RIP Arthur Ling

January 21, 2005

Long time vegan and founder of Plamil Arthur Ling died earlier this

week.

From Adrian Ling

18 January 2005 14:01

It is with deep regret we announce that our father Arthur Ling passed

away in the early hours of 18th January 2005. Many, through his work

and life interests, knew our Dad. He was a private man, uncomfortable

in the public arena, but who reached out to many, touched and

influenced them with his life style and views. His life and

relationships were shaped by a strong sense of direction, distinct

unwaving and uncompromising views on many subjects. It is these

attributes that helped him to forge a way for the vegan lifestyle to

be recognised in the face of much social unawareness.

He was not one for social norms, indulging in almost anti-

establishment activities with unassuming relish from an early age. To

his parents' horror, he became a vegan at the age of seven (in 1926

veganism was completely unheard of) when he witnessed a fish being

killed at the seaside. He spent a lifetime promoting the vegan ideal.

His views on many subjects were essentially liberal. He was anti-war,

egalitarian, a supporter of 'the common man'. A lover of the outdoors

he was an active Naturist, known to many in his home village for his

early morning swims in the sea. He was also a lover of sports, played

tennis and badminton for many decades and in the 1970's founded and

ran a local boys football club.

An accountant by profession he was involved in his first commercial

project in the post war years. A company called Sunoil, based in

Wales, was created to produce biodeisel from Sunflowers.

Unfortunately this project was 50 years ahead of its time and did not

enjoy commercial success. He is known by most for is work at Plamil

and the Vegan Society. From his association with the Vegan Society in

the 1950's he joined a group interested in producing a non-dairy

milk, which eventually became Plantmilk Ltd, later changing to Plamil

Foods Ltd, to which he dedicated himself. It produced in 1965 the

first widely distributed Soya milk, a true achievement and again far

ahead of its time. At retirement age in the 1980's, he continued to

work actively for many years, being honoured with a number

of 'lifetime' achievement awards. Whilst still participating in

running the company he latterly and gradually dedicated himself more

and more to research of the nutritional aspects of the vegan diet,

his true love and passion.

He was made virtually house bound in the spring of 2004, by a rare

skin disorder, known to be a symptom of the gradual breakdown of the

immune system and cause of depression. In November 2004 he was

admitted to hospital with a serious heart condition. Struggling with

complications he died peacefully in his sleep.

He leaves us, his three children, Julie Trevor and Adrian.

January 22, 2005

Very sad, in some ways a man ahead of his time. Sympathies to his family at their time of loss.

Beany <links23456789 wrote:

Long time vegan and founder of Plamil Arthur Ling died earlier thisweek.From Adrian Ling18 January 2005 14:01It is with deep regret we announce that our father Arthur Ling passedaway in the early hours of 18th January 2005. Many, through his workand life interests, knew our Dad. He was a private man, uncomfortablein the public arena, but who reached out to many, touched andinfluenced them with his life style and views. His life andrelationships were shaped by a strong sense of direction, distinctunwaving and uncompromising views on many subjects. It is theseattributes that helped him to forge a way for the vegan lifestyle tobe recognised in the face of much social unawareness.He was not one for social norms, indulging in almost anti-establishment activities with unassuming relish from an early age.

Tohis parents' horror, he became a vegan at the age of seven (in 1926veganism was completely unheard of) when he witnessed a fish beingkilled at the seaside. He spent a lifetime promoting the vegan ideal.His views on many subjects were essentially liberal. He was anti-war,egalitarian, a supporter of 'the common man'. A lover of the outdoorshe was an active Naturist, known to many in his home village for hisearly morning swims in the sea. He was also a lover of sports, playedtennis and badminton for many decades and in the 1970's founded andran a local boys football club.An accountant by profession he was involved in his first commercialproject in the post war years. A company called Sunoil, based inWales, was created to produce biodeisel from Sunflowers.Unfortunately this project was 50 years ahead of its time and did notenjoy commercial success. He is known by most for is work at Plamiland the Vegan Society. From

his association with the Vegan Society inthe 1950's he joined a group interested in producing a non-dairymilk, which eventually became Plantmilk Ltd, later changing to PlamilFoods Ltd, to which he dedicated himself. It produced in 1965 thefirst widely distributed Soya milk, a true achievement and again farahead of its time. At retirement age in the 1980's, he continued towork actively for many years, being honoured with a numberof 'lifetime' achievement awards. Whilst still participating inrunning the company he latterly and gradually dedicated himself moreand more to research of the nutritional aspects of the vegan diet,his true love and passion.He was made virtually house bound in the spring of 2004, by a rareskin disorder, known to be a symptom of the gradual breakdown of theimmune system and cause of depression. In November 2004 he wasadmitted to hospital with a serious heart condition. Struggling withcomplications

he died peacefully in his sleep.He leaves us, his three children, Julie Trevor and Adrian.