THE chairman of Hancock and Wood who started working in the business at the end of the Second World War has died aged 90.

David Hancock died earlier this month following a short illness.

A prominent member of the Warrington Chamber of Trade, Mr Hancock joined his dad in the family business in Bridge Street in 1946 and ran the company as managing director.

He was in charge as the store doubled in size and opened another branch in Stockton Heath in 1951.

Mr Hancock, who was married to Margaret Capper at St Matthew’s Church in Stretton 63 years ago, attended the Lees School in Wirral and Oundle School in Northamptonshire.

After school , he joined the Royal Artillery, attending officer training school at Queen’s University in Belfast .

During the war he was posted to Greece, Rome, Syria, Egypt and Palestine.

At one stage he found himself in charge of a Prisoner of War Camp for surrendered Italian and German officers and for many years a signed photograph by all the prisoners, dedicated to him, adorned his office wall .

In 1946 , he joined his Father in the family business in Warrington .

He sat on the board with such well-known Independents as Boydells, Hodgkinsons, Broadbents and Lee & Clarke.

His sons Michael and Christopher, who now run the company, said: “With Hancock & Wood now being the sole survivor in Warrington, and shortly to celebrate their 100th birthday, the values that the company was founded on have stood it in good stead.”

His other interests included playing the clarinet (albeit not very well!), modern history, collecting early English firearms, (on which he was a considerable authority) and his garden and ponds .

His sons added: “His five grandchildren and three great grandchildren were a source of constant pleasure and he was able to celebrate his 90th birthday with all his family around him only a month ago.”