‘Mr Cardiff’ had real passion for his city
HE was known as Mr Cardiff after he oversaw one of the city centre’s biggest developments.
Now tribute has been paid to one of the Welsh capital’s bestknown hoteliers Eric Dutton following his death on November 9, aged 90.
After leaving school at 14, Eric’s first job saw him delivering milk in Barry before becoming an apprentice joiner at Barry Docks.
From there, he began his first job in the legendary Marments department store on Queen Street in Cardiff.
Joining first as a joiner and shop fitter, it was only a matter of time before the keen businessman progressed through the ranks to take on the role of general manager at Cardiff’s oldest department store.
Eric kept his role at Marments for 33 years until the store’s closure in 1986.
Venturing into the hospitality industry, Eric later turned his hand to being a hotelier as owner of the Sandringham Hotel on St Mary Street.
Known for his burning passion for improving Cardiff’s city centre, the entrepreneur also became a key instigator in establishing a city centre management team.
Under his watchful eye and encouragement, the team brought together partners from the private and public sectors to introduce the first radio communications system in any UK city.
Eric was also involved in the pedestrianisation of Queen Street in the late 1970s and the development of St David’s shopping centre in 2009.
In 2003, Eric was awarded an
MBE for his contribution to the city’s civic life as president of the Chamber of Commerce and for his work with the City Centre Improvement Group and Cardiff Council.
Among his many achievements, the father-of-five was invited into the Cardiff Hoteliers Association in the 1990s.
Thanks to his wealth of contacts within the council and beyond, he made sure to put shape and structure around the association as it grew and changed, leading it to be what it is today as a 30-plus member organisation.
Alongside his career, Eric enjoyed a 64-year marriage to his wife June.
After meeting at St Aidens Church in Cadoxton as teenagers, the couple married in 1952 and remained inseparable until June’s death in 2016.
Together, the pair had five sons, Nigel, Stephen, Peter, Michael and Simon, as well as 11 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.