Hanson, Donald

Item

Hanson, Donald

Identifier

PAR27

Name

Hanson, Donald

Type

person

Birth and death

1925-2018

Birth and death date range

1925 – 2018

Description

Donald Hanson was a prominent textile executive who served as one of the last Managing Directors of Salts Mill and as the Chairman and Joint Chief Executive of the textile giant Illingworth, Morris. His great grandfather was Chief Engineer for Sir Titus Salt. Donald kindly donated several items to the Saltaire Collection mainly relating to his role as Managing Director.

Donald's life and career spanned several decades of immense change in the Yorkshire textile industry:

Born in Slaithwaite near Huddersfield, Hanson's family had deep ancestral links to Saltaire and Salts Mill stretching back to the 1850s. Because his father worked at Globe Mills in Slaithwaite, Hanson was able to secure a business apprenticeship there.

His early career was interrupted by World War Two, during which he was called up to serve in the Royal Navy. After returning to Globe Mills post-war, he studied after-hours at a technical college, eventually qualifying as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators.

Globe Mills was part of the massive Illingworth, Morris Textile Group. Hanson was quickly identified as a highly talented 'wool man' and rose rapidly through senior management. Hanson built a close relationship with the group's majority shareholders, the Ostrer brothers. After serving in various senior management roles at Salts Mill and other locations, he was made a company director.

Donald reached the pinnacle of the firm when he was appointed Chairman of the Board and Joint Chief Executive of Illingworth, Morris. By this time, the group had established its central headquarters inside Salts Mill. Illingworth, Morris had taken over Salts (Saltaire) Ltd. in the late 1950s.

Following the deaths of the Ostrer brothers in 1975, their majority shareholdings were inherited by Pamela Mason, daughter of Isidore Ostrer and a Hollywood acrtress and chat show hostess. Mason became increasingly hostile toward Hanson and the rest of the existing leadership, who were collectively known as the 'Yorkshire Directors'. This high-stakes corporate battle became a major subject of global news.

Donald navigated these turbulent years and eventually retired in 1983, just a few years before textile production at Salts Mill came to a permanent end. Following his retirement, Pamela Mason sold her 46% holding to Alan Lewis, who eventually put the mill up for sale, paving the way for Jonathan Silver to rescue the building in 1987.

Subject

Industrialist

Associated person or organisation