Sir David Plastow, former group managing director of Rolls-Royce Motors, has died.
The 87-year-old had served as president of the British Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and back in 1976 had been named Guardian Young Businessman of the Year.
Born in Grimsby, Sir David was the son of the late Stuart and Marie Plastow and his father was the owner of SP Motors on Grimsby Fish Docks, which became part of the Ross Group.
His family had been prominent in the town since the mid-19th century in both the fishing business and licensed trade.
His grandfather was a champion penny farthing racer and had a bicycle business, which later developed into motorised transport.
Sir David was educated at Culford School, Bury St Edmunds after attending St Martin’s Prep School on Bargate in Grimsby and Clee Grammar School.
His National Service was from 1955 to 1957 as a REME subaltern in charge of workshops employing both civilian and army personnel at Warminster.
He joined Vauxhall Motors as an apprentice in 1950 for five years before doing his National Service.
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In 1958, he joined Rolls-Royce at Crewe as an apprentice and was later a salesman in Edinburgh. He rose through the ranks at the business, becoming chairman in 1972 at the age of 38 and a director of Vickers Ltd in 1975.
He was in charge of sales of motor cars and aircraft engines, the most prestigious being the Camargue and the Silver Shadow. He had 9,000 employees.
In 1988 he celebrated his firm’s contract to build the front-line tank Challenger II.
He was also a non-executive deputy chairman of Guinness and a director of Crewe Alexandra FC.
Sir David retired in 1992, aged 60. He was knighted in 1986 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
His many interests led him to become chairman of the Medical Research Council from 1990 to 1998 and he was also a patron of Samaritans.
Sir David, who struggled for a considerable time with Alzheimer’s disease, died on June 5.
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He is survived by his wife Lady Barbie, daughter Mandy and son James, an army brigadier. He has five grandchildren.
A private funeral service will be held, to be followed by a celebration of his life, details of which will be announced in due course.