Peter Ackroyd obituary: The tireless Yorkshire wool campaigner with an outstanding international career
Peter Ackroyd, whose funeral has taken place after his death at 76, was a former chairman of the Campaign for Wool and a lifelong ambassador for the Yorkshire textile and woollen industries.
He served as president of the International Wool Textile Organisation and was Global Strategic Advisor to Australian Wool Innovation and Woolmark.
He was also a former vice-president of the Strategy Committee for Premiere Vision and former president of the Bradford Textile Society.
Born Robert Peter Ackroyd in Bradford to Robert Ackroyd and his wife Phyllis (née Sykes), Peter was educated at Woodhouse Grove School before studying marketing and textiles at Bradford Technical College.
Wool and textiles were woven into his life from the beginning.
His father was managing director of Carter and Parker, the Guiseley-based mill behind the Wendy Wools and Peter Pan brands, whose success supported Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Peter shared that same generosity throughout his life, supporting charities including Crisis at Christmas and the more recent Savile Row Pop-Up Crisis initiative.
He enjoyed an outstanding international career in the wool textile industry. After working for Courtaulds in France, he studied Italian and became a Fellow of the Institute of Linguists.
In 1974, he joined the National Wool Textile Export Corporation in Bradford as marketing manager, later becoming director-general, a role he held until the organisation closed in 2008 following the end of the industry levy.
Throughout his career, he tirelessly championed wool through innovation, education, international trade and responsible manufacturing, helping to open markets across Europe, North America, Japan and the Middle East.
His contribution to the textile industry was recognised with an MBE in 2006.
Appointed chairman of the Campaign for Wool in 2025, under the Patronage of King Charles, Peter provided thoughtful and respected leadership, working to strengthen relationships across farming, manufacturing, fashion, interiors, retail and government, while promoting wool as a natural, renewable, and biodegradable fibre with an important role in a more sustainable future.
A resident of Saltaire, Peter was also a passionate ambassador for Bradford and Yorkshire.
He is survived by his partner, Beverley Craig.