JAMES CORBETTFamily and friends are remembering a great-grandfather who was awarded an OBE for his work orchestrating the growth of a Derbyshire brickworks.James Corbett, known as Jim, died, aged 85 on 14 May, 2009.He spent his life working in the brick and clay industry, even inventing a new type of kiln.He first moved to Derbyshire in 1968, when he was head-hunted by James Hanson, owner of the building materials firm Hanson PLC, to manage the firm and its new acquisition, Butterley Brick, in Ripley.In his first 10 years Mr Corbett, increased the size of the business from six to 25 factories, employing more than 2,000 people across the UK.His commitment to the industry was rewarded when he received an OBE in 1983.His wife of 63 years, Mavis, said: "He was a very modest man – when he found about the OBE he said it wasn't just him who did the work but a whole team of people."Born in Falkirk, Scotland, Mr Corbett served as a pilot in the RAF during the war, after which he was sent to Loughborough to help rehabilitate injured airmen.It was here, in 1946, he met Mavis and the couple were married six months later. They returned to Scotland, where their three sons, Jim, Brian and Alan were born.Over the following years Mr Corbett became a respected figure in the brickworks industry, working for JG Stein, in Falkirk, GKN, in Cwmbran, South Wales, Newbold, in Loughborough, and Whitfield, in Newcastle-under-Lyme .After being recruited by James Hanson, he moved first to Duffield and then Hollybush Lane, Makeney.His achievements included developing a product called Expanded Fireclay Grog – an insulating clay which can withstand very high temperatures – and inventing the lightweight K5 kiln.Mr Corbett was also president of the Institute of Clay Technology, chairman of the Brick Development Association and a member of the British Ceramic Research Association.In his spare time he was a keen golfer and, after his retirement in 1988, spent much of his spare time at the Chevin Golf Club, in Duffield – being made club captain in 1991.He also enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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