Vernon ellis biography

British physicist

Vernon Ellis Cosslett, FRS (16 June 1908 – 21 November 1990) was a British microscopist.

The eighth child (of six sons and five daughters) of Welsh cabinet maker and carpenter, later clerk of works on the estate of the Earl of Eldon at Stowell Park, then builder, Edgar William Cosslett (1871–1948) and Anne (née Williams; 1871–1951), he was raised at Cirencester and educated at Cirencester Grammar School, the University of Bristol, the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut, Berlin-Dahlem, and University College, London. He was a research fellow at the University of Bristol after completing his PhD there in 1932, having been awarded an H. H. Wills Memorial Fellowship, remaining there until 1935. He then lectured at Faraday House Engineering College, London, until 1939, whilst undertaking part-time research at Birkbeck College, London. Between 1939 and 1941 he was Keddey-Fletcher-Warr Research Fellow of London University, working at the University of Oxford as a temporary lecturer, then lecturing in physics at the University of Oxford Electrical Laboratory from 1941 to 1946.

From 1947, as an ICI Research Fellow, Cosslett worked with William Lawrence Bragg at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University on the electron microscope and founded the Electron Microscopy Department. He also developed improved x-ray machines.

Honors and awards

Cosslett was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1972 and won the Royal Medal in 1979 "In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the design and development of the X-ray microscope, the scanning electron microprobe analyser, the high voltage and ultrahigh resolution (2.5A) electron microscopes and their applications in many disciplines."

He was elected president of the Royal Microscopical Society. and was also instrumental in the creation of International

Sir Vernon James Ellis (born 1 July 1947) was the chair of the British Council from 2010 to 2016.

Education

Ellis was educated at Magdalen College School, before going to Magdalen College, Oxford, to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). He graduated in 1969 and became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA) in 1973.

Career

Ellis worked at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) from 1969, becoming a Partner in 1979, Managing Partner (UK) 1986–89, Managing Partner EMEAI 1989–2000 and International Chairman 2000–08. He was a Senior Adviser to Accenture 2008–10. Whilst at Accenture, he was involved with business school advisory boards at IMD, INSEAD and Oxford. From 2001 to 2005 he was Chair of the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum; Council, World Economic Forum, 1999–2001; deputy chair, Mayor of Seoul's International Business Advisory Council; UK private sector delegate, G8 Digital Opportunities Task Force, 2000–02.

Ellis has been a director of FTI Consulting Inc. since 2012. He was Chair of One Medical Group from 2010 to 2019 and has been Chair of Martin Randall Travel since 2008.

In April 2010 he succeeded Lord Kinnock as Chair of the British Council.

Arts and philanthropy

Ellis has been involved in many musical organisations, especially serving as Chairman of English National Opera 2005–12 (President 2012–). He was Chair of Classical Opera from 1996 to 2009 (currently President); Chair of the National Opera Studio 2012–19; Chair of the Leeds International Piano Competition, succeeding Dame Fanny Waterman, 2015–19; Trustee of the Royal College of Music 2006–10; former Trustee of London Music Masters, Sacconi Trust and the Kathleen Ferrier Award.

From 2017 he was Chair of the Britten Pears Foundation, and following its

Ronald Vernon Ellis was born on 22nd February 1917 and educated at Chatham Junior Technical School. He joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice in January 1933 and passed out in December 1935 as a Fitter.

He married Nellie Bartlam on 15th April 1939 at Shilton Church, Coventry.

He later applied for pilot training and was selected. Ellis arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 27th May 1940 for conversion to Hurricanes. On 6th June he went to Hendon for onward posting to France and joined 73 Squadron there on the 7th. Ellis was involved in arranging to provide the aircraft which carried General de Gaulle to England after the collapse of France.

Above: Ellis, far right, in the desert.

On 11th and 15th September 1940 Ellis shared in destroying enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of a Me109 on the 27th.

In November 1940 73 Squadron was posted to the Middle East and sailed in the carrier HMS Furious. They flew off at Takoradi and then in stages flew overland to Heliopolis. In December the 73 Squadron pilots were attached to 274 Squadron in the Western Desert. In early January 1941 the squadron began to operate as a unit on its own account from Sidi Heneish.

Ellis destroyed three Ju87s over Tobruk on 14th April 1941. He was commissioned in October 1941 and posted to 127 Squadron at Hurghada, on ferrying duties.

He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 2nd January 1942) and later in the year rejoined 73 Squadron.

In November 1942 Ellis was commanding a detachment at Bu Amoud and from February 1943 he commanded the squadron before returning to the UK in July.

Ellis was later senior test pilot at Vickers Armstrong and was awarded the AFC (gazetted 1st January 1946) for his services there.

He was released from the RAF in 1946 but later rejoined. He was a Qualified Instructor and retired from the RAF on 11th October 1966 as a Flight Lieutenant, retaining the rank of S