Boss leads Don tributes

Business leaders from across the country today gathered to pay their respects to Merry Hill founder Don Richardson who died aged 77.

The memorial service at Hagley Hall was attended by family, including Mr Richardson's twin brother Roy, together with dignitaries and members of the West Midlands business fraternity. Born in 1930 at Harts Hill, next to Brierley Hill, the twins went on to found the Richardson Group.

The companies today trade as Richardsons Capital LLP from headquarters at Oldbury.The twins are best-known for one of the earliest and biggest regeneration schemes ever seen in the West Midlands, an opportunity which they spotted decades ago.

They transformed the former 300-acre Round Oak Steelworks at Brierley Hill into what is now the internationally-known Merry Hill Centre.

It is now known as one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe and attracts millions of visitors every year.

The guest list at the service in the grand surroundings of Hagley Hall read like a who's who of dignitaries and tycoons from the region and further afield.

Sir Digby Jones, ex-head of the CBI and now minister of state for trade and industry, gave the main eulogy. Frank Graves, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, represented the Queen.

Assistant director of regeneration in Dudley John Woodall described Don as an "ambassador" for Dudley and the Black Country, and Peter Matthews, president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said he had put the "new Black Country" on the map.

Ian Brough, former chief executive of the Black Country Chamber and close associate of the Richardson brothers, said Don would be missed.

"Don Richardson was always a man to have at your side and no one better to have in the trench to fight with you," he said.

By Ben Lammas