Structural engineer. Born London. Influential in the development of the use of reinforced concrete. In London he worked on: Bank of England, House of Commons, Africa House and India House.
Oscar Faber was born on 5 July 1886 in Brixton, Surrey (now Greater London), the eldest of the six children of Harald Nicolai Weber Faber (1856-1943) and Sophie Cecilie Faber née Bentzien (1862-1947). His parents were both Danish. His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1886 in the Lambeth registration district, Surrey (now Greater London). On 26 September 1886 he was baptised at St Matthew's Church, Brixton, where the baptismal register shows the family living at 56 Dalberg Road, Brixton and his father was described as an analyst.
In the 1891 census he was shown as aged 4 years, living at 92 Lennard Road, Beckenham, Kent (now Greater London), with his parents, two sisters: Harriet Faber (1887-1896) and Ella Faber (1890-1936), together with a female general domestic servant and a female nurse. His father was listed as a Commissioner to the Danish Government. He was educated at St Dunstan's College, Catford, (now Greater London) between 1897 and 1903.
The family was still living at 92 Leonard Road, Beckenham, when the 1901 census was undertaken that showed him, his parents, four siblings: Ella Faber; Sven Erik Faber (1892-1976); Cecil Torben Faber (1896-1959) and Ida Gertrude Faber (b.1900), together with a domestic nurse and a female general domestic servant. His father was described as an Agricultural Commissioner for U.K. of the Danish Government.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as a civil engineer residing in a six roomed property at 24 Clyde Road, Croydon, Surrey (now Greater London), together with two partners: J. J. Adams who was a customs clerk (Port Service, 2nd Class) and Frank Roberts who was an insurance clerk. His parents were still listed at 92 Leonard Road, Beckenham.
The 1913 edition of Kelly's Directory of Surrey lists him at 36 Chisholm Road, Croydon. On 23 December 1913 he married Helen Joan Mainwaring (1881-1967) and they had three children; Eileen Isolde Faber (1914-2009), Barbara Joan Faber (1918-1968) and John Gordon Faber (1921-2004).
He was made an Officer in Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1918 King's Birthday Honours List.
Electoral registers from 1918 to Spring 1920 show him and his wife recorded at 'Valhalla', Downs Road, Coulsdon, Surrey (now Greater London) and from Autumn 1920 to 1929 they were listed at 54 Downs Road, Coulsdon. The registers from 1930 to 1939 show them both at 6 Hayes Lane, Kenley, Surrey, (now Greater London).
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is described as a civil engineer with the post nominal letters: O.B.E., D.Sc., D.C.L., M.Inst.C.E., living at 8 Copley Way, Tadworth, Surrey, with his wife and their two younger children. His daughter was shown as a shorthand typist secretary and his son as a student of engineering.
He was made an Ordinary Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1951 New Year Honours List for services in the rebuilding of the House of Commons.
Telephone directories from 1948 show him listed at 25 Rothamsted Avenue, Harpenden, Hertfordshire and probate records confirm this address and show that he died, aged 69 years, on 7 May 1956 in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Lewsey Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. Probate was granted on 19 July 1956 to Cyril Robert Glover, consulting engineer and to Stanton Seddon, engineer. His effects totalled £287,778-5s-1d.
Our Picture Source and his Wikipedia page give much information about this man.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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