Jack Bowthorpe
Encyclopedia
Jack Bowthorpe CBE
(1905–1978) was the founder of Spirent
plc, one of the United Kingdom
's largest telecommunications businesses.
He was awarded the CBE
for services to British Industry in 1978. He died later that year.
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...
(1905–1978) was the founder of Spirent
Spirent
Spirent Communications plc is a multinational telecommunications testing company headquartered in Crawley, United Kingdom.It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
plc, one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest telecommunications businesses.
Early life
Orphaned, he started working at the General Electric Co. in London, aged 16, as a ledger clerk, before moving into the sales and finally the export department. In 1926, he left GEC to join the Electrical Equipment & Carbon Co. in New Oxford Street. He was a keen amateur footballer, playing with the Christ Church Athletic Club for many years, which is where he met Ray Parsons. In 1934 he married Norah Beatrice Davies and they had two children, Peter (born 1935) and Sonia (born 1937). In 1938, Jack Bowthorpe exhibited at the Leipzig Fair.Career
Borrowing £2,000 from a relative, Jack Bowthorpe started his own business in 1936 originally trading as Goodlife Electrical Supplies although, on repayment of the loan in 1938, Bowthorpe Electric Ltd was established with the help of Park Trust Ltd (Lord Doverdale's family trust). He operated his business from a garage in 8, Eagle Street, London, W.C.1., cutting up electrical wiring into standard lengths and selling it to the aircraft industry. He was one of the first people to realise that the purpose of different cables needed to be identified by the colour of their sleevings. He initially employed one person, Ray Parsons, to assist him and together they built the Company into one of the UK's largest electrical businesses.He was awarded the CBE
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...
for services to British Industry in 1978. He died later that year.