Former city businessman Leonard Butcher dies aged 82

A popular former Wolverhampton businessman and Rotarian, who was the grandson of a Wolves FA Cup Final winner, has died at the age of 82.

Leonard Granville Butcher ran building and joinery firm L and JD Butcher Ltd and was the grandson of Joe Butcher – a Wolves centre forward who featured in the FA Cup-winning side that beat Everton 1-0 in 1893.

Mr Butcher ran his business from two sites in Woden Road and Hilton Street, both in Wednesfield.

The company was launched in the 1930s by Mr Butcher's father and taken over by him in the mid-1960s.

It closed in the 1980s due to the economic climate. Mr Butcher was also a member of the Wolverhampton Rotary Club for around 25 years, helping and organising many charitable events across the region.

The former fundraiser, who used to live in Seisdon, South Staffordshire, was also an avid Wolves supporter and hardly ever missed a home game in a 50-year period.

His son Martin, aged 56, today said Wolves "was in his blood" from an early age because of his grandfather.

Mr Butcher died at Greenfields Nursing Home, in Whitchurch, Shropshire, on July 10.

He leaves behind wife Jean, 82. The couple married in 1947 and spent 64 years together. In their golden wedding year of 1997, the couple were chosen along with a limited number of couples to celebrate their special day with a garden party which was held at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinbugh decided to invite couples from across the nation as they were also celebrating their golden wedding year.

Mr Butcher's son Martin today paid tribute. He said: "A lot of people from across the area used to work for him and I think he was well thought of."

The late Mr Butcher is also survived by daughters Rosalyn Tilley, aged 62, and Jaqueline Hunt, 60, as well as seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.