TRIBUTES have been paid to a "real character" of business and politics in North East Lincolnshire.
Stanley Blackbourn, known as Stan, was the founder and director of Granville Tours and a former Conservative councillor.
He died in Grimsby, aged 95, on September 10.
Councillor Andrew De Freitas (Lib Dem, Park), who stood against him in the election for Humberside County Council in the 1980s, said: "In spite of the fact that we didn't see eye to eye politically, we became good friends.
"He was a very knowledgeable man.
"A real character and a gentleman."
Stanley was widely known, having founded Granvilles and having served on Grimsby Borough Council and the county council.
After joining his family's haulage and coach operating business in 1931, he served a five-year apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer, a skill which would become vital for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
During his five years of military service he worked as an engine fitter, on aircraft and heavy goods vehicles, before being posted to work with a Lancaster squadron at Bomber Command in Binbrook.
After the war, he became a joint managing director of the Blackbourn Group, which had eight registered companies and operated 45 transport vehicles and 40 passenger coaches.
The group expanded to ten companies, with a fleet of 70 vehicles. In Grimsby, the best known of these companies was Friargate Travel and Granville Tours, providing excursions for thousands.
Another venture of Stanley's was that of Humber Hoverferry Limited. The concept was to establish a daily hovercraft service between Grimsby and Hull but work on the Humber Bridge brought the dream to an end after just two years of trials. Stanley sold all his business interests in 1974 and retired two years later.
He was a member of the Lincolnshire and South Humberside Tourist Association, he was involved in the expansion of Humberside Airport and served on the Board of the Humber Bridge.
He was also chairman of the Humberside Committee of the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, helping small businesses to prosper and became the longest-serving CoSIRA chairman in the country.
Beyond Humberside, Stanley was honoured by admission to the Freedom of the City of London, to the Guild of Freemen of the City of London, and to the Livery in Guild of the Worshipful Company of Carmen.
After his departure from local business and politics, Stanley and his wife Elsie travelled the world.
They also indulged themselves in gardening and Stanley took up wood carving, while Elsie wrote her memoirs and published her poems.
Mr Blackbourn died at Eastwood Care Home and is survived by his son Leslie and daughter Diana.
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