.jpg)
The philanthropist and entrepreneur Sir Jack Petchey, whose foundation has invested more than £170m in youth projects, has died at the age of 98.
In a statement, the Jack Petchey Foundation said its founder died at his home in Wapping, London on 27 June, aged 98.
Petchey started the foundation in 1999 to support people aged 11 to 25 in Essex and London, and it has since invested more than £170m in youth projects.
The foundation said Petchey came from “humble beginnings”, having been born to working-class parents in Plaistow, east London.
Despite leaving school at the age of 13 with no qualifications, the foundation said he began to demonstrate some “entrepreneurial skills” when he began working for a local greengrocer, delivering food directly to people’s homes.
Petchey went on to enlist as a police messenger during the Second World War and in 1943 he volunteered for service in the Royal Navy. Beginning as an electrical air fitter as part of the Fleet Air Arm, he rose to the rank of chief petty officer, before a brief stint in the Royal Air Force.
After leaving the forces, Petchey spent his discharge gratuity on a second-hand car and began his own taxi business. The foundation said that from this, a “thriving car sales company was formed”, which eventually branched off into a property business.
With the help of outside investors, Petchey developed “one of the most popular mixed-use leisure developments in Europe” at a site near Albufeira, Portugal, the foundation said.
He also supported a local orphanage near the site, Pirilampos, and later introduced a charitable foundation in the Algarve.
The foundation said the success of Petchey’s companies, combined with some shrewd investors and investments along the way, enabled him to become the “driving force behind what has become a multimillion-pound empire”.
It said: “Through his entrepreneurial spirit he became one of Britain’s most successful businessmen.”
Petchey appeared in the top lists of the UK’s most successful businessmen and was recognised for his charitable work with an OBE in 2004 and a CBE in 2011.
He was knighted in the 2016 New Years Honours for services to young people in east London and Essex through his foundation.
The foundation said: “Sir Jack used his entrepreneurial skills to deliver a range of innovative schemes for young people involving public speaking, dance, sport and music.
“It was his dedication to philanthropy and a fundamental belief in the need to support young people that will be at the forefront of many people’s minds now and far into the future.”
The foundation said: “He will be greatly missed by friends and family and by the many young people, teachers and youth leaders whose lives have been impacted by the work of his foundation.”
Tributes and donations in Petchey’s name have been rolling in on the foundation’s tribute page.
The stem cell research and transplant charity Anthony Nolan said: “We’re immensely grateful to Sir Jack, his family and the foundation for their huge support inspired by his son John, including donating millions of pounds for our life-saving work over the past 10 years.”
The youth employability charity Young Enterprise posted: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends, as well as everyone at JPF. His selflessness and dedication have profoundly impacted thousands of young lives.
“We are grateful for his unwavering support and honoured to continue our partnership with the JPF; his legacy will live on through the thousands of young people whose futures he has truly inspired.”
Petchey is survived by his wife, Lady Frances Petchey, his daughters Jackie, Susan and Amanda, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren. A private funeral service is due to be held for his friends and family and an event to celebrate his life is expected to be announced in due course.