Alec Horsley

Alec Stewart Horsley (1 September 1902 – 11 June 1993) was a British businessman and peace activist best known as the founder of Northern Foods, one of the United Kingdom’s largest food manufacturing companies.

Early life and education Horsley was born in Ripley, Derbyshire, and educated at Worcester College, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Northern Foods was later listed on the London Stock Exchange and became a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Political and social activism A lifelong Quaker, Horsley was active in peace movements and civic reform.

He served as a city councillor in Hull between 1945 and 1949 and was appointed Sheriff of Kingston upon Hull in 1953.

Personal life Horsley married Susan Howitt in 1932; they had five children. He was the grandfather of the writer and artist Sebastian Horsley.

He died on 11 June 1993 in Hessle, East Yorkshire.

Honours In 1982, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hull in recognition of his contribution to business and civic life.