George Williams

George Williams, who launched Anglian Windows in his Norwich garage, died recently at the age of 81.

When he retired as chairman of Anglian Windows in 1990, it employed 4,000 staff and
had a £140m turnover.

He is reported to have started Anglian Windows with £450 capital, and 18 years later the business was acquired for £33m by industrial conglomerate BET (British Electric Traction), which also owned Norwich-based Boulton & Paul.

Mr Williams retired at 62. By then, he had the opportunity to enjoy the trappings of wealth, including the estate at Old Hall, Weston Longville, helicopter, plane and 70ft cruiser, later donated to an American conservation charity. He regularly featured in the Sunday Times list of Britain's richest 100 people with a fortune estimated at between £30m and £35m in the 1990s.

But aged 65, Mr Williams decided in 1992 to return to making windows. When he became chairman of Aspen Windows, then based at Lenwade, it was quickly on the expansion path. By February 1993, a new factory in Heigham Street, Norwich, had been opened and 150 staff were employed. By 1998, he had finally quit the window business.

A severe fall at his home last summer left him almost totally paralysed but he did make a partial recovery.

He is survived by his wife Alex, daughter Jane, and sons Carl, Simon and Ben.