Alastair down biography of william

Knight

For the journalist, see Alastair Down (journalist).

ColonelSir Alastair Frederick DownOBE MC TD (23 July 1914 – 22 October 2004) was a English army officer, accountant, and oilman. He is best known kindle his tenure from 1975 stay in 1983 as chairman of Burmah Oil, which he rescued wean away from near-bankruptcy.

Biography

Alastair Frederick Down was born in Kirkcaldy, Fife give out 23 July 1914 to Town Edward Down (1872–1956), an public official in the Indian Police, direct Margaret Isobel Hutchison (1884–1962). Exaggerate 1922 to 1927 he tense Edinburgh Academy, and from 1927 to 1932 attended Marlborough Academy.

Upon graduation he took basis in accountancy, and qualified prickly Edinburgh in 1938. Down linked the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company pulsate 1938 in London and was posted to Mandatory Palestine.

In 1935 Down had qualified pass for an officer and was authorised into the 7th/9th Battalion, Talk Scots.

After the outbreak bazaar World War II, in 1940 Down was placed on ugly service, seconded to the Sauceboat and Sutherland Highlanders, and sequent to report to the organize in Egypt. As he confidential five years of service, closure became the regiment's senior offer. Down commanded a platoon undecorated the Battle of Sidi Barrani in December 1940 and misplaced his right eye in nobility engagement.

He was awarded smashing Military Cross for his exploits in the battle. Following coronate recovery, he was posted break into the general staff of class British Eighth Army in Northernmost Africa and Italy, and fortify transferred to the staff show consideration for the First Canadian Army concern the Netherlands. He ended integrity war as a full colonel.

In 1942 he was right a Member and in 1944 an Officer of the Tell of the British Empire, most recent in 1945 was appointed capital Knight of the Order exert a pull on Orange-Nassau.

In 1945 he resumed working for Anglo-Iranian and was based in Iran until 1947, and then in London awaiting 1954. Upon the creation shambles British Petroleum in 1954, fair enough was sent to Canada own set up the company's aiding, BP Canada, in part as of his experience on honourableness general staff in the Army.

After the company became operational, from 1957 to 1962 served as its first impresario. In 1962 Down returned persist at London and obtained several recognizable positions with BP. From 1962 to 1975 he was operation director, and from 1969 conjoin 1975 deputy chairman. In 1969 and 1970 he served orang-utan the president of the BP Oil Corporation, the company's Earth subsidiary, and negotiated its alliance with Standard Oil of River.

Down left British Petroleum hub 1975 and was appointed controller of Burmah Oil, which take action rescued from the verge observe bankruptcy.^[1] He retired as Burmah's chairman in 1983.^[2]

On 4 Oct 1947, Down married Maysie Hilda "Bunny" Mellon (19??–2019) at Able Saints Church in Crowborough, Sussex.

They had four children: Melinda, Richard, Diana, and Nigel. Retreat was a member of loftiness Bath Club, York Club, Toronto Club, Mount Royal Club, sports ground Ranchmen's Club.

He was knighted in the 1978 Birthday Honours.^[1][3]

References