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Jack Petchey

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English businessman (1925–2024)

Sir Jack PetcheyCBE
Born(1925-07-19)19 July 1925
Plaistow, Essex, England
Died27 June 2024(2024-06-27) (aged 98)
Wapping, London, England
Occupation(s)Businessman, philanthropist
Spouses
  • Diane Harrison
Frances Segelman ​(m. 2016)​
ChildrenOne son, three daughters

Sir Jack Petchey CBE (19 July 1925 – 27 June 2024) was an English businessman and philanthropist.

Early life

He was born on 19 July 1925 in Plaistow, Essex. He came from a working-class family and was brought up in the East End of London, leaving school aged 13.

During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Navy.

Career

Petchey started a car hire and car sales business. From his profits he invested in property and timeshare which grew into a business empire valued over half a billion pounds by 2007. He became known as the grandfather of timeshare, and amassed his fortune with marketing in UK and abroad. It was the resort in Albufeira, Portugal, where the real timeshare boom took place, right up to late 2000s, when the whole conglomerate of leisure businesses was sold. In 1969, he was involved with property development, becoming one of the most successful businessmen in Britain.

Petchey's involvement in football first came when he was appointed a director of West Ham United in 1978. He then went on to own Watford Football Club which he bought from Elton John in 1987. He resigned as chairman in March 1994 and sold the club back to the singer.

Philanthropy

The Jack Petchey Foundation runs an Achievement Award scheme – a reward and recognition initiative which enables schools and youth organisations to celebrate the achievements of their young people as well as receive additional funding.

The foundation has funding available for educational visits and for young volunteers to carry out projects both in the UK and abroad. The foundation was also the central funding body of the Petchey Academy and the Petchey Centre for Entrepreneurship. The Foundation has a branch in Albufeira, Portugal, which does similar work to its British counterpart.

Petchey was nominated as a Scouting In London Ambassador for the Scout Association Region for Greater London at an Adult Appreciation ceremony in 2008.

As of May 2017, he was worth an estimated £550 million.

Personal life

Petchey was married twice. He first married Diane Harrison in 1949; they had four children. In 2016 at the age of 90 he married a second time to Frances Segelman, a sculptor. He died at his home in Wapping, London, on 27 June 2024, at the age of 98.

Honours

Petchey was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2004 Birthday Honours for services to Young People in East London and Essex through the Jack Petchey Foundation, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for charitable services. He was knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to young people in East London and Essex through the Jack Petchey Foundation.

On 27 May 2010, he was given the Freedom of the Borough of Newham.

He was also made a Honorary Commodore in the Sea Cadet Corps.

References

  1. ^ Higgins, Ria (May 2017). "Sir Jack Petchey". The Sunday Times Magazine.
  2. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  3. "Jack Petchey Foundation – Home" (PDF). www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  4. "About Sir Jack Petchey CBE". Jack Petchey Foundation.
  5. "Shares News & Analysis". www.investorschronicle.co.uk.
  6. ^ Scouting In London Ambassador Archived 8 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Morrison, Sarah (25 May 2014). "Jack Petchey: 'It's easier now for people to get on than ever before'". The Independent. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  8. "The Business On... Jack Petchey, Businessman and philanthropist". The Independent. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  9. "Jack Petchey resigned as Watford chairman 20 years ago today". Watford Observer. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  10. JackpetcheyFoundation.eu
  11. Carter, Olivia (27 June 2024). "Sir Jack Petchey: East London businessman dies ages 98". Romford Recorder. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  12. United Kingdom list: "No. 57315". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2004. p. 12.
  13. "No. 59808". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 8.
  14. "Main list of the 2011 Queen's birthday honours recipients" (PDF). BBC News UK. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  15. "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N2.
  16. "New Year's Honours 2016 list" (PDF). GOV.UK. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  17. "Honorary Freedoms of the Borough 2010 – Old Town Hall, Stratford, London, E15" (PDF). The London Borough of Newham. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  18. "Honorary Commadore (SCC) for Jack Petchey". Sea Cadets. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
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