Lord Cuckney, who has died aged 83, was a spy turned captain of British finance and industry who steered many a famous name away from ruin.

Among those he helped to rescue were John Brown, the engineering group; the Crown Agents; Mersey Docks Board; the Port of London; and Westland, the helicopter company, where he emerged triumphant after a cabinet battle which almost brought down Margaret Thatcher, then prime minister.