Victor Matthews, Baron Matthews

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Arms of Victor Matthews, Baron Matthews

Victor Collin Matthews, Baron Matthews (5 December 1919 – 5 December 1995) was Group Managing Director of Trafalgar House, one of the United Kingdom's largest contracting businesses as well as the proprietor of the Daily Express.

Career[]

Born in Islington and educated at Highbury School, Victor Matthews initially worked as an office boy for a tobacco business.[1] During World War II he served as an able seaman in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and saw action at Dunkirk.[1]

After the War he joined Trollope & Colls, a large construction business, where he became a contracts manager.[1] He then bought his own construction business, Bridge Walker, which he expanded significantly before selling it to Trafalgar House.[1] He became Group Managing Director of Trafalgar House in 1968 and Deputy Chairman in 1973.[1]

In 1977 Trafalgar House acquired Beaverbrook Newspapers and in 1982, it was floated on the London Stock Exchange as Fleet Holdings with Matthews as its chairman.[1] Matthews renamed the business Express Newspapers after its lead publication, the Daily Express.[1] He had confrontations with the trade unions but eventually secured their support.[1]

In August 1980 Trafalgar House bought Firestone tyre factory, a unique example of Art Deco architecture, which was about to become a listed building. Matthews personally ordered destruction of the main features of the facade over the bank holiday weekend, two days before the building was to be listed.[2][3]

He was created a Life Peer on 22 July 1980 taking the title Baron Matthews, of Southgate in the London Borough of Enfield.[4]

In 1985 the business was acquired by United Newspapers and Matthews retired to Jersey.[1] He died there in 1995.[1]

Family[]

In 1942 he married Joyce Geraldine Pilbeam; the couple had one son.[1]

Arms[]

Coat of arms of Victor Matthews, Baron Matthews hide
Crest
A Horse forcene Or against a Corinthian Column of White Marble proper
Escutcheon
Azure a Roundel Gules fimbriated Argent between two Roundels also Argent and all between four Pallets Or a Chief per chevron throughout also Or and Azure
Supporters
Dexter: a Horse reguardant Or gorged with a Wreath of two Ribands Tenné and Grey tied at the rear and the ends flying to the dexter; Sinister: a Stag reguardant Azure attired unguled and gorged with a Laurel Wreath Gold
Motto
Quisque Fortunae Suae Architectus [5]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Victor Matthews at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  2. ^ "Brentford & Chiswick Journal 2 (1981) (From Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society)".
  3. ^ "Obituary: Lord Matthews. Retrieved 17 January 2018".
  4. ^ "No. 48261". The London Gazette. 25 July 1980. p. 10581.
  5. ^ "Life Peerages - M". Cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.


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