Popular boss of family firm dies after long cancer battle
He was ‘hands on’ at helm for almost 50 years
POPULAR businessman Brian Metcalf, who was at the helm of one of the borough’s most well known firms for almost 50 years, has died at the age of 76.
He built Joseph Metcalf Ltd up to be a 200-plus employee garden horticulture business, which was based in Accrington and later Oswaldtwistle. He passed away at Royal Blackburn Hospital on Tuesday, April 14, after a brave, 11-year battle with cancer.
His passing was peaceful and without pain with wife of 49 years Sheila and sons Duncan and Julian by his side.
Duncan, who along with his brother joined the family business, said their father more or less ran the firm from the age of 17 or 18, having had his schooling curtailed by his own father James’s illness.
He was still chairman in 2008 when they sold the company following an industry decline.
Duncan said: “He was hands-on as he had done everything in the office, and had done every job in the factory.
“As the company grew larger, of course, he couldn’t do everything, but he would walk around the factory quite regularly.”
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular businessman who was at the helm of one of the borough’s most well known firms for almost 50 years.
Brian Metcalf built Joseph Metcalf Ltd up to a 200-plus employee garden horticulture business, based in Accrington and later Oswaldtwistle.
He passed away at Royal Blackburn Hospital on Tuesday, April 14, aged 76, following a brave, 11-year battle with cancer. His passing was peaceful and without pain with wife of 49 years Sheila and sons
Duncan and Julian by his side.
The previous day, he had been gardening in the evening spring sunshine and came into the house to cook a hearty lamb stew for Sheila, the same dish he made on their first date.
Duncan, who along with his brother joined the family business, said their father more or less ran the firm from the age of 17 or 18, having had his schooling curtailed by his own father James’s illness. He was still chairman in 2008 when they sold the company following an industry decline.
Duncan said: “He was hands-on as he had done everything in the office, and had done every job in the factory. As the company grew larger, of course, he couldn’t do everything, but he would walk around the factory quite regularly.”
Brian and Sheila hosted many Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club and Masonic events, and memorable dinner parties with friends fundraised for charity.
Brian was initially known at work as Mr Metcalf, but as time passed, he preferred to be known as the less formal ‘BM’. His ethos emphasised the equal importance of staff, suppliers and customers and it was a real family firm.
Duncan added: “Mums and dads, and brothers and sisters would work there. We had good Christmas parties and whether the company was doing well or badly, he would stand up and say ‘thanks very much’.
“He was a good chess player, and would always think things through - whether it was a cup of tea or a half a million pound deal. Whatever decision he made he would consider how it would affect everybody else. He wanted to employ people to produce a good product, rather than machinery.
“He was very religious and lived his life through Christian values and wouldn’t upset anybody.”
The family, who live in Blackburn, have received more than 180 condolences cards, but the funeral had to be limited to nine people due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The service was livestreamed and others paid respects from a distance.
Always a loving and devoted husband and supportive, caring dad, Brian was adored and humoured by grandchildren Oscar, Imogen, Phoebe and Genevieve.
If anyone would like to make a donation in memory of Brian, these are being gratefully received on behalf of East Lancashire Hospice and North West Air Ambulance via Champs Funeral Services.