Iain Dale

He was chief executive and chairman of the internationally respected firm of Dale Electric plc, from 1986 until it was sold to the TT Group in 1994.

Based at Gristhorpe, near Filey, the firm was a major employer in the Scarborough area, manufacturing generators for export across the world.

The firm was founded in 1935 by Mr Dale's father Leonard on what was then the family farm, and the Dale brand became a byword for reliability and quality.

Iain Dale was a strong supporter of the UK manufacturing industry and the need for UK business to identify new markets abroad.

He was born in Scarborough and grew up in Gristhorpe, living with his parents in a house opposite the factory.

He was educated at Scarborough College, then took up an apprenticeship with a Leeds advertising agency that led to a career as a copywriter, and later the job of creative director with a London agency.

That was followed by the post of managing director at Hicks Oubridge Public Affairs until, in 1974, he formed his own business, the Iain Dale Partnership, in London.

But in 1977 his father tempted him into the family business as a full time director of Dale Electrical Engineering and he remained with the company until it was sold in 1994.When his father died in 1986, he took over as chairman and chief executive guiding the business through what was a tricky period, as trading conditions were difficult in the recession of the time.

He was known at the time as probably one of Britain's most experienced exporters in South-East Asia, having chaired the Department of Trade and Industry's South-East Asia Trade Advisory Group from 1988 to 1992. He was a member of the British Overseas Trade Board, and also on the board of governors of London University's School of Asian Studies from 1992.

In 1993 he appeared in a serialised documentary on BBC Look North, entitled Mr Dale's Diary, which followed him on a business trip across South East Asia securing orders for Dale's British made generators.

After leaving the business, Mr Dale held a number of directorships including TR Pacific Investment Trust plc and

Chevalier International Holdings Ltd.

He was also appointed by the Government as an Ambassador for British Business, a role which he fulfilled until ill health forced him to retire in 2003.

He often spoke publicly about the importance of the UK manufacturing industry and the need for UK business to identify new markets abroad.

He said British businesses must be order makers not order takers, and that they must be in manufacturing not just warehouses for things manufactured abroad. His achievements in exports led to him being awarded an OBE in 1988, followed by a CBE for his government work in 2002.

Until he became unwell, he enjoyed walking on the North Yorkshire moors but when he could no longer do that he took up oil painting, exhibiting some of his pictures and also winning prizes for them.

Mr Dale, who lived at Little Habton, near Malton, leaves his wife Maria, three sons and two granddaughters.

He was a very committed Roman Catholic and his funeral service will be held at the church where he worshipped, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, in Pickering, on Tuesday at 11am.