Leslie Cussons

Leslie Cussons
Born(1907-01-13)13 January 1907
Swinton, Lancashire, England, UK
Died6 September 1963(1963-09-06) (aged 56)
Manchester, England, UK
OccupationBusinessman
Spouses
Winsome Wheal
​
(m. 1936)​
Marie Derlich
​
(m. 1946)​
Margaret Bevan
​
(m. 1958)​
Parent(s)Alex T. Cussons (1875–1951)
Emily Cussons (1875–1957)

Leslie Cussons (13 January 1907 – 6 September 1963) was the Chairman of Cussons Sons & Co, the largest independent soap manufacturer in Britain. Leslie continued manufacturing of the famous brand Cussons Imperial Leather.

Family

Born in Swinton, near Salford, Lancashire, England to Alexander Tom Cussons (1875–1951) and his wife, Emily Jane Cussons (née Kidd; 1875–1957).[citation needed]

Career

Leslie Cussons worked at the Cussons Company from 1924 until his death in 1963. In 1951, he succeeded his father to become chairman of the Cussons Company.[1] He oversaw the acquisition of Gerard Bros. in 1955,[2] and subsequently made extensive improvements to the Gerard Bros Nottingham factory.[3] In 1957, he also acquired the 1001 Carpet Cleaner brand, and made it into Britain's leading carpet cleaner.[citation needed]

In 1963, he showed Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh around his factory in Kersal, Salford. Prince Philip was introduced to selected factory staff before unveiling a plaque in the entrance hall.[4][5][6]

Interests

Leslie Cussons was keenly interested in agriculture, and owned large farms in Derbyshire and the Isle of Man[7][8]

He was a tennis enthusiast, having reached the early rounds of Wimbledon, and was president of the Lancashire County Tennis Association.[9][10]

Residence

He resided at Hale Bank Farm in Altrincham, Cheshire (now Greater Manchester) near Manchester Airport[11] and Ballacotch Manor in the Isle of Man.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Company News". The Chemist and Druggist. 29 September 1951. p. 414.
  2. ^ "Company Meetings". The Times. 20 July 1960. p. 19.
  3. ^ Linday, D. T. A. (1976). Soapmaking past and present.
  4. ^ "Royal Visit to Soap Works". The Chemist and Druggist. 22 June 1963. p. 679.
  5. ^ "Royal Borough prepares for a Royal Visit". Salford Reporter. 14 June 1963. pp. 1–2.
  6. ^ "Duke of Edinburgh's Lancashire Tour". The Guardian. 15 June 1963. p. 4.
  7. ^ "Ellerslie Dairy Farm Sold". Country Life. 25 November 1949. p. 1603.
  8. ^ "Mr L. Cussons dies after a short illness". Salford Reporter. 13 September 1963.
  9. ^ "Obituary Mr Leslie Cussons". The Times. 7 September 1963. p. 10.
  10. ^ "Soap Firm Director Dies Suddenly at 56". Swinton & Pendlebury Journal. 11 September 1963. p. 7.
  11. ^ The London Gazette, 9 March 1965. pg. 2483.
  12. ^ "50-acre estate for sale in Isle of Man". The Times. 21 October 1963. p. 7.
Preceded by Chairman of Cussons Sons & Co.
1951–1963 		Succeeded by