Respected businessman Sir Donald Barron dies aged 94

Sir Donald was best known for his long and distinguished career at Rowntree Mackintosh, which he helped to transform into one of the biggest names in the UK confectionery sector.

He served as the York-based company’s chairman for 15 years, and he also played a significant role in developing plans for the University of York.

Sir Donald was born on March 17 1921 in Gorebridge, Midlothian.

After attending school in Edinburgh, he served in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers in the Second World War, rising to the rank of captain.

He was wounded on active service in Germany. In peacetime, he attended Edinburgh University and qualified as a chartered accountant.

He accepted a position at Rowntrees in 1952, and went on to become the company’s chief accountant in 1956.

Sir Donald rose steadily through the ranks, becoming a director in 1961, the company’s vice chairman in 1965 and chairman in 1966.

He was at the helm to oversee the high profile merger with John Mackintosh in 1969, which created a firm with a 25 per cent share of the UK confectionery market.

He was chairman of the trustees of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and he was also one of the members of the academic trust that campaigned for the creation of the University of York.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s work, which aims to create a prosperous Britain without poverty.

The foundation supports research to discover the underlying causes of social problems, and it also devises practical solutions.

After retirement from Rowntrees, he was Chairman of the Midland Bank.

He had lived in York since 1952, where he died peacefully on December 30

His son David said yesterday : “He was very good with people and had strong sympathies with the Quaker tradition at Rowntrees.

“He had a great eye for detail and always had an optimistic outlook.”