William Henry ('Harry') Pilkington, Baron Pilkington born 1905 - died 1983. Glass manufacturer and former President of the Federation of British Industries but who is remembered politically as chairman of the controversial Pilkingon Committee that produced the Pilkington Report of 1962. He was also Chancellor of Loughborough University from 1966 to 1980.
This glass manufacturing company became the lone survivor of twenty-four glass manufacturers from the 19th century. While other glass manufacturing companies died from competition, the Pilkington company advanced its techniques. In 1967 the company controlled 85% of the glass making business in the United Kingdom and exported its products to over 100 countries.
The Pilkington Report concluded that the British public were not being well-served by commercial television due to its American influenced programming (such as Westerns). It further concluded that although the British public had not been asked whether they wanted commercial radio, they did not want it. The unintended result of this conclusion resulted in the creation of offshore commercial pirate radio in 1964.
| Preceded by New University, similar role held by Sir Herbert Manzoni |
Chancellor of Loughborough University 1966–1980 |
Succeeded by Sir Arnold Hall |