Bob Slicer

He was managing director of what became Britain's biggest breakdown recovery company which he, along with Ernest Smith and Jeffery Pittock, founded in 1971. Initially it was run from a Bradford fish and chip shop owned by Mr Slicer and only covered members for a 50 mile radius of the city, but it soon grew nationwide rivalling the AA and RAC. In 1995 it became Green Flag.

Born in Low Moor, Bradford, Mr Slicer was the archetypal self-made businessman who went on to be a millionaire, building his own bungalow at Wyke. He won two scholarships to Bradford Grammar School but his family could not afford to send him on either occasion, so he went to Wyke Modern School, becoming head boy.

When he left he became an apprentice joiner, but at 22 was running his own builder's business until he sold up in 1962. He was forthright in his views, telling the Yorkshire Post in an interview in 1992: "I decided the building trade was suffering from a problem. The men wanted more money for doing less work less well."

He bought a fish and chip shop in Buttershaw from his wife Sheila's parents, adding another before selling again in 1970.

A year later he was asked to "have a look" at National Breakdown of which he was a director, and ended up running it until he was ousted in a boardroom battle.

He invested his pay-off wisely and bought homes in Melbourne, Australia, where his daughters live, and in Andorra, where he became a tax exile.

But in 1992 he returned to the breakdown business setting up Car Accident and Roadside Emergency, based at Listerhills, Bradford, apparently inspired by a visit to his former firm.

Away from business he loved cricket and when his friend Geoffrey Boycott, the Yorkshire and England batsman, was sacked by his county in October 1983 Mr Slicer was one of those who took on the club. He became chairman of the Yorkshire Reform Group, playing a significant part in the overthrow of the club's general committee and Boycott's reinstatement as a player.

He was also involved with other organisations, including serving for four years as a Conservative councillor for Wyke ward on Bradford Council. He was also former president of Bradford Festival Choral Society and Hartshead Moor Cricket Club.

Mr Slicer is survived by his wife and two daughters.