Victor Watson
| Victor Watson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Victor Hugo Watson 26 September 1928 Leeds, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 25 February 2015 (aged 86) |
| Cause of death | Parkinson's disease |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Mr. Monopoly |
| Education |
Bootham School Clare College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Businessman, heir, philanthropist |
| Known for | Waddingtons Ltd |
| Spouse(s) | Sheila May Bryan |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Parent(s) | Norman Watson Ruby Watson |
| Relatives | Victor Hugo Watson (paternal grandfather) John Watson (brother) |
Victor Hugo Watson CBE (26 September 1928 – 25 February 2015) was a British businessman and philanthropist. He served as the Chairman of Waddingtons 1977 to 1993. Waddingtons employed over 3,000 people, mainly in Leeds, and were involved in printing, packaging, games and playing cards. He was sometimes known as "Mr Monopoly".
Victor Hugo Watson was born on 26 September 1928 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He grew up in Horsforth near Leeds. His paternal grandfather, also named Victor Hugo Watson, acquired the rights to the board game Monopoly from Parker Brothers in 1934. His father, Norman Watson, popularised the board game Cluedo. His mother was named Ruby Watson. He had two brothers, Beric born in 1932 and John born in 1943
He was educated at Bootham School, a private boarding school in York. He then graduated from Clare College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. He then served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers.
He started his career at Waddingtons in 1951. He then served as its Chairman from 1977 to 1993. He rejected attempts by Robert Maxwell to acquire the company in 1980. He was known as "Mr Monopoly".
He served on the Boards of Directors of Yorkshire Television and the Leeds and Holbeck Building Society. He was the Chairman Emeritus of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce. He published a history of John Waddington Ltd 2008.
He was a director of John Foster plc, Topps Tiles plc. and a President of the British Printing Industries Federation
He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1987. He was the 2007 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Printing Industry award from the British Printing Industries’ Federation and the 2009 Individual Award for Excellence from the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards.
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