Ian Johnston

Mr Johnston, a highly-respected businessman and much-loved family man, was born in Glasgow and educated at the city’s Jordan Hill College and Glasgow University, where he studied bio-chemistry.

After university, he worked for a number of firms, both as a bio-chemist and a business manager, before being appointed as managing director of Terry’s in Bishopthorpe Road, York, in 1963 by Charles Forte, when Trust House Forte acquired the York chocolate maker.

He was managing director of Terrys from 1963 to 1977 and chairman until 1982.

During his time in charge of Terry’s, Mr Johnston modernised the manufacturing process, introduced the first Terry’s TV adverts and hugely expanded sales and profits.

After Charles Forte sold the business in 1977 to American firm Colgate Palmolive, Ian Johnston remained as chairman for five years until, in 1982, he led an unsuccessful management buy-out attempt. Instead, United Biscuits bought the firm. He resigned and went to work for Lord Forte again in London until he retired in 1993.

One of Ian Johnston’s proudest moments at Terry’s came in July 1977 when Margaret Thatcher, then Leader of the Opposition, paid a visit to the factory.

He was worried that the firm’s union members might give Mrs Thatcher a tough reception, but they cheered her when she arrived. As a big fan of Mrs Thatcher, he was both relieved and delighted by this response.

The Yorkshire Post reported: “Mrs Thatcher headed to York during a whirlwind tour of the North by helicopter. She spent two hours touring the Terry’s confectionery factory. She was accompanied by Mr Ian Johnston, Terry’s managing director, and Dr David Tod, prospective Conservative candidate for York.

“In the chocolate Neapolitan room, she selected one with a cafe-au-lait flavour, explaining that it was ‘one of my favourites’. As she left the factory, Mrs Thatcher was presented with a 31b casket of chocolate assortments, appropriately wrapped in blue silk.”

In 2004 Kraft, which had bought Terry’s from United Biscuits in 1993, announced plans to close the factory with the loss of 300 jobs.

Mr Johnston criticised Kraft for “decimating” the factory’s product list, saying the axing of various brands over the years had left it in a “vulnerable, virtually one-product situation – Chocolate Orange”.

He said he believed Terry’s could – and should – stay in the York area in a new factory on a smaller site.

Ian Johnston had a wide range of hobbies, including history, skiing, tennis and archaeology. He was chairman of the York Archaeological Trust, a non-executive director of General Accident (later to become
Aviva) and a Conservative member of North Yorkshire County Council.

Mr Johnston, who lived at Brandsby, near York, has left a widow Gwenyth, a son Lloyd
and a daughter Sally, together with grandchildren, Sophie, Hugo, William, Charlotte and Louis.

He died while undergoing respite care at St Monica’s Hospital in Easingwold and a collection will be held for St Monica’s at his funeral, which will take place at St Cuthbert’s Church, Crayke, near Easingwold, at 11am on Friday, May 3.