Bed shop boss had an eye for business

Tributes to family man and avid golfer Roy

A well-known entrepreneur and businessman who ran bed shops in the district for more than 40 years has died.

Roy Sirett, who was 86 and had been suffering from a long-term illness, opened his first shop, Just Beds, in Herne Bay in 1977 with his brother Clive. Within a few years, they outgrew the premises and relocated to Cotton Road on the Wincheap Industrial Estate in Canterbury, where they opened the largest independent bed shop in the area, East Kent Bedding. In 1998, Mr Sirett launched another bed shop in the city, the Designer Bed Company, with his son-in-law, David Weston. Mr Weston said: “Roy had astutely spotted a gap in the market for designer bed frames and the new specialist store catered for this rapidly expand

ing demand.

“All the glossy magazines and Sunday supplements at the time were promoting beautiful fashion beds and Roy’s vision was proved right and the company he founded is still successfully trading today.

“He was a natural entrepreneur and although I had already worked in sales, he taught me so much.

“He continued working into his 80s, which is quite remarkable, until I took over the reins.” As well as being a dedicated

businessman, Mr Sirett was a very keen amateur photographer and an enthusiastic member of Chestfield Golf Club. He was devoted to his wife of 53 years, Tora, who he met in Germany. They lived in Chestfield. Mr Weston added: “Roy was also a real family man and a devoted father to Jennifer and grandfather to Max, Rebecca, Anna and Oliver.”

Mr Sirett died on January 2 in a care home in Ashford. A private, family-only funeral is being organised.

‘He continued working into his 80s, which is quite remarkable’

Retired businessman Roy Sirett has died aged 86