Callard, Sir Eric John
1913-1998

Known as 'Jack', he was born in Torquay on 15 March 1913 and educated at Queen's College, Taunton. He took a first in mechanical engineering at St. John's College, Cambridge and served a student apprenticeship at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Barrow in Furness before joining ICI in 1935. He worked his way up via the paints division, of which he became chairman in 1959, to become a director in 1964 and chairman of ICI Europa in 1965 and chairman of ICI itself in 1971. Under his chairmanship the company flourished at home and abroad, despite his conservative attitude to innovation. He held many other directorships and was knighted in 1974. After retiring in 1975 he served as chairman of British Home Stores.He died at Fairford, Glos. on 21 September 1998. His wife, Pauline Mary Pengelly, was the daughter of the Rev. Charles Pengelly (1883-1941; e.m. 1906). His sister, Pauline Callard, was Principal of Southlands College.

Sources
  • Times, 15 October 1998
  • Methodist Recorder, 19 November 1998
  • Oxford DNB