Milling News
David Sugden 1937-2015
D
avid Sugden sadly died at the age of 77 at home in Suffolk, UK on July 8, 2015. He was 15th and last in the family line of preeminent flour millers, the Sugdens. The family business - Thomas Sugden & Son Ltd’s mill was located in Brighouse, Yorkshire, UK. David was born on 22nd September 1937 in Yorkshire. He was the son of Richard Sugden CBE TD – former nabim President from 1955-56. He trained mostly at Henry Simon Ltd. Before his milling career, David served 10 years in the military, where, like his father he was commissioned in the Duke of Wellington’s regiment. From 1957 to 1959, David trained in mills in the UK, Norway and the Netherlands. He qualified with a City & Guilds First Class Final Technological Certificate (Milling). David then spent what would become 31 continuous years of service working for Associated British Foods (ABF). It was during these years that Thomas Sugden & Son Ltd was sold to Allied Mills/ ABF. David ran various mills around the UK, becoming product director of
12 | Milling and Grain
main subsidiary at Allied Bakeries, as well as technical and project director at Allied Mills. He became a successful miller inventing the world’s first commercial wheat least cost grist (wheat mix) computerised programme to save costs, implementing reinvestment initiatives, installing new plants, and much more. During this time, David was an independent grain industries consultant for twelve years from 1980 to 1992. He was well attuned to working internationally in the milling trade, and attended many conferences overseas. In 1989, David was the recipient of the Thaddeus B. Bownik Outstanding Service Award from the North American Association of Operative Millers (AOM), which is now known as the IAOM. Furthermore, he then became an honorary member of the Association. David moved to work for Satake as the Business Development Director from 1992 to 1996. Whilst at Satake, David was instrumental with a special remit for establishing the Satake Centre for Grain Process
Engineering between the University of Manchester’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Satake Corporation, Japan and Satake in the UK. This was a specialist centre for post-graduate learning and research. Following this, David then spent eight years there from 1994 to 2002 as a visiting Senior Lecturer. Beyond his professional life, David was also active in the affairs of his community and church. In retirement he was Vice Chairman of Res-Care, the nationwide charity which supports those with learning disabilities and mental handicaps, as well as their families; an Associate Governor of Otley College, Suffolk, and a Church Warden at All Saints Church, Chelsworth. From 2001 to 2006 he was a member of the Department of Health Learning Disability Task Force monitoring “Valuing People”. With each of these four entities, he contributed greatly to society and the wider community in a volunteer capacity. David’s leisure interests were in sporting events, boating and fell walking. His family, friends and the milling industry will miss him dearly.