TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a “wonderful father and grandfather” who died on November 9, at the age of 86.

Douglas Edward Button came from a happy and loving but relatively humble background. Everything he went on to achieve in life was down to his own hard work.

At 16, Douglas left school to take on an apprenticeship with a firm of solicitors. National Service intervened and he was offered a commission in the Royal Engineers.

However, he turned it down and went to London where he had two jobs while studying for his Chartered Secretary qualification at night school.

After moving to Wiltshire, marrying and having two young children, Douglas secured a job at Bournemouth-based builders merchant Kennedys.

He was appointed company secretary and then director of the board, achieving his ambition to be a director of a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Douglas went on to lead Kennedys’ expansion and negotiate its sale to Unilever.

His son Maurice said: “My father rightly saw this as the pinnacle of his business career, even though he was a successful entrepreneur in later years with interests in the garden centre and property sectors.

“But his career was only part of his life. His family and his children, in particular, were of huge importance to him. He sacrificed a great deal to send us to good schools and then on to university. For me, my father’s unconditional love, his great sense of humour, positive view of life and his willingness to offer practical help and advice stand out as some of his exceptional qualities.

“He will live on, not just in our memory, but in every aspect of our lives. I have always, and always will be, very proud of my father.”

Paying tribute to the much-loved father-of-four, his daughter Roslyn said: “I would like to thank Dad for being the best father to us all.

“For each one of us he was there to gently guide us, offer advice and lend an ear in time of need. He cared for us, worried about us and took pride in our achievements.

“Dad’s qualities of patience, warmth, fairness and determination will never be forgotten. He cared so much about us that caring for him has been a pleasure and an honour. Despite his failing health he never lost his sense of humour.”

A service to celebrate Douglas’s life was held at the New Church, Tuckton on Friday, November 23.