Wilfred Banks Duncan Brown (1908-1985) joined the Glacier Metal Company as a costing clerk in 1931 and within just eight years he became its Managing Director and Chairman until1965. He was Director of Associated Engineering 1964-1965.
Wilfred Brown was awarded the MBE in 1944 and was created a Life Peer, as Baron Brown of Machrihanish, in 1964. From 1965-1979 he was Minister of State at the Board of Trade and in 1970 was appointed to the Privy Council. As Lord Brown, he was active in the House of Lords and sat on both the Select Committee on the European Communities and the Select Committee on Science and Technology. Throughout his distinguished career, he wrote many books, articles and lectures on management techniques.
He was associated with both Acton Technical College and Brunel College for a number of years and in 1966, the year Brunel received its Royal Charter, Lord Brown was appointed as the University’s first Pro-Chancellor. He was Chair of Council from January 1979 until December 1980. The central administration building was named after him in the following May.
