Ivor Jones

Mr Jones, who formed Lynn&Jones storefitters with his friend Robert Lynn, lost his battle with cancer on Wednesday, leaving behind a longstanding legacy of entrepreneurship and, ultimately, success born from true Yorkshire grit and determination.

Having started the business in 1948, opening a workshop just off Kirskstall Road where the business would remain for over 50 years, Mr Jones rapidly developed the company after a chance meeting that would secure the its first major contract; the joinery services for a number of Timothy Whites, the Leeds chemist's company.

Capitalising on this success, he went on to secure contracts for refurbishment and shopfitting with some of the UK's most renowned companies, including high street stores, supermarkets, theatres, care home operators and fashion brands.

Eventually employing up to 150 people at any one time, he was keen to share the success of Lynn&Jones within the city and wider Yorkshire region, employing thousands of local joiners and other tradesmen, and supporting hundreds of the region's businesses which supplied the company throughout his career.

He retired in August 1992, succeeded in the company by his sons Trevor and Christopher, and despite facing a number of battles with cancer since 1989 and the loss of his wife, Joan, in 2004, he enjoyed a more relaxing life away from the commercial world.

However, never one to let a chance to keep an eye on the business, or to let an opportunity pass him buy, he continued to regularly visit the company at its current site in Holbeck where he was able to capitalise on a captive market of old colleagues and suppliers and sell the home grown tomatoes and vegetables, which he spent much of his newly-acquired spare time nurturing.

Mr Jones was born in the Dales village of Hellifield, moving to Leeds with his family while he was still a child, completing his education in the city and obtaining an apprenticeship with a joinery company in the city.

His training was interrupted by National Service. While en route to the Far East the war in Japan ended and he was sent to Greece to oppose the insurgent communist forces.

A Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer he completed many joinery projects while serving. When he was demobilised in the summer of 1948 he returned home and started Lynn&Jones.

He will be most missed by the family and friends he leaves behind; his children, Trevor, Margaret and Christopher, grandchildren, Lyndsay, Louise, James, Mark, Katy, Andrew and Nicholas, and great-grandchildren Elle-Louise, James and Gabriella.

Mr Jones's funeral service and cremation will take place at Rawdon Crematorium on Friday next week at 3 pm, followed by a reception at the Half Way House pub in Stanningley.