 The company remained under the effective control of members of the Hickman and Martin family until 1979.There were Hickmans as chairmen until 1959; more significantly, Cecil Martin, the son in law of Victor Hickman, was appointed a director in 1923 and managing director two years later.Cecil's son Robin followed him in turn, serving first as managing director and then chairman and chief executive from 1971 to 1979.