William V. Blackburn

1929 - 2021

William Vernon Blackburn, born 7th May 1929 in Evanston, Illinois has died aged 92 in England on December 13th, 2021. His life was characterized by a rich fusion of business and the arts.

William ('Bill') was one of five children born to Oliver A. Blackburn and his wife, Phrania (nee Carver). His father had been responsible for the incorporation of J.L.Kraft and remained Company Secretary for four decades. At New Trier High School in Winnetka Bill proved to be an excellent pianist and after attending Princeton University, he went to Harvard Law School until his studies were interrupted by military service in Korea. Returning to Chicago, he went into advertising, later joining Benton & Bowles in New York. It was in New York that he met and married Susan Alexander Smith from St. Louis. After moving to London in 1962, he founded advertising company Blackburn Daley. Discovering a gap in the UK market for quality ice cream, he launched The New England Ice Cream Company in 1972, which sold American style ice cream in supermarkets and introduced ice-cream parlours into top department stores, including Harrods.

In London, Bill revived his piano studies with celebrated pianist Maria Donska, his house becoming a place for musical evenings attended by literary and musical luminaries of the time, such as Stephen Spender, Anthony Sampson, Humphrey Burton and Julia O'Faolain. Bill maintained a lifelong interest in literature and philosophy, focusing in later life on theological studies relating to his Christian faith.

Following Susan's death in 1978, Bill and his sister-in-law, Emilie Kilgore, established in her honor the first and most prestigious annual award for female playwrights, The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

In 1987 Bill married fashion designer Perri Thompson, sister of renowned guitarist Richard Thompson, and formed Perri Ashby Fashion Co. with her. His artistic zeal never flagged, and even during his last decade he made piano recordings of Chopin, Schubert, Mozart, and Beethoven.

He is survived by Perri, their daughter Christabel, two children from his first marriage, Lucy and Adam, and seven grandchildren. His ashes will be interred at Memorial Park Cemetery within the Blackburn plot.