Pitman , Sir , Isaac James , 1901-1985 , Knight , politician and publisher

Born 1901; educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford University; played rugby for Oxford University, 1921, and for England, 1922; won Middle Weight Public Schools Boxing, 1919; Bursar, Duke of York's and King's Camp, 1933-1939; Chairman, Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons Ltd, 1934-1966; served World War Two as a member of the RAF 1940-1943 (Acting Squadron Leader); Director, Bank of England, 1941-1945; Director of Organisation and Methods, HM Treasury, 1943-1945; Conservative MP for Bath, 1945-1964; KBE, 1961; Chairman, Royal Society of Teachers; Chairman of Council, Initial Teaching Alphabet Foundation and National Centre for Cued Speech (for the deaf child); Life President, UK Federation of ita Schools; Member of the Committee, National Foundation for Educational Research (which conducted comparative researches into reasons for reading failure in earliest stages of learning); Member, Committee advising Public Trustee under Will of late George Bernard Shaw in carrying out his wishes for design and publication of a proposed British alphabet; Charter Pro-Chancellor, Bath University; Honorary President, Parliamentary Group for World Government; Vice-President, Institute of Administrative Management, 1965-1969; Vice-President: British and Foreign School Society; Member, British Association for Commercial and Industrial Education; Member, National Union of Teachers; died 1985.