Sir William Sydney Albert AtkinsCBE (6 February 1902 – 15 August 1989) was the founder ofAtkins, a large British engineering consultancy.
Born inLondon and educated at theCoopers Company School andUniversity College, London, William Atkins trained asdraughtsman at E. Graham Wood, a firm of structural engineers.[1][2]
Atkins worked for various firms, includingDorman Long, in junior roles before being appointed Chief Engineer atSmith Walker in 1928.[1] He then acquiredLondon Ferro-Concrete, a subsidiary ofSmith Walker makingreinforced concrete, from his employers.[1][2]
In 1938 he establishedWS Atkins as an engineering consultancy, severing his connections withLondon Ferro-concrete in 1950 when it was bought by a new management team.[1] He established his reputation as an engineering consultant by designing a new steelworks atPort Talbot and on the back of this built his firm into a large consultancy.[1][3]
He was appointed aCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the1966 New Year Honours[4] and wasknighted in 1976.[5]
He became anHonoraryFreeman ofEpsom and Ewell inSurrey.[1]
He died inWoking in 1989.[1][6]
In 1928 he married Elsie Jessie Barrow and they had two daughters.[1]
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