Thomas Wray Bolingbroke, former managing director of Chelmsford's long established family-run departmental store Bolingbroke and Wenley's, has died at the age of 85.

Mr Bolingbroke died peacefully at St Joseph's Nursing Home near his Danbury home on Friday, March 1.

He leaves a widow, Anne, whom he married in 1948, and three children, John, Michael and Anne, and five grand children.

Known as Wray, he was the grandson of George Bolinbroke, founder of Chelmsford's family run department store, which merged with the Wenley furniture store in 1965.

His death sees the passing of an era which saw the rise of the Bolingbroke and Wenley department store that dominated the town centre until the closure and sale of its High Street premises last year.

He handed over the reins to his son John who now heads the new look Baddow Road furnishing store of the same name.

The funeral service takes place at All Saints church, Springfield, on Tuesday, March 12.

Published Friday, March 8, 2002