Background
Roland Kitson was born in Leeds, his family had a long association with Yorkshire.
Roland Kitson was born in Leeds, his family had a long association with Yorkshire.
Kitson was educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge.
His father was Member of Parliament for Colne Valley 1892-1907. Roland Kitson worked for a time in the Airedale Foundry and in the Monk Bridge Iron and Steel Company works. His directorships included:
director of the Bank of England 1923-1947
director of Ford Motor Company Limited from its incorporation in 1928,
he succeeded Lord Perry as chairman in 1948, until 1954
director of North-Eastern Railway before its amalgamation
director of London Assurance Corporation
director of John Dickinson and Company Limited
Oliver James Vandeleur Kitson (1915-1996).
Oliver assumed the additional name of Vandeleur by deed poll in 1935.
He died in London aged 75. He succeeded to the titles of 3rd Baron Airedale, of Gledhow, and 3rd Baronet on the death of his elder half-brother, 11 March 1944.