Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
- Cyril Humphrey Cripps, Kt, Hon LLD
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Educated at Northampton School for Boys before studying Natural Sciences at St John’s College.
He joined the family firm, Pianoforte Supplies Limited, started by his father in 1919 to make the metal components of pianos (the firm grew into a major supplier of metal fittings for other trades, especially the motor industry). Cripps became Managing Director in 1960 and Chairman in 1979. The decline in the British car industry in the 1970s caused Cripps to diversify his business interests, and he invested abroad, playing a major role in the creation of Velcro Industries.
He was made an Honorary Fellow of Magdalene College in 1971. He was also an Honorary Fellow of St John’s, Selwyn and Queens’ Colleges, for whom he built large courts; his contribution to Magdalene was the completion of Buckingham Court. (Cripps Court, Chesterton Road, was financed by his sons).
The Cripps Foundation is a charity established in 1956 by the Cripps family which has made huge gifts to universities, colleges, schools, churches, hospitals and museums. Many Cambridge Colleges have benefited from this generosity, as well as the Fitzwilliam Museum. Halls of residence at St John's College, Magdalene College, Selwyn College, Queens' College and the University of Nottingham are named after the Cripps family.
After many years of service to Northamptonshire County Council, he became High Sheriff and later Deputy Lieutenant of the County.