John Rix, businessman

A family affair founded in the 1870s by Robert Rix, he had been the fourth generation to come on board, joining at 16 when his father’s health failed.

The business grew significantly under his stewardship and today employs more than 600 people. Originally a dry cargo shipping firm, it diversified considerably under John’s management and expanded into wind farm workboats, coastal and estuarial tank barges, fuel distribution, car sales and the manufacture of static caravans, amongst much else.

Under his leadership, the fuel distribution business, Rix Petroleum, developed from a single depot operation in Hull into the largest family owned operation of its type in the country, with depots from Aberdeen to Bristol.

For more than 60 years, John instilled his strong Yorkshire values throughout the organisation where there was no detail or cost too small to escape his interest.

In recent years, he stepped back from the day to day running of the organisation, handing over the reins to his son, Tim, and was looking forward to seeing a sixth generation coming through.

Throughout his life, he was a keen sailor and a staunch supporter of the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club. In recent years he was also president of the Driffield Agricultural Society, and received a lifetime achievement award from the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, whose chief executive, Dr Ian Kelly, called him of his generation’s leading businessmen – a straight-talker who commanded respect, and who received a standing ovation when he accepted his award.

He is survived by his widow, Veronica, son Tim and daughters Sally and Lucinda.