Sir Walter John Worboys | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | March 17, 1969 | (aged 69)
Nationality | British |
Education | Scotch College |
Alma mater |
University of Western Australia Lincoln College, University of Oxford |
Occupation(s) | businessman research chemist |
Employer(s) |
Brunner Mond & Co ICI Council of Industrial Design (1947-1960) Design Centre |
Known for | reforming road traffic signage, creator of the transport font |
Notable work |
Worboys Committee 1964 Traffic Signs Regulations |
Title |
Rhodes Scholar D.Phil. Sir |
Awards | Knighthood |
Sir Walter John Worboys (22 February 1900 – 17 March 1969), was an Australian-born British businessman and chemist. He is best known for widely reforming road traffic signage in the United Kingdom.
He was born in Perth, Western Australia, [1] and educated at Scotch College and the University of Western Australia. Elected a Rhodes Scholar in 1922, he gained his D.Phil. after a further period of study at Lincoln College, Oxford. [2] His first job was as a research chemist at Brunner Mond & Co. From there he moved to ICI, eventually reaching the rank of director.
In 1947 he joined the Council of Industrial Design, a body set up by the Board of Trade in 1944. He was chairman of the council from 1953 until 1960, during which time he set up the Design Centre, a permanent exhibition of the council’s work. The establishment of the Design Centre proved to be a turning point in the history of the council, which until that time had attracted more critics than friends. [3]
In 1961 he was appointed to chair a committee to bring in a new era of modern road signage. [3] The committee reported in 1963, [4] advocating a total overhaul of the style of British road signs, introducing a new style that has lasted until the present day. The report recommended the pictorial design found on many European road signs, along with a British-designed font that was to become known as the Transport font. [5]
Worboys died on 17 March 1969. [6]
Sir Walter John Worboys | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | March 17, 1969 | (aged 69)
Nationality | British |
Education | Scotch College |
Alma mater |
University of Western Australia Lincoln College, University of Oxford |
Occupation(s) | businessman research chemist |
Employer(s) |
Brunner Mond & Co ICI Council of Industrial Design (1947-1960) Design Centre |
Known for | reforming road traffic signage, creator of the transport font |
Notable work |
Worboys Committee 1964 Traffic Signs Regulations |
Title |
Rhodes Scholar D.Phil. Sir |
Awards | Knighthood |
Sir Walter John Worboys (22 February 1900 – 17 March 1969), was an Australian-born British businessman and chemist. He is best known for widely reforming road traffic signage in the United Kingdom.
He was born in Perth, Western Australia, [1] and educated at Scotch College and the University of Western Australia. Elected a Rhodes Scholar in 1922, he gained his D.Phil. after a further period of study at Lincoln College, Oxford. [2] His first job was as a research chemist at Brunner Mond & Co. From there he moved to ICI, eventually reaching the rank of director.
In 1947 he joined the Council of Industrial Design, a body set up by the Board of Trade in 1944. He was chairman of the council from 1953 until 1960, during which time he set up the Design Centre, a permanent exhibition of the council’s work. The establishment of the Design Centre proved to be a turning point in the history of the council, which until that time had attracted more critics than friends. [3]
In 1961 he was appointed to chair a committee to bring in a new era of modern road signage. [3] The committee reported in 1963, [4] advocating a total overhaul of the style of British road signs, introducing a new style that has lasted until the present day. The report recommended the pictorial design found on many European road signs, along with a British-designed font that was to become known as the Transport font. [5]
Worboys died on 17 March 1969. [6]