J SH 1937 - 1943
Ronald was born on 16th May 1926. His family was from Penzance, where his grandfather, Jacob, had been a sea captain, carrying cargo to the Baltic.
Ron’s schooldays were spent at Ryeford Hall and Wycliffe, where he developed a love of sport, especially cricket. He gained a place at New College to read PPE but after a hedonistic year in 1944, he volunteered for the Navy and was accepted for the Fleet Air Arm.
Initial training at St Vincent, Gosport included daily humiliation and drilling meted out by the chief petty officer. Next came flying instruction in Canada, alongside Canadians and New Zealanders. They had learned to fly the Grumman Avenger, a torpedo bomber, and ready for action when Japan surrendered. Then, Ron and many of the other pilots were sent to India to join the Lt. Middlesex Regiment in the struggle to settle Partition.
After demob, Ron returned to New College. Lecturers included Ursula Hicks, A J P Taylor and Sir Isaiah Berlin and he was tutored by the inimitable A J Ayer. Ron was playing his beloved cricket and was captain of his college rugby team.
When he came down, he took a job at Geo. Tucker Eyelets, a fastener firm in Birmingham, and was playing for the Moseley Rugby Club and also cricket for Ashfield Club. He progressed to become Managing Director and Chairman of his firm, and when it became part of a large U S corporation, he became responsible for a group of ten manufacturing companies with sites in the UK, USA, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Australia. Fortunately, his monthly visits to the US were frequently eased by flying Concorde.
Ron first retired in 1986 but was persuaded to become chairman of BSA by the new Spanish owners. He was also a Guardian of the Birmingham Assay Office. By now his only active sport was golf, which he played at Edgbaston Golf Club. He became Captain and later served two terms as Chairman. He was also a member of The Senior Golfers Society.
In 1956 he married Pauline Beale and their 60th wedding anniversary was celebrated with their daughters, Nicola, twins Alison and Virginia and five grandchildren.
Ronald died peacefully in May 2018, a few days after his 92nd birthday.
(Obituary provided by Mrs P. Beale)
