Sir Arthur Gregory George Marshall,

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

, (4 December 1903 – 16 March 2007) was a British aviation pioneer and businessman, who served as the chairman of Marshall Aerospace between 1942 and 1989.

Early life and education

Arthur Marshall was born in Cambridge, England and was educated at

The Perse School (He who does things for others does them for himself) , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day school , religion = Nondenominational Christian , president = , head_label = Head , he ...

in Cambridge and at Tonbridge School in Kent, completing his education at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he earned a first-class degree in engineering.Reginald Turnill
Obituary: Sir Arthur Marshall
'' The Guardian'', 26 March 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2023. He learned to fly in 1928, and shortly thereafter created an airstrip near his family's Cambridge home, which by 1929 had turned into a full-fledged airfield. Six years later, Marshall and his father, David, bought the land where the present Cambridge Airport now stands and started Marshall Aerospace. During World War II, Marshall's played a key role in training over 20,000 pilots and flying instructors. Under Sir Arthur's guidance, the firm became the UK's largest aircraft repairer, fixing or converting 5,000 planes during the war. Over the years, such major airplane manufacturers as

De Havilland The de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited () was a British aviation manufacturer established in late 1920 by Geoffrey de Havilland at Stag Lane Aerodrome Edgware on the outskirts of north London. Operations were later moved to Hatfield in H ...

, Bristol, Vickers and

English Electric N.º UIC: 9094 110 1449-3 (Takargo Rail) The English Electric Company Limited (EE) was a British industrial manufacturer formed after the Armistice of 11 November 1918, armistice of World War I by amalgamating five businesses which, during th ...

have entrusted Marshall's with the servicing of their aircraft. Marshall's company built under subcontract the famous droop nose for Concorde.

Sport

In addition to his interest in

aeronautics Aeronautics is the science or art involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of air flight–capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets within the atmosphere. The British Royal Aeronautical Society identifies ...

, Marshall also became a gifted sportsman early in his life and tried out for a place on the British team at the

1924 Olympics 1924 Olympics may refer to: *The 1924 Winter Olympics, which were held in Chamonix, France *The 1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad (french: Jeux de ...

in Paris, a team which was depicted in the 1981 Oscar-winning film '' Chariots of Fire''. He helped to stage the "Chariots of Fire" charity run through Cambridge for a trophy named in his honour.

Honours

Marshall was appointed an

in 1948, and was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

in 1974. In 1931, he married Rosemary Dimsdale. The couple had three children, including Michael Marshall, who took over the running of the company upon Sir Arthur's retirement. Lady Marshall died on 24 June 1988. On the death of

James Stillman Rockefeller James Stillman Rockefeller (June 8, 1902 – August 10, 2004) was a member of the prominent U.S. Rockefeller family. He won an Olympic rowing title for the United States, then became president of what eventually became Citigroup. He was a ...

in August 2004 he became the oldest living Olympic athlete.

Death

He died in the early hours of 16 March 2007 at his home near

Linton Linton may refer to: Places Australia * Linton, Victoria Canada * Linton, Ontario * Linton, Quebec United Kingdom England * Linton, Cambridgeshire * Linton, Derbyshire * Linton (near Bromyard), Herefordshire * Linton (near Ross-on-Wye), Her ...

in Cambridgeshire, aged 103. To commemorate Sir Arthur's lifelong interest in aviation, the Marshall family donated a trophy to the Air Training Corps to be presented to "The Most Improved Squadron in the ATC over a Protracted Period of Time".

References

External links

Article from Marshall Web Site on Sir Arthur's 100th Birthday Celebration
'' The Guardian'', 26 March 2007
The Papers of Sir Arthur Marshall
held at Churchill Archives Centre {{DEFAULTSORT:Marshall, Arthur 1903 births 2007 deaths English aerospace engineers English centenarians Men centenarians Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge Knights Bachelor Officers of the Order of the British Empire People educated at The Perse School People educated at Tonbridge School People from Cambridge People from Linton, Cambridgeshire 20th-century English businesspeople