Sir James Steel
(1909 - 1994)

Sir James Steel, CBE, was one of the leading North-East Industrialists and first Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear. He was appointed CBE in 1964 and was knighted in 1967.

He came to Trent College in 1920 at the age of 11 and left at the end of 1926 to follow in his father’s footsteps as an industrialist.

Son of Alfred Steel, founder of Steel and Co., he worked as Chairman of the British Productivity Council until his retirement in 1966. He was also made Deputy Chairman of Rea Brothers, merchant bankers; Chairman of the shipping company, Furness Withey, in succession to Lord Beeching; and was the founding Chairman of the Washington Development Corporation.

Steel took great pride in his honorary doctorate from Durham University as well as his service as a Governor of Trent College.

He is undoubtedly among the individuals who shaped the economic growth of the country’s industries during World War II and long into peace time.

Back to main Famous Associates page