On This Day 15 September 1942 Philip Harris was born. He attended Streatham Grammar School
Philip Charles Harris, Baron Harris of Peckham (born 15 September 1942) is an English businessman, Conservative party donor and member of the House of Lords.
Lord Harris, was educated at Streatham Grammar School and in 1957, at the age of 15, following the sudden death of his father; he took over the running of the family business. This consisted of three carpet shops, which by 1977 he had increased to 93. Later that year he acquired Queensway Discount Warehouse and in 1978 successfully floated the Harris Queensway Group.
In 1988, Harris Queensway was taken over by the Lowndes Consortium and Lord Harris went on to set up Carpetright, which was floated in 1993. Lord Harris was the Chairman and Chief Executive of Carpetright plc, which currently has just over 650 stores in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Belgium and The Netherlands and employs almost 4,000 staff. Carpetright plc also comprises of Storey Carpets and a bed business aptly named Sleepright. In 2014, Lord Harris retired as Chairman of Carpetright after 26 years at the head of the organisation.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Pauline, in 1960 and together they have three sons and a daughter plus 11 grandchildren.
Philip Charles Harris, Baron Harris of Peckham (born 15 September 1942) is an English businessman, Conservative party donor and member of the House of Lords.
Lord Harris, was educated at Streatham Grammar School and in 1957, at the age of 15, following the sudden death of his father; he took over the running of the family business. This consisted of three carpet shops, which by 1977 he had increased to 93. Later that year he acquired Queensway Discount Warehouse and in 1978 successfully floated the Harris Queensway Group.
In 1988, Harris Queensway was taken over by the Lowndes Consortium and Lord Harris went on to set up Carpetright, which was floated in 1993. Lord Harris was the Chairman and Chief Executive of Carpetright plc, which currently has just over 650 stores in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Belgium and The Netherlands and employs almost 4,000 staff. Carpetright plc also comprises of Storey Carpets and a bed business aptly named Sleepright. In 2014, Lord Harris retired as Chairman of Carpetright after 26 years at the head of the organisation.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Pauline, in 1960 and together they have three sons and a daughter plus 11 grandchildren.
Lord Harris is Chairman of Harris Ventures Ltd. He is a major supporter of many charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Prostate Cancer, Guys’ & St. Thomas’ Hospital and the NSPCC to name just a few. Lord Harris and his family also support Harris HospisCare, a local charity in Orpington, Kent.
Lord Harris is a sponsor of 13 Academies which all form part of the Harris Federation Schools. He is also a major sponsor of Bacon’s College, Southwark and Kemnal Technology College, Sidcup. He is a benefactor of two colleges at Oxford, Oriel and Harris Manchester and Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge.
He was voted the Ernst & Young UK Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 and went on to represent the UK at the World Entrepreneur of the Year held in Monte Carlo. Lord Harris is a lifelong supporter of Arsenal FC of which he is now a non-executive director.
Lord Harris is a sponsor of 13 Academies which all form part of the Harris Federation Schools. He is also a major sponsor of Bacon’s College, Southwark and Kemnal Technology College, Sidcup. He is a benefactor of two colleges at Oxford, Oriel and Harris Manchester and Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge.
He was voted the Ernst & Young UK Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 and went on to represent the UK at the World Entrepreneur of the Year held in Monte Carlo. Lord Harris is a lifelong supporter of Arsenal FC of which he is now a non-executive director.
