Tribute paid to esteemed Carlisle industry innovator Bill Lowther

Bill Lowther, born on November 16, 1939, died after a long illness on July 2 this year at the age of 84.

Mr Lowther lived a highly eventful life of wealth and professional success, which started at his first job as an apprentice fitter at the UCB Films Factory in Wigton when he was 15.

His father worked there as a process operator on the factory floor and his grandmother worked as a cleaner in the offices.

“Both had reputations as good and hard workers, so it was in Bill’s blood to be a hard worker.

“He wasn’t asked to sign any forms, he was taken on trust and he did not disappoint,” the family said in a statement.

They added: “He worked his way up from a 15-year-old school leaver, through different departments of a sprawling business to become the director of a worldwide corporation.

“Over the next six decades, he shaped the company into a global leader and led the way for it to become the major producer of polymer for banknotes around the world.”

After he qualified as an engineer the factory sent him to study at Harvard, where he obtained a master's degree in business administration.

Bill Lowther (Image: Supplied)

The family added that after this he was appointed the European head of UCB Films and was thus expected to move to the head office in Brussels, Belgium, but he managed to convince the higher-ups to work a few nights there and the rest of the work from Wigton.

He was then offered the role of worldwide director general on the condition that he moved to Belgium.

Again, he got his way and was able to convince bosses to let him work from Wigton instead.

The family said the late Mr Lowther ‘always believed in the importance of the people in the business’ and believed the reason for the factory’s ‘long-running success’ was the ‘skill and adaptability’ of its workers.

There were 23 cellophane-producing factories in Europe, with Wigton being deemed seriously at risk from competition.

Of the other five polypropylene plants in the UK, the only one surviving today is in Wigton.

“When the business was bought out by Innovia in 2004, his reputation was such that the new owners insisted on him coming out of retirement to help run the company.

“He won awards for export successes worldwide, an OBE, a CBE and an honorary knighthood by the king of Belgium for services to Belgian industry.

“Of all the awards and honours that he received throughout his career, he was most proud to once be named the leading chairman of all the Prince’s Youth Business Trusts and to be named “Man of the Millennium” by his hometown council in 2000,” the family added.

Bill Lowther with former prime minister Tony Blair (Image: Supplied)

They concluded: “Throughout his career, Bill contributed to the local community through various charitable and voluntary roles including serving as a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria (DL), a Justice of the Peace (JP) and a Governor of local schools including Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton.

“Additionally, he served as a board member of numerous commercial and public enterprises.

“He retired a second time in 2013 and he continued to keep busy during his retirement through contributions to various local charities.

“He and his wife Sandra could have retired anywhere in the world but instead they remained living in Cumbria near their two daughters Joanne and Helen and their respective families.

“Their son, Ian settled in the Northeast with his family and remained close.

“Bill will be greatly missed by all those who knew him, he made a difference to so many people's lives."