cross Gate station in the London Borough of Lewisham....
, Godfrey Mitchell joined Rowe & Mitchell, his father's quarrying business on Alderney
Alderney
Alderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. It is long and wide. The area is , making it the third-largest island of the Channel Islands, and the second largest in the Bailiwick...
on leaving school. He was given a temporary commission in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
in 1916 and served in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
On demobilisation he returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and acquired George Wimpey
George Wimpey
George Wimpey was formed in 1880 and, based in Hammersmith, operated largely as a road surfacing contractor. The business was acquired by Godfrey Mitchell in 1919 and he developed it into the UK’s pre-eminent construction and housebuilding firm. In 2007, Wimpey merged with Taylor Woodrow to create...
turning it from a small construction company into a thriving business that exploited the need for new housing after 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...
. He was Chairman of the Company from 1930 to 1973 and Life President from 1973 until his death.
A keen amateur cricketer, he also served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Paviors
Worshipful Company of Paviors
The Worshipful Company of Paviors is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Paviors were formed at some point prior to 1276; they were responsible for the paving and maintenance of London's streets. It received a Royal Charter in 1672...
in 1948.
Godfrey Mitchell was knighted in 1948. In 1957 he became a member of the Restrictive Practices Court
Restrictive Practices Court
The Restrictive Practices Court is a senior court of record in the United Kingdom. It was created in 1956 to foster competition through enforcement of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956. Though the Court was overhauled in 1976, by the end of the century, the legislation was perceived as...
.
He died in Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within the South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of Charing Cross in Central London, and south-east of the county town of Aylesbury...
in 1982.
Family
In 1929 he married Doreen Lilian and together they went on to have two daughters.He was the uncle of Nobel Prize winner Peter D. Mitchell
Peter D. Mitchell
Peter Dennis Mitchell, FRS was a British biochemist who was awarded the 1978 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his discovery of the chemiosmotic mechanism of ATP synthesis.Mitchell was born in Mitcham, Surrey, England....
.