A PROMINENT businessman, who employed 40 staff at his North Yorkshire factory, has died.

Thirsk manufacturer David Price, of Power Plastics, died suddenly on Thursday, June 19. He was 63.

Hertford-born and Cambridge educated, Mr Price founded his company in Leeds in 1973. Following a move to Harrogate, a further move to Station Road, Thirsk, took place in 1989, and he was proud to consider himself an honorary Yorkshireman of 30 years' standing.

From modest beginnings, Mr Price and his dedicated team grew the company to occupy a 20,000sq ft factory employing 40 people.

Power Plastics has a turnover of £2.5m.

The company fabricates a multitude of products from plastic materials.

Diverse contracts have ranged from sheeting to cover scaffolding on Big Ben and York Minster during renovations, to giant crop fumigation chambers, and the swimming pool cover for the Manchester United training ground.

Mr Price was particularly proud of having extended the business into Europe, Africa, Australia and the Far East.

Five of Power Plastics senior managers have clocked up almost 80 years' service between them and several employees have seen 20 years with the company, testament to the tremendous loyalty Mr Price inspired.

He was known to be a fair-minded, hard-working man who did not stand on ceremony and believed in plain speaking.

Following an ownership restructuring within the company, which saw senior managers taking a 40 per cent shareholding, Mr Price was planning for retirement, which he intended to spend travelling and working on his extensive gardens in Thirsk.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in January but continued attending meetings and dealing with business matters up until his death.

Mr Price leaves a wife, Diana, and sons Toby and Simon, and will be sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him.

Following a private cremation, a service of thanksgiving will be held at 3pm tomorrow, at St Felix Church, Felixkirk, near Thirsk. All who knew David are welcome.