Alex de Gelsey was the founder of Photo Colour Laboratories, which was later named Sericol. When Burmah Castrol acquired Sericol in 1983, Alex remained active as the Chairman of Sericol and as an Executive Director for Burmah Chemicals.

Alex left his native Hungary in 1946 for England to escape the oppressive Communist rule and to pursue his education and passion for science and color photography. After graduation from Cambridge University he joined Kodak’s Research Department. In 1951, he left Kodak to start Photo Colour Laboratories and later Sericol.

Alex passed on Sunday, the 16 of April,  2006. His obituary read…

Through his entrepreneurial leadership style, focus on product development, customer driven mentality, single-minded determination, and deep pride in the accomplishment of others, he assembled a company that became the unqualified leader of the screenprinting industry.

Alex approached everything in his life with vigour, enthusiasm, tremendous energy and high achievement. In addition to his Sericol career he was very active in the community both in the UK and in Hungary. He held several Chairmanships of senior regional civic committees in the UK. He was honoured by the Queen as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) and was appointed a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

In Hungary and the UK he worked tirelessly to assist the unemployed by promoting the Small Business Foundation and Enterprise Agencies. The Prince of Wales acknowledged his work, and the President of Hungary awarded him with two decorations in recognition of his efforts. He will be greatly missed.