Tributes paid to entrepreneur Stephen Battye

The entrepreneur, famous for transforming the town's derelict mills - most notably Redbrick Mill - was found dead at his home in Upper Batley Low Lane on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Battye's funeral will be held on Friday at 12.45pm at Dewsbury Minster.

In a statement, his devastated family said Mr Battye had been suffering from ill health for nearly two years following repeated infections after a knee operation.

He leaves wife Sara and children William, Rosie and Joseph.

His friends and colleagues have paid tribute to the man who, they say, had the community at his heart.

Mr Battye, 60, left Horbury County Secondary Modern at the age of 15 and enrolled in a course at Batley School of Art.

Together with two other art students, he began a printing business based in a former wollen mill in Earlsheaton. That business developed and later moved to Batley, where it became known as Skopos - a Greek word meaning "design" and "intent".

Skopos was sold in 1999 for 6m and is now known as The Mill in Bradford Road.

Mr Battye was the founding chairman of Redbrick Mill, to which people travel from around Yorkshire for leading brands in interior design.

Redbrick's managing director Alastair Bailey spoke of the team's profound shock and sadness following the news.

He said in a statement: "Stephen was the cornerstone of everything that we have built and achieved at Redbrick and more than that, he was a true servant to the local community. His efforts and passion for the regeneration and improvement of the area were tireless and his personal contribution over the last 30 years was immense and unparalleled."

Mr Battye was also well known as one of owners of Batley's most famous nightclub, The Frontier.

The club's director John Hill said: "While Stephen wanted the Frontier to do well and continued to push it forward, he wasn't just a champion for Bradford Road, but for the whole of the area.

"We worked closely at the Frontier and in our other projects and he came to see me every day of offer his support, for which I cannot thank him enough.

"He will be remembered here for his enthusiasm for the business and for his support of many local good causes."

Mr Battye also owned other bars along Bradford Road, including Bar Deco at the former Preston and Jenkinson carpet shop, and helped transform HSBC into The Bank, before selling it in 2009.

Many people knew Mr Battye because of his passion for vintage cars, which led to his creation of Yorkshire Motor Museum at Alexandra Mills.

One person who will not forget the infuence of Mr Battye is the museum's curator, Michael Tuero.

Michael and Mr Battye's friendship developed completely by chance at a workshop in Guernsey where Michael was working to restore cars.

The pair later went on a number of rallies together, including the London to Brighton for several years and the centenary run of the 1905 Gordon Bennett rally in France, which Michael said was probably on the highlights of Mr Battye's rallying.

In a tribute to his friend, Michael said: "He really is going to be sorely missed in a very big way, not only by his colleagues here but by people far and wide. You can't replace people like Steve and people are going to feel more alone without him."

Another colleague at the motor museum, Jack Howarth, said Mr Battye had made his childhood dreams come true when he let him drive his 4.5l Bentley.

Jack worked as an engineer at the museum while his wife, Suzy, worked as Mr Battye's personal assistant for 10 years. When Suzy tragically died a year ago, Jack said Mr Battye and his family had provided valuable support.

"I considered him a friend, rather than a boss," he said.

The people close to Mr Battye have paid tribute to his grand commnity spirit, agreeing no-one had ever done more for Batley.

In a statement from Batley Community Alliance, chairwoman Gill Patterson said: "Stephen did his best for Batley and helped put Batley back on the map. One hoped he would go on to model the future, but sadly that's not to be.

"This loss will be felt across the area and our thoughts are with Sara and her family."

Gill said Mr Battye was present at the inception of Batley Community Alliance in 1998, and always ensured a venue was made available for the group's meetings.

She added: "Stephen was the only one doing anything positive for Batley. Whether you liked him or not, you have to agree he helped manufacture the area and make it into something when it wasn't going anywhere."

Batley MP Mike Wood described Mr Battye as a a larger-than-life character who put 100 per cent into everything he did. "His vision, ideas and imagination were incomparable," he said. "We didn't always see eye to eye on many things but we did get along very well and he was an immensely likeable man."

Kirklees Council's former chief executive Robert Hughes said: "Stephen was a 'one off', a real entrepeneur with a lifelong commitment to the area he loved. He was always looking at ways to improve Batley and gave a selfless commitment to making things happen.

"Look all around you and you will see the results of his efforts. Batley has lost a great champion, I have lost a good friend and his family have lost a loving father and husband. May his memory live on in the good works that he has done."

Arthur Thorpe from Chadbury in Worcestershire said he met Mr Battye in teh early 1970s when they worked together on designs to improve hospital evironments for the NHS.

He said: "Stephen came to us with his bright, fresh and rather startling designs. He was a bit brash and pushy and, I am sure, totally unaware of the inert and hide-bound organisation he was trying to sell to. It says much about Stephen's persistence, stamina and his belief in his products, and his own ability that he eventually overcame the difficulties to become one of the major suppliers to the NHS, which Skopos still are today.

"Stephen had a very fertile and creative mind. After Skopos he developed numerous business ideas, some more successful than others, but usually innovative and improving. Redbrick Mill is one such which I was very pleased to work on with him. He explained his vision to me and I have to confess that I really doubted that it could work and I told him so. Any fool could see the architectural quality of the building and its potential to create a wonderful environment for something but what?

"It was not an easy project and created many problems for Stephen, some of which I imagine must have had even him wondering if it would ever come to successful fruition. The results speak for themself and are an asset to Batley and great credit to him.

"Apart from his commercial business interests Stephen was an active and generous supporter of the a rts and charities,particularly schools during his Skopos days, and will be greatly missed by many I am sure in those areas.

"I feel desperately sorry for his family,friends and colleagues but also for myself.I have lost a very dear friend. I am sure that before very long Batley will realise what an asset it has lost."

Janet Braime remembers meeting Mr Battye when he and his partners visited the butchers shop she ran with her husband, Arthur, in Earlsheaton, more than 40 years ago.

She said: "They ware asking if there was a place we could recommend to rent. You could tell then that he would go on to achieve a lot. I remember my husband saying, 'Either those boys will be bankrupt or they'll make a million'!"

Margaret Watson, former deputy editor of the Reporter, also remembers Mr Battye from his early days.

She said: "He had little money but lots of brilliant ideas. He was way ahead of his time, saw great potential for the area and contributed so much. He was an ideas man, and very generous to local charities and voluntary organisations. We have lost a man who invested a great deal of money and energy into both Dewsbury and Batley."

Andrew Hutchinson, vice-president of Dewsbury Chamber of Trade and secretary of Dewsbury Means Business, said: "Like everybody else who has heard of the tragic death of Stephen Battye, I am shocked and deeply saddened.

"I am sure his input with Yorkshire Forward and Kirklees Council significantly helped to instigate the regeneration scheme. Stephen will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with Sara and his family."

Trish Makepeace, president of Dewsbury chamber of trade and a family friend added: "We're all in shock and we really feel for Sara, the boys and Rosie. Yes, Stephen made a lot of money; he was a good businessman, but he also put a lot back into the community. It's a sad loss for the area."

Bev Senior has paid tribute to her former mentor and friend.

She said: "I was so saddened to learn of the untimely passing of this great man and would just like to pay my own personal tribute to Steve who I first met when I was an Art Student studying Textile and Graphic design at Batley Art College.

"This was just prior to him starting his new venture at Earlsheaton, whilst also lecturing at the college. He was a great mentor and friend and I was priveledged to spend some time at the premises at Earlsheaton in the initial set up of the business answering phones, sweeping up anything really to help out the guys.

"I always regretted the offer of a job with this fledgling business after I left college but have always been proud to have been associated in some small way with the birth of what famously became Skopos.

"Over the years I have kept up with Steve's activities and was always so impressed by his endless enthusiasm and incredible vision and passion not just for his business acumen but for the wonderful things he has done for Batley in general.

"He will be very much missed and I will never forget watching as the acorn grew into an oak tree with roots set firm in the Batley township leaving a lasting tribute to this great entrepeneur."

The father of one of Mr Battye's college friends, Peter Green, said the entrepreneur frequented his home regularly.

Peter's late wife Joan joined Batley School of Art as a mature student to train as an interior designer at the same time as their daughter Jane, who was training as a fashion designer.

The pair became friends with Mr Battye, and Peter said despite the difference in their age, he formed a friendship with him as well.

He added: "I was an officer in the Territorial Army - The Leeds Rifles - and 1967 set up a Cleckheaton detachment. When Steve learned of my intentions he was among the first to volunteer to join, and so we became military friends as well as civilian ones. I cannot say that Steve was a smart soldier, but he was always very willing and helpful.

"When Steve started to design and manufacture curtains, Joan and I gave him one of his first commissions for a large set in red and orange, 6ft 6 ins high and over 15ft wide. They are still going strong.

"I think I gave him his first commission for a company's order. My department had just moved into new offices in Cleckheaton and I asked Steve to design and manufacture curtains for my own office, incorporating BBA's logo."

Hazel Whitford said she had happy memories of Mr Battye from her time at Batley College.

She added: "He had a warm heart and my thoughts are with Sara and the family."

Family friend Josephine McGill said: "My husband Danny and I have been friends of Steve from his early days at Skopos and did building work both at Providence Mills and Sara and Steve's family home in Dewsbury.

"We were guests at his wedding and the Christening of his children.

"He would always help where ever he could and never refused a request to subscribe to my endless requests for the support of my two charities Riding for the Disabled and The Wooden Spoon.

"His like, I feel sure, are few and far between! A true supporter of Batley Enterprise."

Group Chief Executive of Panaz Limited, Tony Attard, said: "Stephen was inspirational in our industry and was probably instrumental in my founding of Panaz. Although we were competitors in his days as managing director of Skopos he never failed to remind me that he had offered me a job once.

"My sincere condolences go out to his family; he will be a great loss."

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