Victor Cook

Engineer, 1897-1990

About MeBorn Robert Charles Victor Cook, the son of Robert Sellar Cook and Victoria Cook (nee Gordon).

Apprenticed in 1915 as a turner to Urquhart Lindsay & Co of Dundee, until the end of 1915 when he entered Barry, Henry & Co as a turner under the supervision of James Thorley. Two years later he entered the fitting shop; in October of 1918 he moved to the drawing office. The following year he split his time between Robert Gordon's Technical College, with afternoons being spent at the works. In September 1919 he went to Glasgow to do a degree course at the Royal Technical College.

The death of his father in 1921 brought his academic studies to an end. In September of that year he returned to work as a clerk at Barry Henry & Co. This became one of the issues over which legal action was brought against his uncles and the then manager. On winning the case, Victor Cook devoted his energies to promoting the business.

In 1974 he established an educational charity The Gordon Cook Foundation bearing the name of a brother who predeceased him. This creation has survived its founder’s own death and continues the task of promoting values education. The Foundation's website asserts that his first wish was to be a teacher, but he was prevented in this by his father's death.

Died 15 March 1990, aged 92.