Born in 1901, he was the son of a fish merchant and had no interest in following in his father’s footsteps. However, at the age of 28 he took over the business employing 34 people. When he retired 40 years later, he employed 15,000.

Educated at Wintringham School he joined the Royal Navy in 1918 before the end of the war. He took over the business when his father Thomas had a heart attack, and in 1934 commissioned the town’s first diesel-engined trawler.

He had a long friendship with Sir Alec Black, a Grimsby trawler owner. This fostered an interest in the possibilities of freezing fish in 1933. When Sir Alec died in 1942, Ross bought some of his fleet.

The first automated fish factory was opened by him after the Second World War. Processing and filleting happened on a moving line, which was innovative for its time.

The Ross Group continued to expand, with more boats built to go further afield. He also diversified and became one of the largest dealers in potatoes, as well as owning motorway service restaurants. Ross House costing £500,000 was bult for him and stands as his monument. The Ross name became synonymous with frozen food.

In his time, he was also High Steward of Grimsby. He died in 1986.