Personality of the Week
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Nortc rthur Morling
ACOUNTRY background, and a dog beside him. That is the setting in which many overseas people visualize the typical Englishman. And if Mr. Norton Arthur Morling's friends from abroad think of him in those surroundings they are more than likely to have the true picture, at least so far as the week-ends are concerned.
As a head office director of the Turner and Newall group, Mr. Marling may well be found on weekdays in his executive suite high up in Manchester's professional quarter, where he will very possibly be considering international trends in industry. Or he may be travelling lo London or beyond the Channel. Norton Marling is an M.Corn.—and on working days he fits very closely the image that most of us would associate with a Master of Commerce. This need not be regarded as in any way surprising, for when one examines Mr. Morling's commitments in detail he is revealed as the chairman of Ferodo, Ltd., the chairman of Asbestos, Magnesia and Friction Materials, Ltd., of Bombay, and as a member of the boards of several associated companies of Turner and Newall, Ltd., and Ferodo, Ltd., overseas.
Altogether it may be seen that there is every reason for much of his thinking to be on an international plane with, of late, a realistic eye on the problems and opportunities of the Common Market. Achievement in one sphere, however, has meant sacrifice in others, and because they would have clashed with his business duties, it has been necessary for Mr. Marling to refuse chances of public office that would undoubtedly have proved of interest and deeply satisfying.
What, then, was the starting point of this career? If we go back 46 years it is to find that seven-year-old Norton Morling's father had died. Eldest of a family of four, he spent his early days at Hertford Grammar School, his
mother providing the inspiration that set his course in life. St. Catherine's College, Cambridge, was the next stage, reading history with his eye on the colonial service, Later, however, he switched to economics, which turned his course in the direction of the business world. The other side of university life provided squash and rowing, ultimately with a place in the college crew. At the end of it all he graduated with honours and also secured something else that was to prove of importance in later life, a Cert. " B " from the Officers' Training Corps. A year at Birmingham University brought his M.Com. degree.
Decisive Point
This was the decisive point in the young man's progress. He was offered a difficult choice, that between an academic appointment at the London School of Economics or entry into commerce. An introduction from Professor (now Sir) Dennis Robertson had brought an interview With Sir (then Mr.) Samuel Turner, as a result of which Norton Morling joined the Turner and Newall group as a management trainee, his duties lying with Turner Brothers Asbestos Co., Ltd., at Rochdale. Although the north of England was an unknown territory, the kindness of the Lancashire people quickly made him view the cotton town as a second home. In what was still in some ways a family business, there was much practical experience to be acquired, but only 18 months elapsed before the years of study began in a measure to be repaid by his knowledge being applied in a different sphere. Norton Morling was appointed a personal assistant to Mr. R. G. Soothill, the group's present chairman, who was then sales director of Turner Brothers Asbestos.
In due time Mr. Morling became sales development officer to the company, in which capacity he studied trends and evolved ideas for fresh products in the asbestos textile field, all this bringing increased contact at many points with-the outside world. A turning point in his career came in 1939, when he was asked to visit South Africa on behalf of the home companies and there was able to spend some time at the mines where the raw material originates.
Whilst he was in South Africa war broke out and, although as a Cert. " B " holder he had volunteered for the Army Officers' Cadet Reserve, he was asked before joining up to carry out a special mission in Australia, where his duty was to study the requirements of the Australian forces in the matter of brake linings and other friction materials.
Commissioned in the Royal Army Service Corps in January, 1942, he found his O.T.C. training a valuable influence, After a few months in Britain he went out for the North African campaign, landing on D+1, and was posted to Allied Force Headquarters, where he handled P.O.L. (petrol, oil and lubricants). Rapid promotion came to field rank and a little over two years from joining up he became a Lieutenant-Colonel, continuing for some time to serve at A.F.H.Q. and later going forward into Italy.
Quickly Back Demobilization on B release came in December, 1945, and within 24 hours he had been asked by Turner and Newall if he would leave on a mission to Canada as soon as his release leave was complete. His return was followed by appointment to the board of Turner Brothers Asbestos Co., Ltd., first as commercial director and then as production director. A second directorship, that of J. W. Roberts, Ltd., an associated company, followed. Five years later Mr. Morling was to become managing director of these organizations, and of Glass Fabrics, Ltd., of which he was made chairman in 1956. He joined the board of Turner and Newall, Ltd., the following year and became a head office director of that company on January 1, 1961, at the same time exchanging chairmanships of the home companies with Mr. Geoffrey Sutcliffe, the then head of Ferodo, Ltd. Mr. Morling retained his position as chairman of the Indian company.
Active Life
With this variety of interests at home and overseas Mr. Morling's life is of necessity active and, to him, intensely stimulating. This month the new joint FerodoHardie company is coming into operation in Australia. . there are developments afoot in India. Mr. Morling's attention at present is directed to the opportunities and problems of an entry by this country into the Common Market, a situation that presents a major challenge in which, he feels, much remains to be clarified. In these circumstances he urges that it is no use waiting for the pattern to settle and to leave one's dispositions until one is forced to meet the challenge of intense competition. As things stand, however, he is optimistic, for the indications point to continued growth in the automotive industry with a necessary consequent expansion in brake-lining manufacture.
That is the progress, and these are the opinions, of a man whose chief interests lie in the study of international affairs and who has travelled twice round the world, making extended visits to Australia, North Africa, India, South Africa and over most of Western Europe.
And with that we may, perhaps, return to our introduction. With an immensely full life behind him, for a few hours Norton Morling in his off-duty time obtains his greatest pleasure in walking in the country, on the moors or over the fells. Tennis and squash are his chief alternative forms of recreation. From his home near Rochdale, in the foothills of the Pennines, he undoubtedly sees international and economic trends in their true perspective. A.T.