Kingston Macaulay
Retired executive and former President of the
Bradford Textiles Society, Kingston Macaulay,
obtained a Full Technological City & Guilds
Certificate in Worsted Spinning after studying
part-time at Bradford Technical College from 1953
to 1955.
“After 2 years National Service in the King’s Own
Yorkshire Light Infantry, I joined Bulmer & Lumb
Ltd as a management trainee in October 1953. I
recall my time at Bradford ‘Tech’ was on a 2 day
a week release course, plus one or two evenings
studying worsted spinning. My time when not at
the ‘Tech’ was spent learning the practical side
from wool sorting, wool combing, top making,
top dyeing, worsted spinning and weaving.
After
about 2 years I obtained a Full Technological
City & Guilds Certificate in Worsted Spinning.
It was an enjoyable time. I remember 2 lecturers
in particular: Mr Wilson, who taught Raw Materials
amongst other subjects and Mr Parkin. There were
1 or 2 full-time students I remember especially;
Gerard Litten, who later became MD of Jeremiah
Ambler, and Peter Bell. Fellow students were Robin
Guild (Salts), Christopher Cordingley (Cordingley’s
of Pudsey) and 2 from the Borders, William Bynoe
and Russell Sanderson (later to become my
brother in law).
Bradford Textiles was a close knit community
in those days. Coming to the College certainly
enabled one to meet others working in the same
field and those connections and friendships
stood you in good stead. Making connections
early in your career is always useful, as in all
walks of life it is important to know people
beyond your own firm.
My career at Bulmer & Lumb was from 1953 to
1986, the last 16 years as a main board Director.
In 1987 I was appointed a Non-Executive
Director of Sanderson, Murray & Elder until it was
taken over in 1990. Also in 1987 I purchased
a non-woven fabric business in Whitworth near
Rochdale, Anglo Felt Industries Co Ltd, which I
am pleased to say is still thriving and owned by
my son, Simon Macaulay.
My business interest outside textiles was in
the newspaper industry. I was a Non-Executive
Director of the Halifax Courier Ltd for many
years and Chairman from 1980 to 1995 when
the company was sold to Johnston Press. On
retirement from business in 1996, my wife and I
purchased a farm in Northumberland where we
now spend most of our time.
I am pleased that Bradford College is
commemorating its 175th year in this rather
original way.”
Photograph supplied by Kingston Macaulay