AN entrepreneur behind some of Colchester’s best known companies will be remembered by his family as having led by example.

Ron West, who founded a booming property company and farming business, has died aged 83.

A grandfather-of-ten, he leaves behind his widow Betty, four children and two great grandchildren.

His son Daniel, 55, said: “He was a good, loyal husband and a caring father and grandfather.

“He left a great legacy behind which we’re pushing forward, and he’ll be remembered for all the lovely reasons you remember a father.

“I’ve been running the family business myself for some time now where he took a back seat, but I’d still ask his opinion because I valued his input.”

Mr West began his entrepreneurial streak after working for Colchester General Post Office in the Fifties.

He began livestock farming behind his parents’ pub, the Maypole, in Berechurch Hall Road, before moving to Stanway.

The endeavour eventually became a multi-million pound piggery.

In the early Eighties, Mr West was handling up to 3,000 pigs at a time after successful bids to keep more at the farm.

Daniel said: “Becoming a businessman was something that evolved but he was born to do it it.

“My dad was very driven. He liked success and building teams around him.

“His work ethic was unbelievable. When he first began, he would work from 5am until 10pm, seven days a week.

“The whole family grew up with that strong work ethic because he led by example.

“My mum also had a directorship role in all the businesses. They made a good partnership.”

After farming, came rubbish, when Mr West established waste disposal firm, West Waste, also operating out of Stanway.

It operated until 1989 before being sold to a national company.

Today, his property empire includes the Westside Centre and Roselands, and the Wests continue to farm cereal crops at Hall Farm in Marks Tey.

Aside from business, Mr West, who was born in London’s East End, was a generous charity supporter as well as being a Colchester United director and governor at Copford Primary School.

The funeral takes place tomorrow at St Albright’s Church, in Stanway, where Mr and Mrs West were married. The service begins at 11.30am.