
Sir Colin Corness obituary: industrialist who went on to lead Glaxo
It was nearly double what Corness was paid latterly as chairman of Redland, the brick and tile-making firm he had joined 30 years earlier. Promoted to the board in 1977, he helped to turn it into one of the most successful companies in the European construction industry. 'I would just like to think I have continued with a very good recipe and made the most of it,' he said in 1991. 'Profits were £5 million a year when I joined. Last year they were nearly £250 million. Germany is booming and that is why we have recently been the UK's best-performing construction company. More than 80 per cent of our profits come from outside Britain, and we are the envy of the industry. There have been numerous competitors, of course, but we have always stayed ahead of those who have copied us.'
Redland was founded after the First World War in Reigate, Surrey, to employ ex-servicemen making tiles from sand and cement instead of the traditional clay. That 1920s generation was still in control in the 1960s but Corness realised they would soon be bowing out, so it was 'the chance of a lifetime'. Within five years of his arrival they had all retired.
The year before he joined the company a German, Rudolf Brass, turned up with a plan to introduce the tiles to West Germany, which was in the midst of postwar rebuilding. A joint venture followed, and when he took the reins Corness enthusiastically built more factories throughout Germany and eastern Europe. 'That was the secret of our success above all else,' he said.
His undoing was a deal too far; a 1992 hostile takeover bid for Steetley, which also made bricks and tiles. 'We are bigger and we are rather more skilful at tax management than they are,' Corness said. But he underestimated the resourcefulness of Steetley's chairman, David Donne (obituary June 3, 2011). When they argued over who had the more bricks, Donne sent a helicopter to photograph the Redland brickyards. He squeezed the price up to £615 million, which stretched Redland so far that Corness stepped down and the firm was broken up a few years later.
A barrister who never practised, Corness made a strong case against companies giving money to political parties, something he stopped at Glaxo as soon as he arrived. 'I disagreed with the practice of political donations,' he explained. 'After all, there had never been a poll taken as to what shareholders, employees or customers thought about such contributions.'
Colin Ross Corness was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, in 1931, son of Thomas Corness and Mary (née Lovelace). Thomas owned a distillery that made George IV whisky and was taken over by Distillers Company, now part of Diageo. Colin had a brother, Ian, who became a sales executive. They were evacuated to the West Country during the Second World War.
Growing up in Cheshire, as a Scout, Colin visited Alstonefield in the Peak District, regarded as one of Staffordshire's most attractive villages. He decided to live there when he retired. He attended Uppingham school and Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read law. Having been denied a tank regiment, he did National Service as a lieutenant in the Royal Scots Dragoons cavalry.
Corness entered the Inner Temple and was called to the Bar. He later obtained an MBA at Harvard Business School. He was engaged to be married but, his nephew Simon says, he remained single to prioritise his career.
He was the first Cambridge graduate to join the Taylor Woodrow building group, at £500 a year. On his first day his boss told him: 'Before you start, as far as I'm concerned you don't know nothing.' Corness said: 'He was quite right, of course, so I immediately set out to remedy this.' He impressed the chairman, Frank (later Lord) Taylor, sufficiently for him to be made managing director of the construction arm aged only 30. But when he was poached by Redland four years later, Taylor was so angry he initially threatened that his firm would never again buy from Redland. 'It proved an empty threat,' said Corness, 'but it was many years before Frank would talk to me.' After he left Redland, he was welcomed back on to the Taylor Woodrow board.
In the 1980s he was appointed to the court of the Bank of England and became a director of the SG Warburg merchant bank, National Westminster, the steel and aluminium firm Unitech, Courtaulds and WH Smith. He was chairman of Nationwide Anglia, the building society.
Corness was also on the National Economic Development Committee for the building industry, the Industrial Development Advisory Board, the British-American Chamber of Commerce, the National Council of Building Materials Products and the Institute of Roofing.
He was active in a number of charities. As chairman of Magdalene's campaign committee, his significant role in construction of the new library was recognised by having the top-floor reading room named after him. He was knighted for services to the construction industry in 1986.
When he retired, he fulfilled his childhood desire to return to Alstonefield. 'I looked at many properties,' he said, 'but knew immediately that Stoneleigh, a Grade II listed Georgian property, was right for me. Its proportions were well suited to my needs and my collection of antiques.'
He furnished Stoneleigh with a Georgian mahogany campaign secretaire, an 18th-century chest of drawers and a George III mahogany serpentine chest of drawers. Works of art included painted decoy ducks, a silver chamberstick, a 19th-century oak linen press, a vintage crocodile skin attaché case, a boot rack and a brass ship's gimbal desk lamp. The walls were decorated with an Edgar Hunt farmyard painting, a 19th-century Highland landscape oil painting and a John Speed map of Rutland. He eventually sold the property to live in London, where he enjoyed travel, music and tennis.
Gerald Corbett, the former Railtrack chief executive who was a colleague on the Redland board, said: 'Colin set exacting standards of behaviour. Although he was quite old-fashioned, dry sherry before lunch and all the rest of it, with him your word was your bond.'
Sir Colin Corness, industrialist, was born on October 9, 1931. He died on June 25, 2025 aged 93
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
11 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Designer perfume deal normally £80 on sale today for £8 per bottle
The "sparkling, fresh, and bright" perfume is suitable "all year round" and costs far less than usual If you love the scent of luxury but don't want to break the bank, there's a retailer you might want to check out. Secret Sales is a UK-based online marketplace that offers a variety of discounted fashion and beauty products from high-end and designer labels. From shoes and handbags to accessories, clothing, perfumes, and makeup, budget-conscious luxury shoppers have a lot to explore. They frequently refresh their clearance section, with prices starting as low as £1.90. One of the standout deals available right now is on not just one, but two bottles of a designer fragrance. You can grab double the amount of Chopard Brilliant Wish Eau De Parfum for a fraction of its regular price. Normally, buying both would set you back £80, according to Secret Sales, but beauty enthusiasts can snag them for just £17.10 total, which breaks down to a little over £8 per bottle. Secret Sales suggests that this duo deal is perfect for anyone wanting to treat themselves or stock up on their favourite fragrance for less. Plus, it could be a great opportunity to start shopping for a loved one's birthday. Chopard's Brilliant Wish perfume is an amber floral scent for women, crafted by Louise Turner and Michel Girard, and it was launched in 2010 by Chopard. The top notes feature pink pepper and fruity elements, while the heart notes include star jasmine and violet leaf. The base notes include amber, wood, and musk. The scent is described as "sparkling, fresh, and bright, with a touch of elegance throughout". Secret Sales says it's sweet but not overwhelming, making it perfect for any season. Secret Sales isn't the only place to grab Chopard Brilliant Wish Eau De Parfum. Superdrug has a 30ml bottle for just £7.97, down from £18.95. Shein is also selling it for £9.99, reduced from £30. AllBeauty has it in stock too, priced at £12.95. Another option for shoppers is Amazon, where a 30ml bottle is listed for £18.99. This perfume boasts a rating of 4.2 stars out of five on Amazon. In the reviews, one person said: "Chopard "Brilliant Wish" could be a signature scent quite easily... Beautiful glass bottle that looks like a precious gem and a lovely soft fragrance with a delicious hint of spice... Simply marvellous!!!" Another put: "I love Chopard perfumes so thought I would try this one. I do like it a lot but knocked a star off as I felt I had to keep reapplying despite it being a parfum." Another wrote: "The bottle is gorgeous. This fragrance is light, pretty and feminine. " They added: "Not much projection or longevity. This is perfect for a gift for young woman. Hard to overspray it. As an adult I would spray my pulse points, back of neck and my hair then spray a veil to walk through. After the fragrance is gone the bottle would make a beautiful Christmas tree ornament." However, a customer didn't seem too impressed, and claimed: "None of the other notes are present at all I was hoping for a floral scent. Maybe some baby powder at the end but ZERO FLORAL I've worn chopard before this was a disappointment I think maybe it's old, that's why?" Meanwhile, someone else said: "It's a light sent not over powering vary nice and affordable." There aren't any reviews of the Chopard Brilliant Wish Eau De Parfum on the Secret Sales website, which may be off-putting for those who prefer reading through customer feedback on the website they are buying from. However, you can read through shoppers' experiences on Trustpilot. The retailer has an overall score of 4.2 stars out of five on the consumer business website. One reviewer said: "I've used Secret Sales a few times over the years and have indeed recommended it to friends as well. It's easy to use… fast delivery and you can usually pick up some excellent bargains! I will definitely be using it again and also recommending it to all my friends and family, too." A second put: "Secret sales is surely where to go if you want to purchase designer clothing without breaking your bank account." A third said: "Always great to shop on this site, so much quality choice and good prices." However, some didn't have good experiences to share. One said: "Whilst the customer service at secret sales is responsive, nothing gets done. I have been waiting for my parcel for almost 2 weeks now and the courier hasn't received it." A second claimed: "Ordered Gucci sunglasses for a birthday present. Arrived within the week . Order was totally different design to original order." A third commented: "I order a dress that never arrived. Customer service are useless." But, the majority of comments were positive. Another added: "Everthing I have orered has been perfect and on time." Someone else said: "Great products at best prices. I have shopped on secret sales many times and the items arrive on time and are great deals."


Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Mother quits her £50,000 corporate job to work in a factory - and claims she's never been happier
A mother took a 50 per cent pay cut when she left her corporate executive job to become a factory-worker - and claims she's the 'happiest' she's ever been. Budding artist Shany Hagan, 56, was a business development manager, earning £50,000 a year, but decided the salary wasn't worth the 'Sunday scaries' that came with the stressful job. Having worked her way up the ranks during two decades at an electronics company, she realised that a 'stress-free life' and the free time to pursue portrait painting were more important to her than a healthy pay cheque. Shany, from York, swapped her office for a factory floor, where she is paid £24,000 a year, after struggling with menopausal symptoms earlier this year. The mother-of-one had to cope with hot flushes and brain fog, which proved to be the final straw. Shany said: 'I had been in the business for 20 years, and it had always been very stressful.' She added that, no matter how hard someone works, corporate employers will always expect you to do more. While she acknowledged that she coped well when she was younger, Shany's priorities have shifted and she's now keen to spend more time reflecting on herself and her life. 'I've always had a love for painting and now I just want to focus on my passions and myself now,' Shany explained. 'For the first time in 20 years, I can forget about work when I walk out the door at the end of the day.' Shany didn't go to university but managed to secure a good job in her twenties and worked her way up the ladder in business development at an electronics company. The corporate role saw her 'chained to a desk' and working in a high-pressure environment, she said. But she had been motivated by the pressure as she wanted to pay her mortgage off in full on her four-bed cottage. In 2019, she finally paid it off - but then she began to realise she no longer enjoyed the work. Shany said: 'I could cope when I was younger, but it's stressful.' When furloughed during the Covid-19 pandemic, she picked up a paintbrush and discovered she had a love for portrait painting. She had been unable to pursue the passion previously due to an eye condition, but had recently had surgery to fix the issue. As she 'brushed up' on her skills, she even began to donate her artworks to charities - after getting celebrities to sign them. Celebrities including Mel B and Cliff Richard have signed their own portraits which have been sold at auction to raise more than £350,000 in total, she said. After returning to work post-Covid, she realised she was no longer motivated by her former role. She said: 'After I paid off my mortgage, I was done. The work could be stressful, and I couldn't paint when I was stressed.' She began job-hunting and applied for some other management positions, as well as lower-qualified roles including a factory worker. She said: 'I went for a management interview where the interviewer told me "I want you to give this job 100 per cent, I don't want you focusing on your art."' 'I realised then that I wanted to focus on me - so I turned the job down in favour of a factory floor worker job. 'I wanted to be on my feet a bit more, a more physical job, to lose some weight for my health, which I have.' Shany now packs food, labels products, does computer admin and cleaning at her minimum-wage job. Since starting her new role in May, Shany said she has already noticed a difference in her physical and mental well-being. She said: 'I don't get the Sunday evening "scaries" at all, and the people are kind. 'You can actually switch off when you leave. 'And I get to paint in my free time, and help people by selling my paintings. I get to go to big charity auctions. 'I do have to be more careful with my money of course, but the free time is the main thing. 'And my mental health has already improved, I have such a spring in my step now.


The Sun
12 minutes ago
- The Sun
Rainbow Riches slot review: Free spins, bonus rounds & Irish charm
RAINBOW Riches is a popular choice among UK players. Developed by Barcrest, it is one of the UK's most recognisable titles. It's known for its leprechaun mascot and classic bonus trail. For many players, especially those who enjoy a land-based feel, it has become a go-to option. The bonus round also breaks up the game nicely. This Rainbow Riches slot review explains its features, RTP, volatility, and where to play it safely in the UK. Rainbow Riches slot quick overview 👨💻 Software Provider Barcrest 🎰 Slot Type Video slot 💫 Reels 5 💰 Paylines 20 💸 RTP 95% 🔥 Volatility Medium 🤑 Max Win Potential Up to 500x 🎞️ Theme Irish folklore/Luck 🎉 Bonus Features Road to riches, wishing well, pots of gold 📉 Min Bet £0.01 📈 Max Bet £400 📅 Release Date 2009 Rainbow Riches slot features overview 5 Rainbow Riches is built around its three core bonuses—Road to Riches, Wishing Well, and Pots of Gold. Different scatter combinations trigger the bonuses, and multipliers are offered instead of free spins. The base game is simple, so it's easy to follow. There's no wild symbol. Nor a progressive jackpot. Instead, you need to rely on triggering bonuses to increase your win. It's great for casual players. Especially ones who like traditional land-based slot machines. High-volatility fans might find payouts limited. But the nostalgic appeal and bonus variety help keep it engaging. This game us best played with sound on! And a patient approach. Here's what we thought the pros and cons were and why we think Rainbow Riches is one of the best online slots. 👍 Pros Multiple bonus rounds for added variety. Simple and nostalgic. Widely available in the UK. Low minimum bet—great for casual players and beginners. Mobile-friendly layout. 👎 Cons No free spins feature. Graphics and sound seem a little outdated now. No wild symbol or jackpot potential. Rainbow Riches slot graphics, sound & gameplay mechanics 5 Rainbow Riches uses bright colours and classic slot visuals to deliver a light-hearted, Irish-themed design. The graphics are basic by today's standards, but they still do the job. The animations are minimal, with simple spins and bonus transitions. The sound effects are cheerful but repetitive. The audio matches the theme, but it can feel dated during longer sessions. Gameplay runs smoothly on both desktop and mobile. The controls are clear and the loading times are fast. While the presentation won't wow modern players, it works well enough for fans of traditional UK pub-style slots. I've even seen it in physical pub slot machines too! How to play Rainbow Riches slot Here's how to play Choose a suitable UK-licensed online casino. Sign up, make a deposit and load the slot. Set your stake. Press spin or use autoplay. Watch for bonus symbols or winning combinations. Trigger a feature if three or more bonus icons land. Keep track of your balance and play responsibly. No complex mechanics here. It's a superb choice for newcomers. Or casual players. Rainbow Riches slot symbols 5 Rainbow Riches mixes classic slot icons with themed symbols. Low-paying symbols are the standard playing cards (10–A). These appear frequently but pay modestly. Higher-value symbols are the Rainbow Riches logo and the Wishing Well. Among others. Special icons include Wild Symbol: substitutes for all standard symbols to complete winning lines. Road to Riches Bonus: triggers the Road to Riches feature when three land. Wishing Well Symbol: unlocks the pick-me bonus game. Pots of Gold Symbol: activates the jackpot-style bonus with bronze, silver, and gold pots. 5 Symbol interactions are straightforward, with most bonuses activated by landing three or more of the same bonus icon. This simplicity keeps the gameplay accessible while still offering decent variety. Rainbow Riches slot RTP, payout & volatility Rainbow Riches has a return to player (RTP) rate of 95%. This is slightly below the industry average. Over time, £95 is paid out for every £100 wagered. Individual results will vary as it's based on all games played. The slot is classed as medium volatility. It gives a balance between frequent smaller wins and occasional larger payouts. This makes it suitable for players who enjoy steady gameplay with the potential for decent bonuses. The maximum win is 500x your stake. There is no progressive jackpot. However, the bonus features offer chances to collect respectable wins during a session. Rainbow Riches bonus features & free spins Rainbow Riches includes three unique bonus features. These are triggered by landing three or more Leprechaun symbols. Each one is a different gameplay mechanic. And a different way to increase your win. Road to Riches is a classic pick-and-click trail bonus. Players spin a wheel to move along a cash path. Multipliers increase with each step until a 'Collect' ends the round. Wishing Well triggers a pick-me bonus. Choose one of the wells. Reveal a multiplier applied to your stake. Pots of Gold awards one of three bronze, silver, or gold pots. They spin around the screen. The chosen pot reveals a multiplier up to 500x your bet. There are no traditional free spins or respins. The game focuses on these fixed-feature bonuses. While not as modern as newer slots, these do add variety and maintain player interest, mainly through nostalgia and simplicity. Where to play Rainbow Riches slot in the UK Rainbow Riches is available at many UK-licensed online casinos. You'll find it at MrQ and Casimba. These sites have secure payment options and full access to responsible gambling tools. With UKGC licenses, players are protected, gameplay is random, and the outcomes are verified. Deposits and withdrawals can be made using trusted methods like Visa, PayPal, and bank transfer. Rainbow Riches is easy to find in the lobby under 'Popular' or 'Classic Slots'. New players can sign up in minutes. You might even be lucky enough to find bonus deals for Rainbow Riches at the best online slot site. Always check terms before claiming. Key takeaway Rainbow Riches is a classic. And it still holds up. The simple layout and trio of bonus features make it a great choice for fans of traditional UK-style slots. The win potential is modest but steady. And the game operates smoothly, no matter what device you use to play on. Rainbow Riches slot is a great pick for UK players, especially those who enjoy straightforward gameplay and nostalgic themes. Try it out at the best slot sites in the UK. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.