TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular Kidderminster print firm boss who has passed away.

Elmer Cookson, who was managing director of Cheshires Printers died last month (March) at the age of 89, following a battle with dementia.

More than 200 people attended his funeral at St Mary’s Church, in Kidderminster, on March 30, and he is survived by his wife of 65 years Mary, daughter Alice, sons Andrew and John, as well as nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren with a third due in June.

Mr Cookson died around the same time the historic Cheshires Printers building in Coventry Street was demolished.

He was born in June 1925, the youngest of six to Alice Jane and Walter William Cookson and left school to join Kidderminster Accountants Crumpton & Homer – working during the day and studying in the evenings.

When World War II broke out, he was called up and joined the RAF at the age of 18, serving out his time in South Africa.

He returned to work at Crumpton and Homer and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in May 1949 while he and Mary were married in November of that year.

He started working on the annual audit and accounts for GT Cheshire and Sons before accepting a job as company secretary there. He rose through the ranks to become managing director, while still in his 20s until his retirement.

The company also opened stationery shops in both Kidderminster and Worcester.

While at Cheshires, he also became a director at struggling Worcester-based printers Ebenezer Bayliss & Son Ltd, eventually becoming MD and turning the business around and back into a profit making concern.

He also became president of both the Master Printers Association and Midlands Printing Industry Alliance.

When Cheshires’ closed in 2009, his son John purchased the mailing arm of the business to keep the company name alive. After moving out of Coventry Street, Cheshires Laser Mail Ltd is now based in Park Street.

Daughter Alice Bennett said: “My father lived a long and full life, was loved and admired and will be greatly missed by all of his family.

“He was a fantastic role model and what a legacy he leaves behind him. What a coincidence that during the week preceding his death the site of G.T. Cheshires & Sons Limited, where Elmer worked until retirement, was totally demolished and reduced to an empty site.

“He became a well respected and successful businessman. He was always fair and kind to his workforce and they trusted his judgement and advice in many matters.

“During his career he dealt with troublesome unions, a severe fire which broke out at Cheshires due to an electrical fault and many other on-going challenges. He steered the company with skill and foresight through changing times and through the technological revolution in the printing industry.

“His passing will, indeed, leave a hole in many people’s lives but he will be well remembered.”

Mike Lewis, a former machine operator, Father of the chapel for the workers’ union and Chairman of Cheshires in-house Sports Club added: “In the short time that I knew and worked with Elmer, I found him to be a very fair and even handed man with a great sense of humour.

“He was ahead of his time when it came to the wellbeing of his workforce. He never forgot a special anniversary, birthday or new arrival and rewarded loyalty and long service.”