Former CWS chief dies

FORMER CWS Chief Executive Sir Arthur Sugden has died at the age of 84.
Sir Arthur, who spent his entire working life with CWS, was the society&#039s chief officer from 1974 until his retirement in 1980.
After working as manager of the CWS margarine factory at Irlam, he was appointed Group Manager Edible Oils and Fats in 1964, Food Division Controller in 1967 and Deputy Chief Executive in 1971.
He was a director of North Eastern Co-op and of Manchester Ship Canal Ltd. In the Second World War he was an officer in the Royal Artillery.
A certified accountant and Chartered Secretary, he served as President of Congress at Scarborough in 1978 and was knighted during the same year.
He was also a member of the Central Committee of the International Co-operative Alliance and was chairman of the Co-operative Bank at the same time as he headed CWS.
He is survived by his wife, Lady Agnes Sugden ? whom he married in 1946 ? and two sons. In the late 1970s, the family hit the national news headlines when Lady Sugden was kidnapped from the couple&#039s Cheshire home by a disgruntled ex-employee, but managed to escape after some hours.