Page 138 - WHO'S WHO OF DUDLEY ROTARY

Biddulph, as personal assistant to the managing director. The firm specialised in producing
narrow fabrics, including Panda Ribbons. Whilst there he studied at the nearby Leek Textile
College. He joined Portways in 1955 as works manager. In 1962 he became sales manager, in
1968 sales director, and in 1976 was appointed Managing Director. His home for a few years
was in St James’s Road, Dudley, and then in Priory Road for over 40 years, but he also had a
house in Normandy. He was a magistrate on the Dudley bench from 1984 until obliged to retire
at age 70 in 1997, and a member of Dudley Round Table before joining Rotary. In his youth he
played soccer for Manchester schools, and as a young man played club rugby for Sandbach and
Nantwich. He maintained a keen interest in rugby throughout his life.

460 Kenneth (‘Ken’) Alfred POWELL, MBE (1934- ) (Inducted 8.7.1974; President 1990-91; made a
Paul Harris Fellow 2019; still a member at 2022.) Household furniture
manufacturer. Owner and Managing Director of Perma Blinds Ltd, and
later also Perma Venetian Blinds Ltd and Perma System Ltd,
manufacturers of window blinds, awnings and canopies at Prospect Row,
Dudley. He started as Sun-Lite Venetian Blinds Ltd in 1960 and
incorporated Perma Blinds in 1963. As it grew, the firm licensed other
‘Perma’ manufacturers in Chester and Stockton-on-Tees. He retired from
the business in 1988 and established himself as a Management Consultant
based at his home at Caynton, Shropshire and now at Stableford. His
Rotary ‘classification’ changed accordingly. With his specialist background he acted as Convenor
for the British Standards Institute for the improvement of window blind standards, in particular
the issue of child safety, and has continued as the UK representative on the development of
European standards up to the present. In recognition of this work he was awarded the MBE in
June 2012. He also worked as an adviser and management consultant to a diverse range of
companies under a number of Government initiatives. He was appointed a non-executive
director of several of these companies, including healthy-eating food supplier Green Gourmet
and luxury furnishing fabrics supplier Kandola.
Ken was brought up in Cleethorpes until the age of 9 when the family moved to Boston,
Lincolnshire. From there they moved to Dudley in 1946 where he attended the Grammar School.
He then studied at the London School of Economics, graduating in 1955 and started work with
the Beecham Food group. Beechams took over Corona Soft Drinks and he became personal
assistant to the Commercial Director. He work was interrupted by National Service with the
Army Service Corps 1957-59, where he finished as a Lieutenant. From Corona he had a spell
with Hunter Douglas, manufacturers of window blinds, before setting up his own company.
In Rotary he has been closely involved with the Club’s Vocational Service Committee as long-
term member and chairman, in recognition of which he was made a Paul Harris Fellow. In his
local community he is treasurer of the combined parishes of Beckbury, Ryton, Badger,
Kemberton, Stockton and Sutton Maddock.

461 James Alan Catherwood BLACK (1944- ) (Inducted 23.9.1974; President 1983-84, 1987-88 &
2019-20; made a Paul Harris Fellow 2019; still a member at 2022.)
Veterinary surgeon. He joined the well-established Dudley vet David Peel
as a partner in 1970, so the practice changed its name to Peel & Black. A
year later it moved from Castle Street to its present location in Hall Street.
David Peel died at a young age but the practice continued as Peel & Black
until 1985 when it reverted to Alan’s name. Subsequently it changed to J
A C Black & Partners, then Black & Partners, and continues today simply
as Blacks Vets. The practice expanded and gained an award-winning
reputation under Alan’s leadership which the current partners maintain.
Other surgeries were established at Bilston (for a few years), Lye, Sedgley, Quinton and Oldbury