| Sir James Marr |
| The Times |
| Friday Nov 25, 1932 |
OBITUARYSir JAMES MARRShipbuilding on the WearSir James Marr, Bt., the Sunderland Shipbuilder, died at his Sunderland residence yesterday at the age of 78.A native of Newcastle, he quickly made his mark in the shipbuilding industry at Sunderland, and in 1882 became General Manager for Joseph Thompson and Sons, Limited. Twelve years later he was made Director, and in 1901 became Managing Director and Chairman. Meantime he had started the Sunderland Forge and Engineering Company, of which he was Chairman for 55 years, and in 1909 he joined the Directorate of Sir James Laing and Sons, Limited, another Wear Shipbuilding firm. Sir James, who was created C.B.E. in 1918 and a baronet in 1919, undertook a large amount of war work for the Government. He was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Shipping, a member of the Shipbuilding Council of the Admiralty, and a member of the Management Committee of Lloyd's Register. He was a member of the Shipwright's Company, and a Freeman of the City of London. He had many industrial interests besides shipbuilding. Keenly interested in the welfare of his apprentices, he formed in 1922, one of the first welfare schemes in the country for youths at the firms of Thompsons, Laings, and the Sunderland Forge. Eight years ago Sir James booked the largest shipbuilding order the Wear ever received, for 6 liners for the Silver Line Limited, a company which he helped to form. He gave £ 5,000 to the building fund of the new Monkwearmouth Hospital, and was responsible for launching an appeal which resulted in raising £ 120,000. His elder son, Colonel John Lynn Marr, died last year. Sir James is survived by his widow, to whom he had been married for 56 years, his younger son, Mr. W. B. Marr, and his only daughter, Mrs. H. C. Coatsworth. He is succeeded in the title by Leslie Lynn Marr, the 10 year old son of the late Colonel J. L. Marr. The funeral will be tomorrow, the service being held at St. Andrew's Church, Roker, at 11:30. |