Boss played unique part in the story of Concorde Tribute to industrialist who supplied cutlery for supersonic jet
THE head of a renowned Birmingham manufacturer which supplied cutlery to Concorde has died aged 88.
John Price OBE was the third generation of his family to spearhead cutlery and gift firm Arthur Price, which was founded in 1902, as both managing director and more recently chairman.
Mr Price was born in Birmingham in December 1928 and was educated in Derbyshire before seeing military service in Greece in 1947.
He joined the family firm in 1949 aged 21 and took courses in accountancy, design, toolmaking and production engineering to learn the trade before being made managing director at just 31.
Mr Price spent time in the 1960s promoting British business abroad in places such as Australia and Hong Kong on behalf of trade organisations including the Government and the CBI.
And through the early 1970s he masterminded the creation of the “largest flatware unit in England” in Saltley, becoming chairman of Arthur Price when his father stepped down in 1974.
In 1977, Mr Price personally designed and exclusively supplied cutlery for the supersonic aircraft Concorde and in the same year the company was granted the Royal Warrant by appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
During the 1980s he led a major reorganisation of the business, shifting its operation towards retail from manufacturing which saw the Saltley site closed, the Sheffield operation enlarged and a head office established in Lichfield.
There are still manufacturing operations in Sheffield and Birmingham and the Lichfield office manages the worldwide operations of the 200-strong company.
Outside work, he supported charities Lions International, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and St Giles Hospice in Lichfield.
His eldest son Simon, now chief executive of the firm, said: “He led a crusade most of his life for the cutlery industry and when he set his mind to something he did his best to achieve it.
“Words people have used to describe him include ‘gracious, gentleman, inspirational, lovely and loyal friend’. He was a great grandpa and very proud of his grandchildren.”
He is survived by his sons Simon and Nigel, stepson Jonathan, 92-year-old sister June and six grandchildren.