Ian Forbes Panton (c1888-1935), director of Leys Malleable Castings Co and Ewart Chainbelt Co
1935 Obituary [1]
IAN FORBES PANTON was originally trained as an accountant, and was articled in 1906 to Messrs. Gibson and Ashford, chartered accountants, of Birmingham. In 1912 he passed his final examinations for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and in the same year he joined Messrs. Ley's Malleable Castings Company, Ltd., of Derby, as confidential accountant. He was appointed secretary to the firm in the following year, and in 1916 he became a director. In 1919 he succeeded to the position of general manager, at the same time retaining his directorship. He was also a director of the associated firm, the Ewart Chainbelt Company, Ltd.
He held these positions until his death, which took place on 8th May 1935, in his forty-seventh year.
Though he had not had a technical training, Mr. Panton's business ability enabled him to carry through large extensions to the works and plant in 1934, in collaboration with his technical staff. The weekly capacity of the works were thereby increased from 300 tons to 450 tons. Mr. Panton also took a keen interest in the Midlands section of the League of Industry, of which he was president.
He was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1921.