Sir Thomas Peirson Frank

Learn more about Sir Thomas

Education and training

Sir Thomas was educated at Pickering Grammar School and Huddersfield Technical College in Yorkshire.

He had three years’ practical training under K.P. Campbell, borough engineer of Huddersfield.

He was then appointed chief assistant to the borough engineer of Dewsbury, and engineer to the Dewsbury and Heckmondwike Waterworks Board.

He spent five years gaining further experience of general construction, maintenance of roads and tramways, and the laying of water mains and sewers.

Career

At 27, he secured his first independent post as city engineer of Ripon, where he worked for four years. During this time, he was responsible for building two river dams and extending the sewage disposal works.

He then held posts as city or borough engineer in Stockton-on-Tees, Plymouth, Cardiff, and Liverpool, spending three to four years in each role.

While in Plymouth, he was responsible for construction work, including roads and sewers for an extensive housing scheme.

In Cardiff, he acted as surveyor to the East Glamorgan Town Planning Advisory Committee, and he performed a similar role for the South West Lancashire Committee while in Liverpool. Additionally, he lectured at Liverpool University.

World War I

In 1915, Sir Thomas was temporarily released from his post at Stockton-on-Tees to join the Royal Engineers.

He was commissioned in February 1916 and posted to the 237th Field Company (the standard unit within any infantry division) in France.

In April 1917, he was given command of the 198th Land Drainage Company but was wounded in August of that year.

After leaving hospital, he became a lecturer at a School of Instruction until he was released from service with the rank of captain in 1918.

London County Council

In 1930, Sir Thomas was selected for the post of city engineer and county surveyor at the London County Council. Over the next nine years, he oversaw:

• improvements in main drainage and sewage installations;
• housing estate developments;
• the widening of Putney bridge;
• the building of a new bridge in Wandsworth; and
• the demolition of the old Waterloo bridge and the construction of a new one.

World War II

During WWII, he was co-ordinating officer for road repairs and public utility services for the London area.

He directed the repair services that enabled London to continue functioning despite severe air raids. In recognition of his work, he was knighted in 1942.

Coode, Vaughan-Lee and Gwyther

In 1946, at the age of 65, Sir Thomas retired from the London County Council and became a partner of the Westminster firm of Coode, Vaughan-Lee and Gwyther, consulting engineers.

He undertook various projects, including reports on sea defence works at Chesil Bank, a flood prevention scheme for Salford, and water storage for irrigation in British Guiana.

Personal life

Sir Thomas Peirson Frank was born in Yorkshire, UK on 23 July 1881 and died in London on 12 November 1951.

He married his wife Irene Augusta Thirlway in 1914 and went on to have one son and four daughters.