Alexander Stockton Cussons
Born(1914-12-30)30 December 1914
Salford, England, UK
Died1986 (aged 71)
Durban, South Africa
Alma materChillon College, Villeneuve, Vaud, Switzerland[1]
Occupation(s)Businessman, Conservationist
Spouse
Wendy Grace Johnston
​
​
(m. 1948)​
Parent(s)Alex T. Cussons (1875–1951)
Emily Cussons (1875–1957)

Alexander Stockton Cussons (1914–1986). Born in Salford, England to Alexander Tom Cussons (1875–1951) and his wife Emily Jane Cussons (née Kidd, 1875–1957). Alexander was the Chairman of Cussons Group, the largest independent soap manufacturer in Britain. Alexander continued manufacturing of the famous brand Cussons Imperial Leather, and many other products under the Cussons label, including 1001 Carpet Cleaner.

Career

Alexander worked at the Cussons Company from 1931 until his retirement in 1968. Before becoming chairman of the main Cussons Company Alexander was chairman of the South African subsidiary. South Africa was the first overseas market for the Cussons brand. In 1963 Alexander succeeded his brother Leslie to become chairman of the Cussons Company. As chairman Alexander established new factories in Jamaica and Ethiopia.[2]

Alexander continued the manufacture of the flagship brand Cussons Imperial Leather and other Cussons branded products. Alexander also obtained the rights to manufacture and distribute the German brand Badedas in Britain. Badedas is a bath additive containing extract of horse chestnuts. The launch party was held at the Savoy Hotel.[3] The Badedas brand remains popular in Britain today and has since been acquired by Unilever.[4]

In 1968 Alexander suffered a heart attack which he survived. Subsequently he retired as Chairman of Cussons[5] and moved to Durban, South Africa. This marked the end of a line of family chairmen which went back for over sixty years. Alexander chose as his successor Michael Bucks. Michael Bucks was well qualified for the position. He had extensive experience in company finance, having served as a director for the Rothschild family business.[6]

Alexander became a director of several companies following his retirement from Cussons, including the Sylko Paper Company, manufacturing cards, paper and table products.

Conservation Work

Alexander supported conservation efforts and donated land in Shetland, including Ronas Hill (the highest point in Shetland), to become a national nature reserve.[7][8] Alexander was also a member of the World Wildlife Fund and knew the leading conservationist Sir Peter Scott. Alexander wished to preserve vulnerable and endangered species and considered starting a breeding program in South Africa to help against the threat of extinction.[9]

Cussons Roses

The popular 'Wendy Cussons' Rose was named after Alexander's wife, Wendy. The rose was bred by C. Gregory & Son. Ltd. of Nottingham[10] and released in 1956. The Wendy Cussons rose was globally very successful over many years, winning awards, and is still available in 2023, over 60 years after its introduction. The rose has been depicted on national postage stamps for Hungary, Mongolia and Bhutan. Another rose, Julie Cussons, a salmon coloured floribunda bred by Gareth Fryer of Knutsford, was named after Alexander's grandchild, Julie, who died at the age of two in 1985.

Other interests

Alexander had many interests, one of which was maritime history and he commissioned a collection of ship models by Donald McNarry. McNarry took eight years to build the collection which featured ships that had sailed round the South African Cape. The collection was temporarily exhibited in London in 1968 before moving to South Africa.[11] The collection was put on public display in the Maritime Museum, Cape Town, South Africa,[12] but can now be found in the City Museum, Durban, South Africa.

Alexander had a large collection of Chinese snuff bottles from the Qing dynasty,[13][14] which were featured in a number of publications.[15][16]

Alexander was also interested in Roman history, and was involved in campaigning and fundraising for reconstruction efforts on Hadrian's Wall,[17][18] located at Housesteads.[19] The original plan was to rebuild a 200 yards long section of the wall.[20]

Residence

Alexander whilst Chairman of Cussons resided at Parkdale, Altrincham, Cheshire,[21] now the head office of the Vegetarian Society. Following his retirement from Cussons Alexander moved to Dalcrue Farm, Natal, South Africa.

References

  1. ↑ Donaldson, K. (1946). South African Who's Who.
  2. ↑ "Cussons Group Limited". The Times. 13 September 1967. p. 22.
  3. ↑ "UHU, Lebenslust". The Daily Telegraph. 11 January 1967. p. 14.
  4. ↑ "Unilever cleans up act with £1bn deal to buy Radox from Sara Lee". The Guardian. September 2009.
  5. ↑ "Mr Alex Cussons retires". The Guardian. 31 July 1968. p. 10.
  6. ↑ "From One Family to Another". The Times. 31 July 1968. p. 21.
  7. ↑ "News and Comment". British Birds. 58: 447. December 1965.
  8. ↑ "Shetland Hill to be nature reserve". The Times. 19 June 1965. p. 10.
  9. ↑ "Cussons leaves to breed animals". Daily Mail. 27 August 1968. p. 4.
  10. ↑ "The Queen Mother at Rose show". The Times. 27 June 1959. p. 8.
  11. ↑ "Clippers Sail Away". The Daily Telegraph. 27 May 1968. p. 12.
  12. ↑ McNarry, Donald (1975). Ship models in miniature. Devon: David & Charles Limited. ISBN 9780275224905.
  13. ↑ "Family Collections". Financial Times. 19 September 1963. p. 12.
  14. ↑ "The snuff bottle society's convention is nothing to sneeze at". New York Times. 27 September 1969. p. 22.
  15. ↑ Moss, Hugh (1964). Chinese Snuff Bottles No. 1.
  16. ↑ Wills, Geoffrey (1972). Jade of the East. New York: Wetherhill. ISBN 9780834818545.
  17. ↑ "Fort Planned for Near Hadrian's Wall". The Times. 7 April 1964. p. 15.
  18. ↑ Birley, Robin (2009). Vindolanda: A Roman Frontier Fort on Hadrian's Wall. Gloucestershire: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84868-210-8.
  19. ↑ "Hadrian's Wall Disappointment". The Daily Telegraph. 10 February 1964. p. 18.
  20. ↑ "Hadrian's wall rebuilt as tourist attraction?". The Guardian. 16 January 1964. p. 3.
  21. ↑ "Country Properties". The Times. 13 June 1968. p. 16.
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