ERNEST Kramer, the former managing director of York sweet firm Cravens, has died peacefully in his sleep, aged 92.

Mr Kramer was originally from Czechoslvakia and fled to the United Kingdom after being put in a concentration camp.

He arrived armed with nothing but a few sweet recipes taken from his family business.

After working in Scotland for a short time he joined Cravens in 1949 when he moved to York.

He worked his way through the ranks and became managing director in 1955 just before the factory moved from Coppergate to the Candyland site in Millfield Lane, Poppleton.

In the mid-1970s the company was making 85 tons of sweets each week and exporting to Japan, America and Europe.

He was credited with building Cravens into one of the international names in the world sweet market.

One of the highlights of his career was escorting the Queen and Prince Philip around the factory on a visit to York.

He retired in 1981 but stayed on as the company's deputy chairman until 1986 when he gave up his role.

He was married to Eva, who died in 1982. They had no children. After his wife's death he set up the Eva Kramer Memorial Fund to help Czech refugees.

While he worked at Craven's he lived in York and also had a house in London.

After his retirement he moved to London. He died on June 12, in the care of a family friend.

His funeral will take place at Putney Vale Crematorium, London, on Wednesday, at midday.

Updated: 10:53 Saturday, June 22, 2002