Lord Haslam, CEng, FInstME, (1923-2002)
Michael Rhodes
former Chairman of ICI, Tate & Lyle, and the National Coal Board,
died 2 November, 2002. He was 79.
Robert Haslam was born 4 February, 1923, at Bolton, Lancashire, the
son of Percy Haslam, a painter and decorator who wanted to be a London
"bobby" but fate and the Second World War intervened.
From Bolton School he won a scholarship to read geography at
Cambridge, but failed the mandatory Latin examination and had to make
do with a place at Birmingham University.
Alas, Birmingham University's geography department was closed
throughout WW2 and he had to turn to geology and mine engineering.
In 1944, he joined Manchester Collieries Ltd., and by nationalisation
in 1947 had gained his colliery manager's certificate.
For that he had to work at the coal face - a fact which won him
respect from some of the miners later when he was chairman of the NCB.
He later joined the ICI Nobel division to specialise in mining
engineering and he acquired some expertise in explosives.
After the River Kwai adventure he found himself in an Egyptian jail
after a misunderstanding in which he was suspected of wanting to blow
up the Aswan Dam.
He was passing through Cairo airport on his way to the dam where some
demolition work was to be done.
"The papers I had with me included plans marked *Demolition Aswan
Dam*. The officials got very excited and threw me into jail," he told
a correspondent in a 1985 interview.
"Although it onlt took me half an hour to contact someone to get me
out again, it was a very nasty half-hour."
He stayed with the ICI Group and in 1971 became chairman of the
Harrogate-based Fibres Division, a director of the main board in 1974
and deputy chairman in 1980.
He joined the British Steel Corporation in September, 1983, and was
later a member of the National Economic Development Council, a
director of the Bank of England.
Haslam was chairman of Tate & Lyle, 1983-86, and succeeded the
unpopular Ian MacGregor *Mac the Knife* as chairman of British Coal
in 1986.
He left British Coal in 1990 having rescued the coal industry from the
depths of post-strike depression.
Haslam was knighted in 1985, and created a life peer as Baron Haslam,
of Bolton in the County of Greater Manchester, 1990.
He was twice wed. Firstly, in 1947, to Joyce Quin, by whom he had two
sons. Lady Haslam died 29 March, 1995.
Haslam was Chairman of the Michael Sieff Foundation from 1995; Freeman
of the City of London, &c.
Lord Haslam married secondly, at the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft,
Palace of Westminster, 20 July, 1996, the Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Sieff,
[nee Pitt], widow of the Hon. Michael Sieff, a member of the Marks and
Spencer dynasty.
He is survived by his second wife, two sons, and two step-children.
Louis Epstein
: Lord Haslam, life peer, one of Britain's most successful businessmen,
: former Chairman of ICI, Tate & Lyle, and the National Coal Board,
: died 2 November, 2002. He was 79.
Not Chairman of ICI,he left for Tate & Lyle when passed over
for Chairman of ICI.By the time he took over the Coal Board
it was known as British Coal.
: Robert Haslam was born 4 February, 1923, at Bolton, Lancashire, the
Joined BSC as Chairman.
: Haslam was chairman of Tate & Lyle, 1983-86, and succeeded the
: unpopular Ian MacGregor *Mac the Knife* as chairman of British Coal
: in 1986.
: He left British Coal in 1990 having rescued the coal industry from the
: depths of post-strike depression.
: Haslam was knighted in 1985, and created a life peer as Baron Haslam,
: of Bolton in the County of Greater Manchester, 1990.
: He was twice wed. Firstly, in 1947, to Joyce Quin, by whom he had two
: sons. Lady Haslam died 29 March, 1995.
: Haslam was Chairman of the Michael Sieff Foundation from 1995; Freeman
: of the City of London, &c.
: Lord Haslam married secondly, at the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft,
: Palace of Westminster, 20 July, 1996, the Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Sieff,
: [nee Pitt], widow of the Hon. Michael Sieff, a member of the Marks and
: Spencer dynasty.
The marriage and foundation chairmanship being doubtless linked.
: He is survived by his second wife, two sons, and two step-children.
-=-=-
The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again,
at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.
Michael Rhodes
> Lord Haslam, life peer, one of Britain's most successful businessmen,
> former Chairman of ICI, Tate & Lyle, and the National Coal Board,
> died 2 November, 2002. He was 79.
He was only ever chairman of ICI Fibres Div, and not the of the main
board. He missed out on the top job there.
--
Michael Rhodes.
Michael Rhodes
> In alt.obituaries Michael Rhodes <mig73alle...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> : Lord Haslam, life peer, one of Britain's most successful businessmen,
> : former Chairman of ICI, Tate & Lyle, and the National Coal Board,
> : died 2 November, 2002. He was 79.
>
> Not Chairman of ICI,he left for Tate & Lyle when passed over
> for Chairman of ICI.
He was chairman of ICI Fibres.
--
Michael.