Top businessman dies of cancer, 78

Leading Midland industrialist and sportsman Jeremy Beasley has died from cancer aged 78.

The father-of-three, who had courageously coped with the effects of Parkinson's Disease for a number of years, died at home after a short illness.

He enjoyed considerable success in business and loved hunting and horse racing. His daughter Caroline was the first woman jockey to ride a winner at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree before training many of his point to point horses.

Mr Beasley was born in Blackheath and attended Tettenhall College and a public school in Leicestershire before an engineering apprenticeship at Joseph Sankey in Wolverhampton.

He was a member of the Institution of Production Engineers and joined the family business of Automatic Pressings in Blackheath, taking control of the company in 1964.

Four years later shortage of space at the site prompted the building of another factory in Halesfield, Telford, where goods for the building trade were manufactured under BAT Products.

Mr Beasley, from Sheriffhales in Shropshire, sold BAT Products eight years later to Expamet. He joined its board of directors as part of the deal and became executive chairman in 1983.

He was also a member of the Ironbridge Gorge Development Trust, chairman of the Princess Royal Hospital Trust in Telford, governor of Moreton Hall girls school near Oswestry and secretary of the Albrighton Hunt Point to Point.

The family launched Eriksen Hotels in 2000, which runs The Old Vicarage at Worfield and the Thornescroft Restaurant in Shipley.

Grandfather-of-11 Mr Beasley played several sports in his youth and also raced boats and rallied cars before concentrating on horse racing. He took up hunting at 40 and rode for 20 seasons. His best-known horse was Jemaro, which won 20 races and was ridden to victory last season by his 16-year-old granddaughter Immy.

Her mother Caroline said today: "Dad loved the racing scene and derived so much pleasure from my involvement in the sport. It was a marvellous moment for him to see my daughter win on his favourite horse."

Mr Beasley's brother-in-law John Wright added: "He was recognised by everybody as a true gentleman. Essentially he was a family man but he was also greatly respected by colleagues."

Mr Beasley died last Tuesday and he was cremated at a private family funeral yesterday. A memorial service will be held at St Andrew's Church, Shifnal, at 2.30pm on August 29. All friends are welcome.