Past Presidents of the Brentford Chamber of Commerce

2012 – 2016

Suzie Betlem

Miracle Inc., interior designer

2008 – 2012

Peter Hughes

Photoview, Brook Road South, Brentford

2004 – 2008

Tim Luckett
ECS Ltd, accountants, 156 Windmill Road, Brentford

2000 – 2004

Brian D Sawyer
Colorite Ltd, 169 Boston Road, Hanwell

1996 – 2000

Mrs J P (Jennifer) Corbin
Heidelberg Graphic Equipment Ltd – Druckmaschinen AG, 69 High Street, Brentford. Printing machine distributors

Roger L T Jones,
Manager at SmithKlineBeecham, Great West Road, Brentford.

1989 – 1992

C W (Bill) Palmer, (Industrial Blowers?)
At his election he was described by the B & C Times as ‘a river man whose links with the waterway system stretch back to the last century’.

1990 / 91 Trade directory – copy held at Chiswick Library

1987 – 1989

K S Solomons, K Solomons & Sons

1984 – 1987

Paul D Kyle, C Eng., F.I.Mar.E, Managing Director of Wilson & Kyle Limited, Catherine Wheel Yard, High Street, Brentford. Mechanical and Electrical Engineers.

1982 – 1984

Brian Wilson, Alfa Laval, Great West Road, Brentford.

1979 – 1982

V G (Vic) Arnold, Arnold’s Sports, 212 High Street, Brentford

1978 – 1979

G G Prince

1977 – 1978

Stanley E Goddard, P Goddard & Sons Limited, 225 High Street, Brentford. House furnishers and Removals.

This is his second term as President.

1975 – 1977

R A Mathewson

1973 – 1975

Douglas Garrett, Director of C W Garrett & Son, Architects, Engineers & Surveyors, 46 Windmill Road for 5 years, previously worked for the Road Research Laboratory. Aged 30 at his election he was the youngest President for 34 years.

1973

E (Ted) H Welsh, Manager of the Resources Planning Department, Gillette Industries, Great West Road, Isleworth.

1970 – 1972

Sidney A Atkins, Manufacturing executive, Trico Folberth Limited, Great West Road, Brentford (site of the new HQ for Glaxo)

1969 – 1970

G R Johnston, Solicitor with P H Berry & Co and Chamber’s honorary solicitor.

1968 – 1969

R D Culverwell

1967 – 1968

Richard Leslie Avery – Local and County Councillor 1940s, Mayor 1955/6, Alderman 1961. Received a rare citation in 1986 from Margaret Thatcher for services to the Conservative Party. Served for 40 years on Brentford & Chiswick Council and Hounslow Council and was working for Permutit in Hounslow when he retired in 1985.

1968 – Trade Directory – copy held at Chiswick Library

1966 – 1967

Reginald Victor Musk, Works Director of Brentford Soap Co., Ferry Lane, Brentford. At 37 was the youngest President at the time.

1965 – 1966

Peter Blackmore

1964 – 1965

W R Leslie Nickels, Managing Director of a ‘Brentford printing firm’.

1963 – 1964

E J Crook

1962 – 1963

L Frank Martin, Managing Director, Martins Limited, Lion Way, Brentford. Wholesale tobacco and confectionery distributors.

1961 – 1962

H M Whitcombe, Director of R P Pulli & Co Limited, Great West Road, Brentford. Scientific & Electrical Instrument Manufacturers

1959 – 1961

Stanley E Goddard, P Goddard & Sons Limited, 225 High Street, Brentford. House furnishers and Removals.

1957 – 1959

A K Boswell FCIS

1955 – 1957

W E D Cole

1957 – Suggested that a guide book was needed for Brentford and Chiswick.

1956 – Membership

• Manufacturers and industrialists 73
• Transport contractors 10
• Builders and builders merchants 12
• Wholesalers 2
• Retailers 51
• Licensed victuallers 4
• Motor engineers and garages 8
• Professions 30
• Total = 190

1953 – 1955

H G Potter, Jantzen Knitting Mills Limited, Great West Road, Brentford.

1952 – 1953

Harold Tymms, Manager of Barclays Bank in Brentford and Chiswick. He had served 43 years in banking at his retirement in 1961. He planned on calling his retirement home in Dorset, ‘Brentwick’.

1950 – 1952

Felix G Varcoe, M.I.P.M., (County Councillor), Personnel Manager at Sperry Gyroscope, Great West Road, Brentford.

1951 – 1971: The Blue Book. Classified guide to Business and Trade in Brentford and Chiswick. Copies of all years in Chiswick Library. The 1950 trade directory was prepared by Secretary, Mr C A Elkins. The previous one had been published in 1935.

1927 April 1950 – Industrial Exhibition for Brentford & Chiswick held in Carville Hall Park North. Catalogues in Chiswick Library. Admission was 6d.

1950 – Membership = 160

1948 – 1950

T Whittaker, Thompson & Norris Manufacturing Co Limited, Great West Road, Brentford. Corrugated Box Manufacturers

1946 – 1948

Len G Sherwood, Manager of the Thames Steam Tug and Lighterage Co, Northumberland Wharf. Later he became Treasurer of the Chamber.

1943 – 1946

R F C Crowther, Jantzen Knitting Mills Limited, Great West Road, Brentford. Swim suit and sportswear manufacturers

1940 – 1943

Sam Garratt, Esq., Managing Director of Brentford Printing and Publishing Co., Albany Works, High Street, Brentford

1937 – 1940

Cyril J Scott, Managing Director, Smith’s Crisps, Great West Road, Brentford. He had joined the company as a sales representative in 1928 and had been a director from the 1930s. He retired in 1965.

1936 – 1937

W K Meyers, (WKM jnr was posted as missing in the Far East December 1941 – we think this is this person. WKM Snr., F.A.I., MI Struct E.

1934 – 1936

A E Wiseman Esq

1933 – 1934

A P Ledsham, Esq., M.P.S., F.S.M.C., Chemist, 116 High Street, Brentford

1932 – 1933

Arthur Herbert Charlton, Esq., JP, County Councillor, Alderman, Mayor 1951 and Freeman of the Borough 1954. Chairman and Managing Director of Brentford Soap Co, Brent Works

1931 – 1932

James Clements, Esq., Clements Knowling & Co Limited, Ferry Wharf and Goat Wharf, Lighterman and Transport Contractors. Charter Mayor of Brentford and Chiswick 1932.

1920 – 1931

Colonel W Grant Morden, Founder President, held this officer for 10 years or more. His ‘miliary dictatorship’ certainly produced an enduring addition to the Chamber of Commerce Movement.