He expected every employee to make his or her own effort. When this was done, they were given every encouragement to develop to the full extent of their ability. This encouragement took the form of many schemes sponsored by him, such as comprehensive training up to free university for the outstandingly talented. T.I.'s residential training centre was the first of its kind in the country. He also sponsored pensions and free life assurance for all employees, at a time when such benefits were rare." (The Times obituary – 11 February 1975) Retirement He retired from active management of T.I. in 1963, assuming the title of Life President, having run the company for over 25 years, and having built it into a global industrial powerhouse. Stedeford married Gwendoline Aston in 1923, and they had three daughters. He enjoyed country pursuits, especially fox hunting. He was an Honorable Kentucky Colonel. He died near Stratford-upon-Avon, aged 78. Post Script Sir Ivan was the architect of the sale of Hercules Cycle and Motor Company Ltd to TI in the forties. He was a close neighbour of Sir Edmund Crane at Lapworth and it is said that the deal was done over the garden fence! Sir Edmund later claimed his company had been 'given away'. Hercules information is on www.madeinbirmingham.org References External links Gourvish Stedeford Report BBC Governors (pdf) Tearing up the Tracks Margaret Thatcher Foundation History of the Swallow Doretti (pdf) Young Obit – The formidable Sir Ivan Stedeford AMM Foundation The Stentiford Family Magazine 1989-11-27/Writtens-3.html/ Hansard 1961 news – TI profit for 1960, announcement & commentary The Struggle for British Aluminium by Hatch & Forbes National Archives – Corres. Stedeford-Robertson Beveridge Committee – BBC House of Commons debate on set-up of Stedeford Committee – Hansard 13 April 1960 www.madeinbirmingham.org 1897 births 1975 deaths People educated at King Edward VI Aston School BBC Governors British chief executives English philanthropists Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Royal Naval Air Service aviators Royal Navy officers of World War I People educated at Shebbear College 20th-century British philanthropists 20th-century English businesspeople