Olaf Kier
Encyclopedia
Olaf Kier CBE
(c.1899 - 1986) was the founder of Kier Group
, one of the United Kingdom
's largest construction
businesses.
as Olaf Kiaer, Olaf moved to England
to pursue his career. Together with Jorgen Lotz, he founded Lotz & Kier, a construction
business, in 1928. The business name was changed to J.L. Kier & Co Ltd a few years later, after Lotz withdrew from the company.
In 1941 he acquired the Lexham Hall Estate near Litcham
in Norfolk
but, in 1945, when he saw the condition that the Army
had left it in, decided to put it back on the market. He instead acquired the Cokenach Estate near Barkway
in Hertfordshire
. In 1965 he established the Olaf Kier Danish Charity.
He was a member of the Danish Club at 62 Knightsbridge and was awarded made CBE for industrial and social services in 1970. He died in an motor accident in May 1986 aged 87.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(c.1899 - 1986) was the founder of Kier Group
Kier Group
Kier Group plc is a construction, services and property group active in building and civil engineering, support services, public and private housebuilding, land development and the Private Finance Initiative...
, one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
businesses.
Career
Born and educated in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
as Olaf Kiaer, Olaf moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to pursue his career. Together with Jorgen Lotz, he founded Lotz & Kier, a construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
business, in 1928. The business name was changed to J.L. Kier & Co Ltd a few years later, after Lotz withdrew from the company.
In 1941 he acquired the Lexham Hall Estate near Litcham
Litcham
Litcham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated some north-east of the town of Swaffham and west of the city of Norwich....
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
but, in 1945, when he saw the condition that the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
had left it in, decided to put it back on the market. He instead acquired the Cokenach Estate near Barkway
Barkway
Barkway is a long-established village and civil parish in the North Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England, about five miles south-east of Royston,35 miles from London and 15 miles from the centre of Cambridge....
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. In 1965 he established the Olaf Kier Danish Charity.
He was a member of the Danish Club at 62 Knightsbridge and was awarded made CBE for industrial and social services in 1970. He died in an motor accident in May 1986 aged 87.