Francis McWilliams facts for kids
Sir Francis McWilliams GBE (born February 8, 1926 – died August 31, 2022) was a talented British engineer. He held an important position called Lord Mayor of London from 1992 to 1993. During his time as Lord Mayor, a big event known as the 1993 Bishopsgate bombing happened. After this, his talks with the Prime Minister, John Major, led to the creation of the "Ring of Steel" around the City of London. This was a special security measure to keep the city safe.
Life and Career
Francis McWilliams was born on February 8, 1926, in a tenement house in Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland. He went to school at Holy Cross Academy in Leith. An interesting story from his school days is that he and his friend, who later became a famous artist named Eduardo Paolozzi, were once kicked out of class for misbehaving! McWilliams joked that the teacher probably didn't realize she was throwing out two future knights.
When he was 16, Francis received a scholarship to study civil engineering at the University of Edinburgh. Civil engineering is about designing and building things like roads, bridges, and buildings. After he graduated in 1945, he worked for the City Engineer's office in Edinburgh. He also worked as a civil and structural engineer for other local governments.
In 1953, he moved to British Malaysia with his wife, Wyn, and their first child. They lived there for nearly 25 years. He worked for the Melaka municipal council and also had his own company that provided engineering advice. While in Malaysia, he was a key engineer in planning the town of Petaling Jaya in 1954. In March 1973, the sultan Salahuddin of Selangor gave him a special honour called Datuk Diraja Selangor.
Francis McWilliams returned to the UK in 1976 and worked in the City of London. In 1992, he was appointed the 665th Lord Mayor of London. Later, Queen Elizabeth II gave him a very high honour, making him a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE).
McWilliams passed away on August 31, 2022, when he was 96 years old. He is survived by his wife and two sons. One of his sons, Douglas McWilliams, is an economic consultant.
