Yorkshire Post , 26th September, 1966
Obituary
Sir Benjamin Dawson
SIR BENJAMIN DAWSON, Bart;, of Nun Appleton Hall, York, known throughout the world’s cashmere trade, died yesterday. He would have been 88 today.
Industry, politics, philanthropy, music and yachting were among the interests of Sir Benjamin, who was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1951-52, and who farmed an estate of about 1,200 acres at Nun Appleton.
He was a former chairman of Joseph Dawson (Holdings) Ltd. and of Joseph Dawson Ltd., cashmere dehairers, of Cashmere Works, Bradford.
At 15 he was working a 10-hour day, with night-school sessions four evenings a week, in the business started by his father.
Later he also took over Stack-house Farm, Settle, which he ran until he bought Nun Appleton Estate 48 years ago. Sir Benjamin was a pioneer of a method of animal fodder production which has since become general—silage.
Educated at Bradford Grammar School, he was a West Riding Magistrate. Other appointments included those of a Commissioner of the Boy Scouts Association, member of the Council of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, member of the FBI, chairman of the Fleet and Foss Drainage board , chairman of Appleton Roebuck Conservative Association in the Barkston Ash Division, chairman of the old Bradford Central Division Conservative and Unionist Association and President of the Yorkshlre Branch of the British Music Society.
He was a former president of Cawood and Appleton Branches of the British Legion.
Sir Benjamin, who received his baronetcy in June, 1929, had been a member of the City Livery Club, membership of which is confined to Freemen of the City of London. He. was elected vice-commodore of the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club in 1930, and was formerly a Member of York and Ainsty Hunt. He leaves a son, Mr. Lawrence S. Dawson, and a daughter; Miss Joan Dawson.