Eric Potts obituary

My father, Eric Potts, who has died aged 89, was an economist working in engineering and manufacturing businesses, in a period of considerable change for those industries. He began his career as a graduate apprentice at Rolls-Royce, in Derby, in the early 1960s. Joining the marketing department of the Weir Group, Glasgow, he rose to the top position, before being made marketing director at Weir Polypac, Hartlepool, in 1980. However, this was a time of dramatically shifting industrial and political landscapes, and Eric was made redundant after a year. Though raised in the mining industry, he did not support the subsidisation of the inefficient, dangerous activity. But nor could he agree with Thatcherism, and its abandonment of British manufacturing. He found the increasing wealth discrepancies between the north and south, and the massively widened pay-scale differentials in companies, to be immoral. In the early 90s Eric set up his own company, Middleham Marketing Services (MMS), to support clients in manufacturing generate new business, and spent the last decade of his career working in a freelance capacity. Born in Oldham, Lancashire, he was the son of Gladys (nee Armstrong), a teacher, and Eric Potts, a mining manager. The family moved around for Eric Sr’s career, which led to his son attending a variety of schools, including Swanwick Hall grammar, Alfreton, and Wolsingham grammar, Co Durham. After RAF national service, Eric went to the Newcastle-based King’s College, Durham (now Newcastle University), for a degree in social studies, graduating in 1960. Following a diploma in education, and his apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce, he worked at Lucas CAV in Acton, west London, for a few years before moving to Glasgow in 1967 to take up his position at the Weir Group. While living in London, he had met Lee Matthews, an Australian teacher, and they married in 1964. Following Eric’s promotion at Weir Polypac, the family moved to Bishop Middleham, Co Durham. After being made redundant, Eric found employment at Ingersoll Rand, Gateshead, working to bring new business and employment for skilled workers, before setting up MMS. Throughout his career, Eric also taught at institutions including Strathclyde University (1969-72), Stirling University (1972-75), and Thames Polytechnic (1991-92), and wrote for industrial associations. Eric always spoke up for what he considered right. The Sedgefield constituency, where he lived, was in the press when its MP, Tony Blair, became prime minister in 1997. London journalists wrote snooty reviews about the local pubs’ menus and patterned carpets. Eric’s letter decrying this, highlighting the difference between journalists’ and local inhabitants’ salaries, was published in the Times. Lee died in 2000. Ten years ago, Eric moved south to St Albans, to be closer to my family. There he again embraced new opportunities, including bridge and University of the Third Age. A model of resilience and loyalty throughout his life, Eric made positive differences through determination, hard work and tenacity. He is survived by me and by three grandsons, Alistair, Elliot and Gregory.