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==Career==
==Career==
Laing was born in [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] in 1916.<ref name="masterton">{{Citation | last = Masterton | first = Gordon | author-link = | title = ICE Presidential Address | date = | year = 2005 | url = http://www.ice.org.uk/downloads//presidents_address_2005(1).pdf | accessdate = 2008-11-03}}</ref><ref name="smeat173">{{Harvnb|Watson|1989|pp=173}}.</ref> He is a member of the [[Laing Family]], famous in the British construction industry for running [[John Laing plc]]. He is the son of [[John Laing (businessman)|Sir John Laing]] and the brother of [[Maurice Laing|Sir Maurice Laing]]. Kirby Laing learnt about the construction industry from his father and would visit the company's construction sites with him during the school holidays.<ref name="retired"/> Laing graduated from [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge|Emmanuel College]] at the [[University of Cambridge]] in 1937 and began work as a graduate engineer for John Laing plc.<ref name="retired">{{Citation | last = Laing | first = | author-link = | title = Retired Employee's News | date = Summer 2006 | year = | url = http://www.laing.com/documents_new/Summer_2006.pdf | accessdate = 2008-11-22}}</ref> He was a member of the fifth generation of the Laing family to join the firm.<ref name="business">{{Citation | last = Reference for Business| first = | author-link = | title = John Laing plc company profile | date = | year = | url = http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/98/JOHN-LAING-PLC.html | accessdate = 2008-11-22}}</ref> During the [[Second World War]] Laing served in the [[Royal Engineers]], receiving his commission as a [[Second Lieutenant]] on 2 January 1944.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=36409|startpage=1102|supp=yes|date=3 March 1944|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref> He resigned his commission as a [[Lieutenant]] in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 13 July 1955, although he was permitted to retain the honorary title of Lieutenant.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=40532|startpage=4005|supp=yes|date=8 July 1955|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref>
Laing was born in [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] in 1916.<ref name="masterton">{{Citation|last=Masterton |first=Gordon |author-link= |title=ICE Presidential Address |date= |year=2005 |url=http://www.ice.org.uk/downloads//presidents_address_2005(1).pdf |accessdate=2008-11-03 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224220450/http://www.ice.org.uk/downloads//presidents_address_2005%281%29.pdf |archivedate=24 February 2009 |df= }}</ref><ref name="smeat173">{{Harvnb|Watson|1989|pp=173}}.</ref> He is a member of the [[Laing Family]], famous in the British construction industry for running [[John Laing plc]]. He is the son of [[John Laing (businessman)|Sir John Laing]] and the brother of [[Maurice Laing|Sir Maurice Laing]]. Kirby Laing learnt about the construction industry from his father and would visit the company's construction sites with him during the school holidays.<ref name="retired"/> Laing graduated from [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge|Emmanuel College]] at the [[University of Cambridge]] in 1937 and began work as a graduate engineer for John Laing plc.<ref name="retired">{{Citation|last=Laing |first= |author-link= |title=Retired Employee's News |date=Summer 2006 |year= |url=http://www.laing.com/documents_new/Summer_2006.pdf |accessdate=2008-11-22 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209031423/http://www.laing.com/documents_new/Summer_2006.pdf |archivedate= 9 December 2007 |df= }}</ref> He was a member of the fifth generation of the Laing family to join the firm.<ref name="business">{{Citation | last = Reference for Business| first = | author-link = | title = John Laing plc company profile | date = | year = | url = http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/98/JOHN-LAING-PLC.html | accessdate = 2008-11-22}}</ref> During the [[Second World War]] Laing served in the [[Royal Engineers]], receiving his commission as a [[Second Lieutenant]] on 2 January 1944.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=36409|startpage=1102|supp=yes|date=3 March 1944|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref> He resigned his commission as a [[Lieutenant]] in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 13 July 1955, although he was permitted to retain the honorary title of Lieutenant.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=40532|startpage=4005|supp=yes|date=8 July 1955|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref>


In 1946 he became joint managing director of Laing (the parent company of John Laing plc) and from 1956 to 1976 he was chairman of the Laing Group.<ref name="retired"/> Whilst leading the company Laing built on their experience of [[power station]] and housing construction and expanded into road building.<ref name="business"/> In 1976 his brother, Maurice, was made chairman and Kirby became deputy Chairman.<ref name="retired"/> Kirby retired as deputy chairman in 1980, having also been chairman of the Laing properties division.<ref name="retired"/> In 1968 Kirby had been elected a first class member of the [[Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers]] and would serve as their president in 1988.<ref name="smeat173"/><ref name="smeat140">{{Harvnb|Watson|1988|p=140}}.</ref> He also served as president of the [[Institution of Civil Engineers]] from November 1973 to November 1974 and is an honorary member of the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]].<ref name="civils">{{Harvnb|Watson|1988|p=254}}.</ref><ref name="asce">{{Citation | last = American Society of Civil Engineers| first = | author-link = American Society of Civil Engineers | title = Awards | date = | year = | url =http://www.asce.org/pdf/officialreg_16.pdf | accessdate = 2008-11-22}}</ref>
In 1946 he became joint managing director of Laing (the parent company of John Laing plc) and from 1956 to 1976 he was chairman of the Laing Group.<ref name="retired"/> Whilst leading the company Laing built on their experience of [[power station]] and housing construction and expanded into road building.<ref name="business"/> In 1976 his brother, Maurice, was made chairman and Kirby became deputy Chairman.<ref name="retired"/> Kirby retired as deputy chairman in 1980, having also been chairman of the Laing properties division.<ref name="retired"/> In 1968 Kirby had been elected a first class member of the [[Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers]] and would serve as their president in 1988.<ref name="smeat173"/><ref name="smeat140">{{Harvnb|Watson|1988|p=140}}.</ref> He also served as president of the [[Institution of Civil Engineers]] from November 1973 to November 1974 and is an honorary member of the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]].<ref name="civils">{{Harvnb|Watson|1988|p=254}}.</ref><ref name="asce">{{Citation|last=American Society of Civil Engineers |first= |author-link=American Society of Civil Engineers |title=Awards |date= |year= |url=http://www.asce.org/pdf/officialreg_16.pdf |accessdate=2008-11-22 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010923055401/http://www.asce.org/pdf/officialreg_16.pdf |archivedate=23 September 2001 |df= }}</ref>


Laing returned to military service by being invited to join the [[Engineer and Railway Staff Corps]], an unpaid, voluntary Territorial Army unit which advises the [[British Army]] on engineering matters. He joined as a [[Major (rank)|Major]] on 14 October 1966, was commissioned [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] on 23 December 1967 and [[Colonel]] on 17 May 1971.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=44183|startpage=12934|supp=yes|date=25 November 1966|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=44493|startpage=77|supp=yes|date=29 December 1967|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=45465|startpage=9657|supp=yes|date=6 September 1971|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref> He became the corps' commanding officer on 12 January 1978 and retired from the army on 4 August 1997.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=47462|startpage=1926|supp=yes|date=13 February 1978|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=54893|startpage=10465|supp=yes|date=15 September 1997|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref>
Laing returned to military service by being invited to join the [[Engineer and Railway Staff Corps]], an unpaid, voluntary Territorial Army unit which advises the [[British Army]] on engineering matters. He joined as a [[Major (rank)|Major]] on 14 October 1966, was commissioned [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] on 23 December 1967 and [[Colonel]] on 17 May 1971.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=44183|startpage=12934|supp=yes|date=25 November 1966|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=44493|startpage=77|supp=yes|date=29 December 1967|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=45465|startpage=9657|supp=yes|date=6 September 1971|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref> He became the corps' commanding officer on 12 January 1978 and retired from the army on 4 August 1997.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=47462|startpage=1926|supp=yes|date=13 February 1978|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=54893|startpage=10465|supp=yes|date=15 September 1997|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref>

Revision as of 14:50, 6 May 2017

Kirby Laing
Born21 July 1916
Carlisle
Died12 April 2009
NationalityBritish
OccupationEngineer
Engineering career
DisciplineCivil,
InstitutionsInstitution of Civil Engineers (president), Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers (president)

Sir William "Kirby" Laing, DL, JP, FREng (21 July 1916 – 12 April 2009) was a British civil engineer. [1]

Career

Laing was born in Carlisle in 1916.[2][3] He is a member of the Laing Family, famous in the British construction industry for running John Laing plc. He is the son of Sir John Laing and the brother of Sir Maurice Laing. Kirby Laing learnt about the construction industry from his father and would visit the company's construction sites with him during the school holidays.[4] Laing graduated from Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge in 1937 and began work as a graduate engineer for John Laing plc.[4] He was a member of the fifth generation of the Laing family to join the firm.[5] During the Second World War Laing served in the Royal Engineers, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant on 2 January 1944.[6] He resigned his commission as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 13 July 1955, although he was permitted to retain the honorary title of Lieutenant.[7]

In 1946 he became joint managing director of Laing (the parent company of John Laing plc) and from 1956 to 1976 he was chairman of the Laing Group.[4] Whilst leading the company Laing built on their experience of power station and housing construction and expanded into road building.[5] In 1976 his brother, Maurice, was made chairman and Kirby became deputy Chairman.[4] Kirby retired as deputy chairman in 1980, having also been chairman of the Laing properties division.[4] In 1968 Kirby had been elected a first class member of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers and would serve as their president in 1988.[3][8] He also served as president of the Institution of Civil Engineers from November 1973 to November 1974 and is an honorary member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.[9][10]

Laing returned to military service by being invited to join the Engineer and Railway Staff Corps, an unpaid, voluntary Territorial Army unit which advises the British Army on engineering matters. He joined as a Major on 14 October 1966, was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel on 23 December 1967 and Colonel on 17 May 1971.[11][12][13] He became the corps' commanding officer on 12 January 1978 and retired from the army on 4 August 1997.[14][15]

In 1977 Laing was elected to the Fellowship of Engineering. He was also president of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers and of the London Master Builders Association. He was also Chairman of the Construction Industry Research and Information Association and the National Joint Council of the Building Industry.[4] In 1975 he chaired the government's Advisory Committee on Fixed Offshore Installations.[16] He has been a member of the Royal Albert Hall Council since 1970, served as their president from 1972 to 1992 and remains their vice-president.[4]

Laing was made a knight bachelor on 8 June 1968, an honour which was conferred on him by Queen Elizabeth II on 5 November 1968.[17][18] He served as a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and was made Deputy Lieutenant of London on 12 June 1978.[4][19] Laing was made Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire on 8 April 1987.[20] He established the Kirby Laing Foundation as a charity to make grants and donations to charitable causes.[21] Laing is married to Lady Isobel Laing and both are trustees of the foundation.[21]

His son Martin Laing became executive chairman of John Laing plc, but resigned in 2001 when the company faced major losses in its construction business, ending 152 years and six generations of family management.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Obituary: Sir Kirby Laing". Guardian.
  2. ^ Masterton, Gordon (2005), ICE Presidential Address (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2009, retrieved 3 November 2008 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b Watson 1989, pp. 173.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Laing (Summer 2006), Retired Employee's News (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2007, retrieved 22 November 2008 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b Reference for Business, John Laing plc company profile, retrieved 22 November 2008 {{citation}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ "No. 36409". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 3 March 1944.
  7. ^ "No. 40532". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 8 July 1955.
  8. ^ Watson 1988, p. 140.
  9. ^ Watson 1988, p. 254.
  10. ^ American Society of Civil Engineers, Awards (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2001, retrieved 22 November 2008 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "No. 44183". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 25 November 1966.
  12. ^ "No. 44493". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 29 December 1967.
  13. ^ "No. 45465". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 6 September 1971.
  14. ^ "No. 47462". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 13 February 1978.
  15. ^ "No. 54893". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 15 September 1997.
  16. ^ http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1975/feb/24/advisory-committee-on-fixed-offshore. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 24 February 1975. col. 21–23. {{cite book}}: |chapter-url= missing title (help)
  17. ^ "No. 44600". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 31 May 1968.
  18. ^ "No. 44712". The London Gazette. 8 November 1968.
  19. ^ "No. 47568". The London Gazette. 15 June 1978.
  20. ^ "No. 50901". The London Gazette. 24 April 1987.
  21. ^ a b Charity Commission (31 December 2006), Kirby Laing Foundation report and financial statements (PDF), retrieved 22 November 2008
  22. ^ Daily Telegraph: "Chairman steps down from struggling Laing"

Bibliography


Professional and academic associations
Preceded by President of the Institution of Civil Engineers
November 1973 – November 1974 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kirby_Laing&oldid=779017865"