Peter Corby

Peter John Siddons Corby (8 July 1924 – 5 August 2021) was a British inventor. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve after leaving school and served as a flight engineer with No. 78 Squadron RAF in the last weeks of the Second World War. Corby remained with the RAF after the war serving in teaching and maintenance roles as well as with No. 15 Squadron RAF. He retired in 1951 to join his father's business making valet stands. Corby was inspired by a meeting with an aeronautical engineer who had developed electrical heating systems for the Concorde supersonic aircraft. Corby utilised these systems in the Corby trouser press, which was sold widely to hotel chains. Corby sold his company in 1977 and retired to the Isle of Wight. He entered the insurance industry as an underwriter at Lloyd's of London but lost much of his wealth during an insurance crisis in the 1990s.

Early life and military career Corby was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, on 8 July 1924. He was the youngest son of John Siddons Corby and Helen, née Ratray. The family middle name came from the surname of Peter Corby's great-great-great grandfather William, husband of Sarah Siddons. He resigned his commission on 4 June 1951.

Corby married Gail Clifford-Marshall in 1950 but the marriage was dissolved in 1959; they had two sons. He was also a non-executive director of a number of companies. He retired to Cowes on the Isle of Wight in 1980. His house there contained several of his inventions, including a model train layout that lowered from his garage roof. He died on 5 August 2021, leaving an estate of just £204,454.